PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Manvel Gamburyan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Via Dios (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gamburyan comes to the cage accompanied by Gamburyan vs. Brown on April 24th. Dios has chosen Sandstorm as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Gamburyan
vs
Dios

165 cm
30
159 lbs
7 - 8 - 0

185 cm
32
141 lbs
18 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 7 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Manvel Gamburyan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Via Dios!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gamburyan gets a double leg takedown into Dios's guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Gamburyan drops back, looking for a kneebar! Dios looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Dios looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Dios!
Dios in side control lands a decent elbow.

Dios is trying to get an arm triangle but Gamburyan is defending well.
A control attempt from Gamburyan but he's now mounted!
Dios can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Gamburyan is looking to escape.

Dios jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Gamburyan manages to avoid the submission attempt.
You can see the frustration on Gamburyan's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dios tries to move to mount but Gamburyan blocks the move with his legs.
Dios creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Gamburyan sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Gamburyan struggling a bit here.
Gamburyan sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Gamburyan might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Dios throwing shots but Gamburyan is blocking nicely.
Gamburyan is controlling Dios's trapped leg to prevent Dios from advancing to side control.
Dios thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Dios thows a huge punch but Gamburyan dodges it nicely.
Gamburyan preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Dios is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Dios has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Gamburyan's face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Dios throwing strikes here but Gamburyan is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Dios lands a nice shot to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gamburyan regains half guard.
Dios is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Dios is thwarting Gamburyan's attempts to control the position.

Dios is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Gamburyan doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Dios.
Gamburyan has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Dios is working away from the top position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Dios is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Dios is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dios frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Dios moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Gamburyan has worked his arm free - good work by Gamburyan!
Gamburyan defending against the ground and pound.
Gamburyan wants to control but Dios postures up.
Dios in side control, throwing shots but Gamburyan defends.
Gamburyan is trying to improve his position.
Dios working away.
Dios is chipping away with strikes.
Dios working away.

Dios tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Dios has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dios postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Dios in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Gamburyan is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dios lands a nice forearm strike.
Dios creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Gamburyan sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Dios cracks Gamburyan with a big elbow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gamburyan is looking to reverse the position.
Gamburyan holding on.
Dios looks up at the clock and then as Gamburyan takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Dios smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Via Dios dominated that round.
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.

Gamburyan closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Dios to the mat! Dios manages to get full guard.
Gamburyan wants to control from the top but Dios keeps moving.
Dios bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gamburyan's guard.
Gamburyan keeping moving, preventing Dios from controlling successfully.
Dios forces his way into half guard.
Dios is trying to control the action in half guard but Gamburyan is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Gamburyan won't allow Dios to pass to mount.
Dios thows a huge punch but Gamburyan dodges it nicely.
Gamburyan is pressing down on Dios's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Dios postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Gamburyan keeping moving, preventing Dios from controlling successfully.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dios throwing strikes from guard but Gamburyan blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dios tries to free his leg and advance position but Gamburyan is retaining full guard.
Dios postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Dios throws a big right hand that misses.
Gamburyan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Dios.
Gamburyan utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Gamburyan working for a triangle but Dios defends it easily.
Gamburyan avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Dios accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Gamburyan is looking for a triangle but Dios pushes his legs off easily.
Gamburyan controls Dios momentarily but Dios frees himself.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gamburyan looking for a sweep. Not yet Gamburyan, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dios wants to control from the top but Gamburyan keeps moving.
Dios must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Gamburyan preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Dios in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Dios postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Dios missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Gamburyan utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gamburyan has Dios pulled in close to control his posture.
Dios is pushing down on Gamburyan's leg trying to pass to half guard. Gamburyan is fighting to maintain full guard but Dios has managed to sneak the leg through.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Gamburyan is defending against the submission attempts here by Dios.
Gamburyan is controlling Dios's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Dios thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gamburyan's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dios sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Gamburyan defending well though.
Dios not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Gamburyan has hold of Dios's hands but Dios slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Dios with the ground and pound but Gamburyan uses the opportunity to regain guard.

Dios got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gamburyan has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Dios has managed to get both his arms back between Gamburyan's legs - danger averted.
Dios throwing strikes but missing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Dios accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Dios tries to free his leg and advance position but Gamburyan is retaining full guard.
Gamburyan trying to control the position.
Dios is looking to work some ground and pound but Gamburyan has wrist control.
Dios throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Dios tries to free his leg and advance position but Gamburyan is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dios lands a couple of digs.
Gamburyan is trying to keep Dios in close.
Dios looking to sit in guard and control but Gamburyan gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Gamburyan trying to control the position from guard on top but Dios is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gamburyan is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Dios is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Gamburyan drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Dios dives on top into guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dios trying to control but Gamburyan is working from the bottom.
Gamburyan is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Via Dios showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Gamburyan bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Dios manages to work his way to half guard, despite Gamburyan's best efforts.
Gamburyan is trying to control the action in half guard but Dios is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Dios is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Gamburyan's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Gamburyan's back!
Dios doesn't have the hooks in and Gamburyan manages to turn into his guard.
Gamburyan is stalling in the full guard.
Gamburyan being controlled here momentarily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dios working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Dios is on top in guard.
Gamburyan preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Gamburyan preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Dios postures up in Gamburyan's guard and throws a big left but Gamburyan blocks it.
Dios throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Via Dios has got the better of the ground game so far.
Dios missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Dios loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Dios trying to control the position from guard on top but Gamburyan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dios is looking to work some ground and pound but Gamburyan has wrist control.
Gamburyan controls Dios momentarily but Dios frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dios trying to control the position from guard on top but Gamburyan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gamburyan throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Dios tries to free his leg and advance position but Gamburyan is retaining full guard.
Gamburyan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Gamburyan throws a nice looking combination but Dios bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Dios connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Gamburyan closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Dios's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Gamburyan got a little sloppy there for a moment and Dios has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gamburyan has managed to get both his arms back between Dios's legs - danger averted.
Gamburyan wants to control from the top but Dios keeps moving.
Gamburyan sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gamburyan with a nice head shot there.

Dios is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gamburyan defends well.
Dios looking for a sweep. Not yet Dios, not yet.
Gamburyan trying to control but Dios is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dios is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Dios keeping moving, preventing Gamburyan from controlling successfully.

We're going to have a standup here because Manvel Gamburyan wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Dios lands with an uppercut that bounces Gamburyan off the cage and back into range.
Dios lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Gamburyan feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Dios keeping moving, preventing Gamburyan from controlling successfully.
Manvel Gamburyan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gamburyan preventing the sweep.

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 Manvel Gamburyan.
Well Dios 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Via Dios!
Via Dios thanked the fans post fight for their support.