PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Viktor Tikhonov (ranked 3364 p4p, 1082 weight class) and Franco Fajardo (ranked 387 p4p, 152 weight class). The key to victory for Viktor Tikhonov has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Tikhonov
vs
Fajardo

184 cm
26
195
4 - 3 - 0

185 cm
27
190
7 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Viktor Tikhonov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Franco Fajardo!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Winston Alpacca and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tikhonov throws the left hand but Fajardo avoids the punch easily.
Tikhonov moves in looking to clinch but Fajardo pushes him off.
Fajardo misses the shot to the body.
Tikhonov throws a big counter combination but Fajardo scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Tikhonov changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Fajardo connects with a single shot there.
A slow jab from Tikhonov misses its intended target.
A punch lands to the side of Fajardo 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Tikhonov dips to his left and cracks Fajardo with an uppercut!
Tikhonov lands a lovely overhand right.
Tikhonov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Fajardo with a nice cross.
Fajardo loads up on a big right hand but Tikhonov slips the punch.
Tikhonov misses with a body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fajardo ducks under a wild hook from Tikhonov.
Tikhonov sizes up Fajardo with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Viktor Tikhonov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tikhonov uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Fajardo has time to react.
Fajardo misses with an uppercut. Tikhonov saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tikhonov throws out a loose jab but Fajardo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tikhonov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Fajardo sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Fajardo drives through with a takedown into Tikhonov's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Fajardo works over Tikhonov with some ground and pound from guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Fajardo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Tikhonov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Fajardo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Fajardo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tikhonov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Tikhonov keeping moving, preventing Fajardo from controlling successfully.
Fajardo landing with the ground and pound.
Tikhonov is trying to keep Fajardo in close.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Fajardo's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Fajardo working his ground and pound in the gym.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fajardo makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Fajardo stands up over Tikhonov, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Fajardo stays in close to Tikhonov's body and controls the position.
Tikhonov is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Fajardo wants to control but Tikhonov is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fajardo is trying is best to control the position here.
Fajardo is not content to let Tikhonov control the position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Fajardo tries to roll over but Tikhonov keeps him under control.
Tikhonov looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Tikhonov is trying to control. Fajardo wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Fajardo trying to hold on to Tikhonov's head to control him but Tikhonov postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Fajardo is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Tikhonov is staying active.
Fajardo tries to roll over but Tikhonov keeps him under control.
Tikhonov works his foot free and advances to mount.
Fajardo slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Fajardo is trying to maintain the position but Tikhonov is very close to passing his half guard.
Fajardo is trying to get back to full guard.
Fajardo trying to control from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Viktor Tikhonov will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A shot to the body from Tikhonov misses
and Tikhonov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A looping hook to the body misses from Fajardo. Tikhonov does a little dance to reset his feet.

Fajardo closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Tikhonov tries to roll over but Fajardo keeps him under control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tikhonov moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Fajardo scoring with punches to the head and body.
Fajardo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tikhonov is keeping the position for now.
Fajardo is in close to Tikhonov's body, working some short punches and elbows.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fajardo landing some decent shots from guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Fajardo's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Fajardo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tikhonov is trying to control the position but Fajardo postures up.
Fajardo advances to half guard.
Tikhonov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Fajardo takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Fajardo seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Tikhonov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Franco Fajardo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Fajardo scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Ground and pound from Fajardo.
Fajardo seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Fajardo thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Tikhonov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Fajardo trying to mount his opponent but Tikhonov defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fajardo scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Fajardo landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Tikhonov won't allow Fajardo to pass to mount.
Tikhonov trying to hold on to Fajardo's head to control him but Fajardo postures up.

Fajardo is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Tikhonov doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Fajardo.
Fajardo is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Fajardo thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Tikhonov's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fajardo is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Fajardo trying to control from half guard but Tikhonov is working away.
Tikhonov makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Tikhonov.
Tikhonov is trying to keep Fajardo in close.
Fajardo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tikhonov keeping full guard, as Fajardo tries to pass.

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.
Fajardo lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Fajardo scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Fajardo works over Tikhonov with some ground and pound from guard.
Fajardo slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Fajardo with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Tikhonov wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Fajardo is now in half guard.
Fajardo landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tikhonov has hold of Fajardo's hands but Fajardo slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Fajardo wants to control but Tikhonov is keeping him busy.
Fajardo lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Franco Fajardo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Tikhonov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Tikhonov throws a poor cross that misses
and Fajardo counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Tikhonov thinking.
Tikhonov looks to land a combination. Fajardo sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Tikhonov looks to score with a jab to the body but Fajardo is just out of range.
Tikhonov blocks a jab.
Tikhonov appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Viktor Tikhonov is winning the standup battle so far.
Tikhonov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Fajardo moves away.
Tikhonov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Fajardo feints the counter takedown.

Fajardo shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Tikhonov napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Tikhonov takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Fajardo scores with punches from side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Fajardo working the body and head with strikes.

Tikhonov is rocked!
Fajardo in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Tikhonov is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Fajardo working the head with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tikhonov is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Fajardo lands some shots froms side control.
Oh Tikhonov is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Fajardo tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Fajardo grinds an elbow into Tikhonov's temple.
Fajardo landing strikes.
Fajardo lands some shots froms side control.
Fajardo in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Fajardo controls the position.
Fajardo wants to control but Tikhonov is keeping him busy.
Tikhonov is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tikhonov seems to have got his legs back now.
Tikhonov seems a little lost for a moment, as Fajardo dominates the positioning.
Tikhonov stops Fajardo from passing to mount.
Fajardo lands an elbow.
Tikhonov sneaks back into half guard.

Fajardo is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Fajardo lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fajardo working Tikhonov over with strikes.
Fajardo prevents Tikhonov from improving his position.

Fajardo is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Fajardo seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Fajardo prevents Tikhonov from improving his position.
Still in half guard, Fajardo seems content to control.
Tikhonov trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fajardo controlling the action here.
Fajardo looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Fajardo is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Franco Fajardo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Fajardo content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Viktor Tikhonov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fajardo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

And that's the end of the fight!
Franco Fajardo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Fajardo 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 Dirk Anderson scores the fight for Franco Fajardo!
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight for Franco Fajardo!
Judge David Hoff scores the fight for Franco Fajardo!

Franco Fajardo wins by unanimous decision!