PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Garegin Balayan (ranked 835 p4p, 396 weight class) and Dougal McCraken (ranked 131 p4p, 55 weight class). Balayan comes to the cage accompanied by Troika. McCraken has chosen Bulgine as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Dougal McCraken has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Balayan
vs
McCraken

180 cm
34
170
30 - 15 - 0

184 cm
29
170
12 - 8 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Aspire Clothing
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Shadow Warrior Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 30 - 15 - 0, fighting out of London, Garegin Balayan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dougal McCraken!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, William Gold and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balayan bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Balayan is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Balayan lands a body shot.
Balayan pivots, looking for a leg kick but McCraken is out of range and Balayan settles back down.
Balayan on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
McCraken scores with a punch to the head.
McCraken moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Balayan looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Balayan checks a low kick from McCraken.
A telegraphed right hand from Balayan misses the target.
Balayan turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
McCraken throws a body shot but no joy.
Balayan keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
McCraken takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
McCraken lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Balayan.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A slapping leg kick lands for Balayan.
McCraken throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Jab from McCraken.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balayan misses with a body kick.
Balayan throws a lazy uppercut
and McCraken counters with a straight right hand.
We've been informed that McCraken has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Balayan shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Balayan misses with a hook.
McCraken misses the jab.
McCraken lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
McCraken lands with a shot to the body.
A jab from McCraken misses.
Dougal McCraken seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McCraken takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Balayan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from McCraken.
McCraken listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Balayan misses with an uppercut. McCraken saw that one coming.
McCraken throws a low kick but it's checked well by Balayan.
McCraken goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Balayan tests McCraken's chin there with a solid looking shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McCraken misses with a straight right.
McCraken looks to throw the jab but Balayan is out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balayan tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
McCraken throws a hook but Balayan blocks it.
Balayan walks into a stiff left hand from McCraken.
Balayan looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Balayan lands the left hand.
Balayan tries to clinch but McCraken moves out of range.
An inside leg kick from McCraken misses.
McCraken staying out of range there.
McCraken avoids the body shot from Balayan.
McCraken connects with a single shot there.
Balayan has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from McCraken.
That kick from McCraken tenderised Balayan's leg. Balayan is trying to keep his angry face on.
Balayan attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Balayan takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
McCraken throws an overhand right that lands on Balayan's shoulder, as Balayan tries to avoid the shot.
Balayan blocks a jab.
Balayan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from McCraken.
Balayan throws a body punch but McCraken moves out of range.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from McCraken! But no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCraken looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Balayan throws out a loose jab but McCraken uses good head movement to avoid it.
Balayan connects with a jab.
Balayan takes one to the chin there.
Balayan misses with the body kick
and McCraken counters with a thumping low kick.
Balayan throws a leg kick that misses.
McCraken looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Balayan jabs McCraken to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Balayan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McCraken was well out of range. Poor timing from Balayan.
Balayan will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
McCraken stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Balayan.
Balayan walks into a straight right hand from McCraken.
Good leg kick by McCraken.
McCraken throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McCraken takes a swing at Balayan's ribcage but misses.
Balayan misses with a body shot.
McCraken scores with a spinning back kick!
McCraken avoids the body shot from Balayan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balayan throws the left hand but McCraken avoids the punch easily.
McCraken misses with a wild body shot.
McCraken dips to his left and cracks Balayan with an uppercut!
Balayan connects with a right hand. McCraken shakes it off.
McCraken moves out of range of the strikes.
McCraken slips a straight right by Balayan.
Balayan on the wrong end of a nice hook.
A slow jab from Balayan misses its intended target.
McCraken scores with a punch to the head.
McCraken fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Balayan manages to avoid it.
Balayan misses with a low kick as McCraken jumps back.
McCraken connects with a solid leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Balayan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
McCraken uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Balayan.
McCraken throws a front kick aimed at Balayan's knee but Balayan avoids it well.
McCraken takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dougal McCraken will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

McCraken throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McCraken uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Balayan.
McCraken appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Balayan throws an overhand right that lands on McCraken's shoulder, as McCraken tries to avoid the shot.
Balayan cracks McCraken with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Balayan misses with a looping right.
Balayan misses with a straight left.
Balayan misses with a body shot.
McCraken misses with a low kick.
Balayan throws a quick counter kick to the body but McCraken avoids it.
McCraken with the inside leg kick.
Balayan displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as McCraken throws out the jab.
McCraken avoids a kick to the body.
Dougal McCraken seems to be getting the better of the standup.
McCraken just misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McCraken throws a hook but Balayan avoids it easily.
McCraken just misses with a punch to the body.
Balayan uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from McCraken.
McCraken swings for the body but Balayan moves out of range.
McCraken looks to land a left hand but Balayan moved out of range nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCraken swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Balayan misses with a body kick.
Balayan throws a jab but it's blocked by McCraken.
Balayan scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Balayan lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
McCraken looks to throw the jab but Balayan is out of range.
Balayan lands a nice leg kick that just misses McCraken's sensitive parts.
A slapping leg kick lands for McCraken.
Balayan misses the shot to the body.
Balayan is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Balayan misses with a hook.
A nice leg kick lands there from McCraken.
Balayan throws the left hand but McCraken avoids the punch easily.
Balayan is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by McCraken.
McCraken ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Balayan moves away.
A chopping leg kick lands by Balayan.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts McCraken, as that shot connected.
McCraken looks to land a left hand but Balayan moved out of range nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balayan scores with a shot to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McCraken lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
McCraken goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
McCraken is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Balayan.
Balayan fails with an attempt to clinch.
Balayan goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
McCraken pushes Balayan away with a front kick.
Balayan looking to land some kicks to the body here.
A slow jab from McCraken misses its intended target.
Balayan fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
McCraken swings for the body but Balayan moves out of range.
McCraken throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
McCraken misses with a left hand
and Balayan counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Balayan goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Balayan with a nice calf kick.
A telegraphed right hand from McCraken misses the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balayan stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from McCraken.
McCraken connects with a leg kick.
McCraken throws a leg kick
and Balayan counters with a one-two to the body.
McCraken rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Balayan moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
McCraken tries a low kick but Balayan avoids it.
McCraken chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Balayan can pounce on him.
Balayan blocks the body kick.
McCraken just misses with a punch to the body.
McCraken's jab looks to have found its range, popping Balayan under the eye.
Balayan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McCraken manages to avoid it.
McCraken takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
A good leg kick by Balayan.
Balayan just misses with a punch to the body.
McCraken steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McCraken looks to throw the jab but Balayan is out of range.
McCraken throws a looping overhand right but Balayan ducks down to avoid it.
McCraken swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balayan throws an off balance right hand
and McCraken makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Balayan really felt that one!
McCraken tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Balayan was well out of range. Poor timing from McCraken.
McCraken tries to score with a low kick but Balayan moves his leg out of the way.
McCraken walks into a stiff left hand from Balayan.
McCraken throws a sloppy head kick and Balayan moves out of range easily.
McCraken connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
A looping hook to the body misses from McCraken. Balayan does a little dance to reset his feet.
The fighters circling - McCraken throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
McCraken smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Nice cross by Balayan.
McCraken scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
McCraken misses with a body kick.
Balayan moves out of range of the body kick from McCraken.
Balayan defending well as McCraken loads up on a big left hand.
McCraken lands a slapping body shot.
Nice defenses there by Balayan.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Dougal McCraken will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

McCraken throws a push kick but Balayan slaps the foot to one side.
A little feinted left hand from Balayan on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
McCraken avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
McCraken ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Balayan moves away.
Balayan swings for the body but McCraken moves out of range.
A big right from McCraken misses.
Balayan throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and McCraken counters with a straight right hand.
Balayan takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
McCraken lands a nice shot that snaps Balayan's head back.
McCraken misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Balayan.
McCraken pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
McCraken throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Balayan sees it coming and avoids it easily.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Balayan might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balayan slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
McCraken throws the left hand but Balayan avoids the punch easily.
Balayan moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
McCraken bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Balayan slips under a jab.
A chopping leg kick lands by Balayan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balayan walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Balayan avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Balayan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Balayan fakes a jab and throws a low kick but McCraken checks it well.
Balayan looks for the body kick but McCraken saw that one coming.
McCraken thows a left - swing and a miss!
Balayan stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

Balayan has McCraken up against the cage in a clinch.
McCraken misses with a short punch on the inside.
Balayan misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Balayan.
McCraken swings wildly with an uppercut but Balayan uses good head movement to avoid it.
McCraken misses with a body punch.
McCraken doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Balayan has a couple of punches blocked by McCraken.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balayan struggles to land a body shot inside as McCraken controls his hands.
Balayan being controlled against the cage.
Garegin Balayan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McCraken fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Balayan doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
McCraken throws a head punch that misses.
A shot in the inside from Balayan.
Balayan lands a nice uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Balayan has a couple of punches blocked by McCraken.
Balayan misses with a hook to the ribs.
Balayan lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A short left from Balayan.
Balayan misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by McCraken as Balayan tries to tie him up.
Balayan fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Balayan blocks a body shot from McCraken.
Balayan lands a left hand that snaps the head of McCraken backwards.
Balayan tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
McCraken has a couple of punches blocked by Balayan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balayan scores with a nice hook to the head.
Balayan is working McCraken over against the cage.
Balayan goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Balayan presses McCraken against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A left hand lands to the body for Balayan.
McCraken takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Balayan lands a nice uppercut.
McCraken misses with a short punch on the inside.
McCraken doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Balayan can't find room to land a body shot as McCraken controls the action.
A body shot lands from Balayan.
A body shot lands from Balayan.
Balayan will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
McCraken can't find room to land a body shot as Balayan controls the action.
A short right from Balayan.
Nice body punch from Balayan.
Balayan is leaning against McCraken and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A left hand lands to the body for Balayan.
Balayan lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Balayan tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Balayan tried to land a shot to the body but connects with McCraken's elbow.
McCraken blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Balayan lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balayan misses with a short punch on the inside.
Balayan tries to throw a body punch but McCraken avoids it by throwing Balayan back against the cage.
McCraken struggles to land a body shot inside as Balayan controls his hands.
Balayan lands with a right to the head.
Balayan lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down McCraken.
A shot in the inside from Balayan.
Balayan lands a shot to the body.
McCraken's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A right handed body shot lands from Balayan.
Balayan lands a shot to the body.
Balayan doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Nice body punch from Balayan.
McCraken blocks a body shot from Balayan.
A right hand to the body from Balayan.
Balayan lands with a right to the head.
Balayan softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Balayan tries a body shot but McCraken blocks it.
Balayan lands a hook that snaps the head of McCraken backwards.
McCraken misses with a hook to the ribs.
Dougal McCraken is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Balayan digs a right hand into McCraken's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on McCraken's gas tank.

And that's the end of the fight!
Garegin Balayan showed his dominance in that final round.
I think McCraken has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 James Atkins scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dougal McCraken!
During a confident post fight interview, Dougal McCraken thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.