PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Alexey Bakharev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Owain Gruffydd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bakharev's entrance music is Hatebreed - Live For This. A fine choice. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Bakharev
vs
Gruffydd

161 cm
20
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
20
151 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Diamond Design Clothing
CROWN

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexey Bakharev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Owain Gruffydd!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Viktor Lagutenko and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gruffydd misses with a two punch combination.

Bakharev gets a clinch.
Gruffydd is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Bakharev manages to break the clinch.
Bakharev gets cracked there but stands up to it.

It looks like Alexey Bakharev has been cut.
Bakharev ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Gruffydd moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Bakharev is rocked!
Gruffydd lands an overhand right.
Oh Bakharev is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Gruffydd looks to land a combination but Bakharev avoids it well.
Bakharev seems to have got his legs back now.
Gruffydd misses with a few strikes there.
Bakharev throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Gruffydd's waist but Gruffydd gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bakharev off to one side.
Gruffydd moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

Bakharev shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Gruffydd can do anything to dispel that myth.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bakharev looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gruffydd is holding on to half guard well.
Bakharev wants to stand up but Gruffydd has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Bakharev works his way into full mount!
Bakharev is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Bakharev unloading with bombs!
Bakharev with the ground and pound from mount.
Bakharev trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Bakharev is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Gruffydd has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Gruffydd holds on for dear life.
Bakharev with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bakharev trying to control but Gruffydd is having none of it.
Gruffydd is trying desperately to improve position.

Bakharev has hold of Gruffydd's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Gruffydd manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Gruffydd tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Bakharev is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Gruffydd can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Bakharev tries to control but Gruffydd wriggling away.
Gruffydd tries to hold on but Bakharev pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gruffydd is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Owain Gruffydd will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Alexey Bakharev's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Bakharev walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Nice uppercut there from Gruffydd.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Gruffydd!

Bakharev gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Bakharev is trying to trip Gruffydd. He has hold of a leg but Gruffydd is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Bakharev persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Gruffydd preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Bakharev trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gruffydd can't keep his opponent in guard - Bakharev advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Bakharev uses his free foot to push down on Gruffydd's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Gruffydd.
Gruffydd is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gruffydd wants to hold on but Bakharev pushes him away.
Gruffydd wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Bakharev lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Gruffydd really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bakharev. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Bakharev's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Gruffydd tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Bakharev looking to control but Gruffydd is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bakharev thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

Bakharev is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Gruffydd is surviving well by controlling Bakharev's body position as best he can.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Bakharev is working for a guillotine from mount but Gruffydd frees his head quite easily.
Gruffydd wants to control but Bakharev is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bakharev is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
The fighters circling - Gruffydd throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Bakharev gets the takedown into side control.

Bakharev has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Gruffydd lands a jab to Bakharev's midsection.
Bakharev takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Gruffydd misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gruffydd throws a hook but Bakharev blocks it.
Bakharev shoots for a takedown but Gruffydd saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Gruffydd misses with a two punch combination.
Gruffydd shoots for a double leg takedown but Bakharev sprawls well. He's pushed Gruffydd's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Bakharev shoots in for a double leg but Gruffydd sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Gruffydd throws a shot from downtown. Bakharev moves away and avoids it.
Bakharev slips under a jab from Gruffydd.
Gruffydd lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Bakharev avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gruffydd throws a shot from downtown. Bakharev moves away and avoids it.

Bakharev gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Bakharev has Gruffydd pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Gruffydd manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexey Bakharev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gruffydd wants to break the clinch but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexey Bakharev dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Alexey Bakharev's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Jab by Gruffydd.
Owain Gruffydd seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Bakharev changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Gruffydd looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Bakharev has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Bakharev shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Gruffydd pinned against the cage. Gruffydd gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Gruffydd moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Gruffydd misses with a jab, cross combination.
Bakharev drops his hands momentarily and Gruffydd takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Gruffydd scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Gruffydd fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A combination from Gruffydd does no damage.
Bakharev tries for a takedown but Gruffydd sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Bakharev could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gruffydd misses with an uppercut. Bakharev saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bakharev gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Bakharev drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexey Bakharev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bakharev drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gruffydd is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Bakharev keeps control of Gruffydd as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Bakharev is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Bakharev turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Bakharev is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Gruffydd is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Bakharev wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gruffydd keeps working.
Bakharev working away.
Bakharev throws an elbow but Gruffydd slips to the side and avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bakharev wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gruffydd keeps working.
Gruffydd gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Bakharev trying to control the action but Gruffydd is working from the bottom.

Bakharev is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Some wild striking there from Gruffydd.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Bakharev avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Gruffydd fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bakharev manages to avoid it.
Gruffydd misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bakharev.
Gruffydd throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Bakharev decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Bakharev controlling the pace.
Bakharev looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexey Bakharev showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Bakharev has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:28
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexey Bakharev!