PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Maxim Barmaleev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marjan Botracevitic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Barmaleev
vs
Botracevitic

153 cm
22
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

166 cm
19
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Maxim Barmaleev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Marjan Botracevitic!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yuuki Gou and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Botracevitic wants to clinch up but Barmaleev keeps it at a distance.
Botracevitic looks for a takedown but Barmaleev sprawls well.
Botracevitic looks to land a combination. Barmaleev sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Barmaleev darts in trying to clinch
and Botracevitic counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Barmaleev is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Barmaleev tries a head kick but it misses.
Barmaleev looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Barmaleev looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Barmaleev will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Botracevitic pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Barmaleev moves into the clinch.
Barmaleev unloads a knee to the mid-section. Botracevitic lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Botracevitic working hard to break the clinch.
Barmaleev misses with an elbow over the top.
Botracevitic tries to stall but Barmaleev uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Barmaleev gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Botracevitic avoiding damage as Barmaleev throws knees to the body.

Barmaleev pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Barmaleev fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Botracevitic, pushing him back against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Barmaleev.
Barmaleev with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Barmaleev lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Botracevitic backwards.
Botracevitic looks gassed!
Barmaleev displaying some good clinch control by pressing Botracevitic up against the cage.
Barmaleev lands a body punch in the clinch.
Barmaleev stalls.

Barmaleev breaks from the clinch.
Botracevitic scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Botracevitic attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Barmaleev throws a head kick that misses.
Botracevitic does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Barmaleev scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Barmaleev gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Come on Barmaleev - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Barmaleev lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Barmaleev manages to break the clinch.

Botracevitic tries to keep at a distance but Barmaleev has taken the fight into the clinch.

Barmaleev manages to break the clinch.
Botracevitic on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Barmaleev. Barmaleev obviously looking to wear him down.
Botracevitic is looking to land body kicks.
Barmaleev scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Barmaleev darts in and clinches Botracevitic up against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barmaleev throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Barmaleev is struggling to control the position.
Barmaleev working Botracevitic over with knees to the body.
Botracevitic blocks an elbow strike from Barmaleev.
Botracevitic is trying to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Botracevitic is looking to control Barmaleev's arms but Barmaleev gets an underhook and turns him. Now Botracevitic has his back to the cage.
Barmaleev lands with a short shot to the head.
A nice left hand lands by Barmaleev.

Botracevitic manages to break the clinch.
Barmaleev wants to clinch but Botracevitic slips to the side
and Botracevitic counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Maxim Barmaleev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Botracevitic scoring well with a low kick there.
Barmaleev misses with a series of wild punches.
Some wild striking there from Barmaleev.
Botracevitic chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Barmaleev moves in looking to clinch but Botracevitic pushes him off.
Barmaleev throws a right and a left that Botracevitic avoids nicely.
Botracevitic avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Barmaleev fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Botracevitic misses with a leg kick
and Barmaleev counters with a good low kick that Botracevitic was not able to check.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barmaleev tries to close the distance and clinch up but Botracevitic swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Barmaleev tries to close the distance and clinch up but Botracevitic swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Botracevitic turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Barmaleev throws a right and a left that Botracevitic avoids nicely.
Barmaleev throws a sloppy head kick and Botracevitic moves out of range easily.
Barmaleev avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Botracevitic tries to clinch there but Barmaleev circles away.
Barmaleev misses with a jab, cross combination.
Botracevitic lands a nice hook to Barmaleev's body. Barmaleev takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Botracevitic throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Botracevitic is looking to slow Barmaleev down with leg kicks.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Botracevitic tries to clinch but Barmaleev moves out of range.
Botracevitic changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Barmaleev tries to avoid it but Botracevitic manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Barmaleev to the ground. Barmaleev escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Botracevitic tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Barmaleev lands a nice leg kick that just misses Botracevitic's sensitive parts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maxim Barmaleev dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Barmaleev tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Botracevitic throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Botracevitic circles away from the clinch attempt
and Botracevitic counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Barmaleev is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Barmaleev turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Barmaleev checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Barmaleev tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Botracevitic is able to avoid easily.

Barmaleev has taken the fight to the clinch.
Barmaleev pushes Botracevitic back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

Barmaleev's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Barmaleev has taken the fight to the clinch.

Barmaleev breaks from the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Barmaleev throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Botracevitic looks to clinch

and Barmaleev moves into the clinch.
Barmaleev stalls.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Botracevitic fails to pull guard.
Barmaleev works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
The referee is keeping an eye on Barmaleev - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Barmaleev misses with some punches.
Barmaleev is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Botracevitic working hard to break the clinch.
Barmaleev crunches a lovely knee into Botracevitic's ribcage.

Botracevitic breaks from the clinch.
Barmaleev tries to clinch up.
Barmaleev misses with a double jab.
Botracevitic clinches but Barmaleev breaks the clinch

and Barmaleev moves into the clinch.
Botracevitic's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Botracevitic dodges an elbow strike from Barmaleev.
Barmaleev can't break the clinch.
Botracevitic blocking some punches.
A frustrated look appears on Botracevitic's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Botracevitic's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Botracevitic is trying to maintain a safe position but Barmaleev gets an underhook and turns Botracevitic into the cage.
Barmaleev lands a nice shot to the body.
Botracevitic prevents Barmaleev from breaking the clinch.
Barmaleev throws an elbow but it misses.

Botracevitic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Botracevitic misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Botracevitic looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Barmaleev is fending him off so far but Botracevitic persists. Nope, Barmaleev circles away and we're back to standing.
Barmaleev rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Botracevitic moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Botracevitic walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Barmaleev checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Barmaleev displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Botracevitic.
Maxim Barmaleev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marjan Botracevitic.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barmaleev throws a combination that misses
and Botracevitic counters with a big head kick but Barmaleev shrugs it off.
Barmaleev throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Barmaleev avoids the head kick by Botracevitic.
Barmaleev misses with a two punch combination.
Botracevitic moves out of range of the strikes.
Barmaleev throws a lazy head kick
and Botracevitic counters with a slapping leg kick.
Barmaleev throws a series of punches but Botracevitic avoids them all with ease.
Botracevitic is looking to clinch.
Barmaleev swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Botracevitic lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Barmaleev circles away quickly and effectively.
Good work by Barmaleev as he checks the leg kick.
Barmaleev tries to clinch up but Botracevitic circles away and keeps his distance.
Barmaleev stuffs the takedown attempt from Botracevitic. Botracevitic gets slowly back to his feet.
Botracevitic keeps the fight on the outside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Botracevitic tries to land a front kick but Barmaleev steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Barmaleev has closed the distance and engaged Botracevitic in a clinch.
A short right from Barmaleev.
Barmaleev is pressed up against the cage. Botracevitic has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Barmaleev down to the mat. Barmaleev avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Barmaleev throws a head kick but Botracevitic moves out of range.

Botracevitic forces Barmaleev back against the cage and clinches.
The referee calls for Barmaleev to work.
Botracevitic is looking to break free of the clinch but Barmaleev has double underhooks.
A shot in the inside from Barmaleev.
Barmaleev wants to break the clinch but can't.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Botracevitic wants to break free but Barmaleev has control.
Botracevitic wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Barmaleev has him pressed against the cage.
Barmaleev lands with a light punch inside.

Barmaleev breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maxim Barmaleev dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

A nice leg kick lands there from Botracevitic.
Botracevitic throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Barmaleev's head.

It looks like Maxim Barmaleev has been cut.
Barmaleev fails in his attempt to clinch.
Barmaleev tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Botracevitic paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Barmaleev throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Botracevitic stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Barmaleev misses with a double jab.
Botracevitic plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Barmaleev gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Barmaleev misses with a knee to the head.
Botracevitic wants to get back to striking at distance but Barmaleev won't allow it.
Botracevitic is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Barmaleev manages to break the clinch.
Botracevitic throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Barmaleev closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Botracevitic is looking to break free of the clinch but Barmaleev has double underhooks.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Botracevitic is trying to break free.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Barmaleev breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Barmaleev is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Botracevitic throws a sloppy head kick

and Barmaleev counters by clinching up.
Barmaleev pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Barmaleev leaning against his opponent.
Barmaleev tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Botracevitic manages to break the clinch.

Barmaleev has Botracevitic up against the cage in a clinch.
Barmaleev throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Barmaleev misses with a punch on the inside.

Botracevitic gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Barmaleev regains guard.
Barmaleev wants to stand up but Botracevitic is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Botracevitic gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Some wild striking there from Botracevitic.

Barmaleev takes the fight into the clinch.
Barmaleev lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Botracevitic backwards.
Botracevitic avoids the elbow strike from Barmaleev, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barmaleev lands a nice uppercut.
Botracevitic has had enough of the clinch but Barmaleev keeps him there for the moment.
Botracevitic has Barmaleev pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Barmaleev manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Barmaleev lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Barmaleev lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Botracevitic trying to stall but Barmaleev improves his position.

Barmaleev pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Maxim Barmaleev is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Barmaleev throws a combination. Botracevitic tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Barmaleev tries to clinch but Botracevitic is having none of it.
No luck for Botracevitic with that takedown attempt.
Maxim Barmaleev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Barmaleev!
Botracevitic misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Botracevitic. That's going to slow Barmaleev down.

Barmaleev moves into the clinch.
Barmaleev lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Botracevitic backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Barmaleev throws a punch but it's blocked by Botracevitic.

Barmaleev pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Barmaleev doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Barmaleev moves into the clinch successfully.
Botracevitic wants to get back to striking at distance but Barmaleev won't allow it.

Barmaleev breaks from the clinch.
Botracevitic lands with a slapping head kick.

Barmaleev has Botracevitic up against the cage in a clinch.

Botracevitic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Barmaleev wants to clinch
and Botracevitic counters with a series of strikes. Barmaleev will be more careful next time no doubt.

Barmaleev gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Botracevitic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Marjan Botracevitic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Barmaleev blocks a head kick by Botracevitic.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Maxim Barmaleev.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Barmaleev, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maxim Barmaleev!