PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kaban Ebaw (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Serj Tankian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Ebaw
vs
Tankian

195 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

187 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kaban Ebaw!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Serj Tankian!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Felipe Paraventi and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ebaw defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Tankian.
Tankian shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ebaw sprawls well. Ebaw wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Tankian gets slowly back to his feet.
Ebaw looks for a takedown but Tankian sprawls well.
Ebaw shoots in but no luck this time.

Tankian scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Tankian tries to score with some ground and pound. Ebaw controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Tankian landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Tankian working the head and body with strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tankian misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Tankian scoring with punches from side control.
Ebaw tries to improve position but can't.
Tankian is trying to ground and pound but Ebaw uses the momentary lack of control by Tankian to regain half guard.
Tankian working Ebaw over with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tankian thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ebaw blocking the ground and pound attempt from Tankian.
Tankian throws a strike but Ebaw avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Tankian content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tankian in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tankian must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Tankian lands a couple of digs.
Ebaw is breathing heavily.
Ebaw wants to get back to his feet but Tankian is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Ebaw avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Tankian is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Tankian with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tankian landing some decent shots from guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tankian throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tankian scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Tankian postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Tankian landing some decent shots from guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Tankian landing some decent shots from guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Tankian's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Tankian is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Tankian lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Tankian with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Tankian's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tankian connects with a couple of short punches.
Tankian postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Tankian is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Tankian chips away with some ground and pound.
Ebaw preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ebaw throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Tankian working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Tankian postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Tankian in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tankian throws a big right hand that misses.
Tankian lands a couple of digs.
Tankian connects with a couple of short punches.
Tankian lands a couple of digs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tankian postures up in Ebaw's guard and throws a big left but Ebaw blocks it.
Tankian scoring with punches to the head and body.

Ebaw working for a triangle but Tankian defends it easily.
Tankian works over Ebaw with some ground and pound from guard.
Tankian is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Tankian postures up and lands a big shot to Ebaw's brow.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tankian landing some decent shots from guard.
Ebaw utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Serj Tankian dominated that round.
That's time! Ebaw's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Tankian feints and as Ebaw raises his hands in defense, Tankian changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tankian accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ebaw looking for a sweep. Not yet Ebaw, not yet.
Tankian postures up in Ebaw's guard and throws a big left but Ebaw blocks it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tankian accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Tankian is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Tankian postures up and lands a big shot to Ebaw's brow.
Tankian content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Tankian working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tankian lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Ebaw is trying to keep Tankian in close.
Tankian with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Ebaw has momentary wrist control but Tankian slips an elbow through the middle.
Tankian has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tankian works over Ebaw with some ground and pound from guard.
Tankian is working Ebaw over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Tankian lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Tankian is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Ebaw is trying to keep Tankian in close.
Tankian content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Tankian is in close to Ebaw's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Tankian stands up over Ebaw, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tankian with a nice head shot there.
Tankian works over Ebaw with some ground and pound from guard.
Tankian scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tankian postures up.
Tankian with a nice head shot there.
Tankian missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Tankian is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Tankian connects with a couple of short punches.
Tankian throwing strikes from guard but Ebaw blocks nicely.
Tankian working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Tankian stands up over Ebaw, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Tankian throwing strikes from guard but Ebaw blocks nicely.
Tankian with a nice head shot there.
Tankian lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tankian scoring with punches to the head and body.
Tankian postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Tankian landing some decent shots from guard.
Tankian working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ebaw's head.
Tankian lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Tankian lands a couple of digs.
Tankian landing with the ground and pound.
Tankian landing some decent shots from guard.
Ebaw trying to keep a closed guard but Tankian is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tankian is working Ebaw over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Tankian postures up and lands a big shot to Ebaw's brow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tankian chips away with some ground and pound.
Tankian thows a big elbow that misses.
Ebaw is trying to control the position but Tankian postures up.
Ebaw is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Tankian is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tankian lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Tankian is in close to Ebaw's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Tankian throws a big right hand that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Serj Tankian showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Tankian.
Tankian tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ebaw sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Tankian somewhat.
Ebaw fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Tankian is defended easily by Ebaw.
Kaban Ebaw has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Serj Tankian.

Ebaw closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Tankian did well to prevent Ebaw getting side control.
Ebaw winds up and cracks Tankian with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Ebaw postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Tankian to stand up.
Ebaw has a takedown stuffed.

Tankian scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ebaw takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
The strikes coming from Tankian are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Ebaw can't do much from the bottom here.
Tankian creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Ebaw managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Tankian.
Tankian lands a nice forearm strike.
Tankian landing strikes.
Tankian is working Ebaw over with some ground and pound from side control.
Tankian lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Tankian landing strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ebaw on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Tankian scores with a couple of short elbows.
Tankian lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Ebaw manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tankian thows a huge punch but Ebaw dodges it nicely.
Ebaw trying to control from the bottom.
Ebaw is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Tankian is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Tankian looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Tankian working over Ebaw with some ground and pound. Ebaw looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Ebaw wants to control but Tankian is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Tankian winds up and cracks Ebaw with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Nice strikes from Tankian there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tankian drops an elbow to the side of Ebaw's head.
Tankian is thwarting Ebaw's attempts to control the position.
Tankian is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Ebaw flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Tankian working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Ebaw tries to roll over but Tankian keeps him under control.
Ebaw taking some punishment here, with Tankian in his half guard.
Ebaw wants to get back to full guard.
Tankian takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ebaw trying to hold on to Tankian's head to control him but Tankian postures up.
Tankian is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Ebaw wants to improve his position but Tankian is controlling well.
Tankian working the head and body with strikes.
Tankian drops an elbow to the side of Ebaw's head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tankian slips a nice elbow through Ebaw's hands, connecting with Ebaw's forehead.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tankian looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Nice strikes from Tankian there.
Kaban Ebaw has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Serj Tankian is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Ebaw is trying to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Serj Tankian comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Tankian has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 25:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 25:30
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Serj Tankian!