PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Suren Nazarethyan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steinar Sting (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nazarethyan's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Brennan Heart & Wildstylez - Lose My Mind. On his way into the cage it seems that Suren Nazarethyan has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Suren Nazarethyan seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Nazarethyan
vs
Sting

155 cm
25
150 lbs
20 - 3 - 1

168 cm
35
148 lbs
33 - 18 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

TWGC Champion
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Perkele!
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Suren Nazarethyan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 33 - 18 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Steinar Sting!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Donald Grub and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sting throws a head kick that misses.
Nazarethyan chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Nazarethyan.
Sting bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Nazarethyan's head.
Nazarethyan tries to clinch but Sting moves out of range.
Sting slips a jab from Nazarethyan.
Sting takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Nazarethyan is looking to chop away at Sting's legs.
Nazarethyan throws a front kick aimed at Sting's knee but Sting avoids it well.
Nazarethyan lands with a shot to the body.
Nazarethyan throws a body punch but Sting moves out of range.
Nice straight punches there by Nazarethyan. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Nazarethyan.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nazarethyan uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sting.
Nazarethyan feints and then cracks Sting's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Sting down.
Nazarethyan lands a right hook to the body.
Sting misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Suren Nazarethyan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nazarethyan is looking to slow Sting down with leg kicks.
An inside leg kick lands from Nazarethyan.
Nazarethyan slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Nazarethyan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sting was well out of range. Poor timing from Nazarethyan.
Sting stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Nazarethyan.
Sting keeps the fight on the outside.
Nazarethyan with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Sting stalks Nazarethyan and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Nazarethyan's face. Nazarethyan staggers backwards, shaken.
Sting wants to clinch

and Nazarethyan counters by clinching up.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sting blocks an uppercut.
Nazarethyan softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Sting lands with a right to the head.
Nazarethyan misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Nazarethyan blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sting struggles to land a body shot inside as Nazarethyan controls his hands.
A shot in the inside from Nazarethyan.
Nazarethyan misses with the head strike.
Sting tries a body shot but Nazarethyan blocks it.
Nazarethyan misses with a hook from the clinch.
Sting works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Nazarethyan blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Sting tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nazarethyan's elbow.
Sting tries to throw a body punch but Nazarethyan avoids it by throwing Sting back against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Sting scores with a nice short uppercut.
Nazarethyan misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A head punch on the inside from Nazarethyan fails to land.
Nazarethyan working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Nazarethyan.
Nazarethyan lands a nice shot to the body.
Sting has a couple of punches blocked by Nazarethyan.
Nazarethyan working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Nazarethyan lands with a light punch inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sting throws a head punch that misses.
Nazarethyan has a couple of punches blocked by Sting.
Sting's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Nazarethyan is trying to maintain a safe position but Sting gets an underhook and turns Nazarethyan into the cage.
Sting tries a body shot but Nazarethyan blocks it.
Sting blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A left hand lands to the body for Sting.
Sting blocks a body shot from Nazarethyan.
Nazarethyan stalling against the cage.
Nazarethyan working aggressively here.
Nazarethyan blocks an uppercut.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Nazarethyan as Sting tries to tie him up.
Nazarethyan tries to throw a body punch but Sting avoids it by throwing Nazarethyan back against the cage.
Nazarethyan digs a right hand underneath Sting's ribcage. Sting let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Nazarethyan misses with a punch to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Sting lands a body shot in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nazarethyan working aggressively here.
Nazarethyan tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sting's elbow.
Nazarethyan tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Nazarethyan lands a shoulder strike.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nazarethyan lands with a light punch inside.
Sting blocking some punches.
Sting misses with a hook to the ribs.
Nazarethyan looking to slow down the pace here.
Nazarethyan tries a body shot but Sting blocks it.
A nice right hand lands inside from Nazarethyan.
Sting has a couple of punches blocked by Nazarethyan.
Sting goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Nazarethyan misses with a punch to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nazarethyan tries to throw a body punch but Sting avoids it by throwing Nazarethyan back against the cage.
Nazarethyan prevents a body shot from Sting.
Nazarethyan blocks a body shot from Sting.
A head punch on the inside from Sting fails to land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nazarethyan tries to clinch but Sting is having none of it.
Sting throws a half hearted mid kick.
Donk. Sting catches Nazarethyan right on the button with a cross.

It looks like Suren Nazarethyan has been cut.
Sting walks into a stiff left hand from Nazarethyan.
Sting with a jab.
Nazarethyan lands a nice leg kick that just misses Sting's sensitive parts.
Nazarethyan misses with a body shot.
Sting takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Nazarethyan, right into the meat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nazarethyan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sting.
Sting takes a swing at Nazarethyan's ribcage but misses.
Nazarethyan misses the shot to the body.
Nazarethyan is looking to wear down Sting with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Nazarethyan dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sting misses with a takedown attempt - Nazarethyan sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sting checks the leg kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Sting checks a leg kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Sting. That's going to slow Nazarethyan down.
Nazarethyan throws a shot to the body.
Nazarethyan looks to land a right hand but Sting moved out of range.
A chopping leg kick lands by Nazarethyan.
Nazarethyan scores with a nice right hand.
Sting checks the leg kick nicely there.
Nazarethyan lands a jab.
Nazarethyan fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Sting.
Nazarethyan scores with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nazarethyan throws a leg kick but Sting sees it coming and moves out of range.
Nazarethyan lands a leg kick that knocks Sting off balance momentarily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sting throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Nazarethyan throws a looping overhand right but Sting ducks down to avoid it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nazarethyan. Sting does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nazarethyan lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Nazarethyan throws a body punch but Sting moves out of range.
Nazarethyan throws a looping overhand right but Sting ducks down to avoid it.
Sting scores with a leg kick.
Sting lands a nice shot to the body.
Nazarethyan changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Nazarethyan wants to clinch but Sting slips to the side

and Sting counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Nazarethyan wants to sweep here but Sting controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nazarethyan is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sting throws an elbow that misses. Nazarethyan uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sting's guard. Nice move by Nazarethyan!
Nazarethyan has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Sting is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Nazarethyan is aware though and is defending well.
Nazarethyan scoring with some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sting 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.

Sting is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Nazarethyan is aware though and is defending well.
Nazarethyan makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sting can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Nazarethyan controls the pace.

Sting is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Nazarethyan defends well.
Sting lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Nazarethyan!
Sting is trying to control here but Nazarethyan has managed to regain half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sting slows the pace down in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Suren Nazarethyan will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Suren Nazarethyan's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Sting scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Nazarethyan doesn't seem bothered though.
Sting moves into range and connects with a jab.
Good leg kick by Nazarethyan there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Sting slips under a jab from Nazarethyan.
Nazarethyan scores with the left hand. Sting knows he should have avoided that one.
Nazarethyan stuns Sting with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Sting swings for the body but Nazarethyan moves out of range.
Sting fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Nazarethyan is out of range.
Nazarethyan feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Sting's calf.
Nazarethyan tries to clinch there but Sting circles away.
Nazarethyan tries a low kick but Sting avoids it.
Sting connects with a body shot that sends Nazarethyan's belly button to the back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nazarethyan throws the left hand but Sting avoids the punch easily.
Nazarethyan ducks under a wild hook from Sting.
Sting throws a head kick that misses.
Sting throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Nazarethyan on the side of the head.
Nazarethyan stuns Sting with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Sting throws a good cross that connects.
Nazarethyan misses with a low kick.
Nice body punch from Nazarethyan.
Suren Nazarethyan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Horrible takedown by Sting or perhaps it was just good defense by Nazarethyan which made him look bad.
A chopping leg kick lands by Nazarethyan.
Sting throws a head kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sting misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nazarethyan slips a straight right by Sting.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sting fails to land the takedown.
Sting takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nazarethyan pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Nazarethyan scores with a shot to the body.
Nazarethyan lands with an overhand left.
Sting circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nazarethyan stuffs the takedown.
Suren Nazarethyan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steinar Sting.
A left lands for Nazarethyan.
Sting throws a head kick that misses.

Nazarethyan moves into the clinch.
Sting doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Sting throws a head punch that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sting tries a body shot but Nazarethyan blocks it.
Sting has a couple of punches blocked by Nazarethyan.
Nazarethyan pushes Sting back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Nazarethyan lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Sting has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Nazarethyan can't find room to land a body shot as Sting controls the action.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sting.
A right hand to the body from Sting.
Nazarethyan lands with a light punch inside.
Sting can't find room to land a body shot as Nazarethyan controls the action.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Nazarethyan.
Still in the clinch, Nazarethyan scores with a nice short uppercut.
Nazarethyan tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Sting is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Nazarethyan is defending well.
Nazarethyan pressing his opponent against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nazarethyan can't find room to land a body shot as Sting controls the action.
Nazarethyan goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sting throws a head punch that misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nazarethyan lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Sting throws a punch but it's blocked by Nazarethyan.
Sting blocks an uppercut.
Sting misses with a body punch.
Nazarethyan scores with a shoulder strike.
Sting lands a left hand that snaps the head of Nazarethyan backwards.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nazarethyan scores with a hook to the body.
Nazarethyan misses with a hook from the clinch.
Sting goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Nazarethyan lands a nice uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Suren Nazarethyan clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Suren Nazarethyan's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nazarethyan connects with an inside leg kick.
Nazarethyan tries to clinch up but Sting circles away and keeps his distance.
Nazarethyan lands with a thumping leg kick.
Sting checks the leg kick nicely there.
Sting takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Nazarethyan misses with a looping left.
Sting uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nazarethyan.
Nazarethyan looks to score with a jab to the body but Sting is just out of range.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Nazarethyan lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Sting has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Sting and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Nazarethyan thumps Sting with a low kick.
Sting connects with an inside leg kick.
Suren Nazarethyan is winning the standup battle so far.
Sting tries to score with a low kick but Nazarethyan moves his leg out of the way.
Sting lands the left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nazarethyan throws a nice inside leg kick.
Sting moves out of range of the leg kick from Nazarethyan.
Sting connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Sting wants to land a leg kick but Nazarethyan is out of range.
Nazarethyan throws a head kick but Sting moves out of range.
Nazarethyan scores with a hook.
Sting misses with a body shot.
Nazarethyan misses with a hook

and Sting counters with a shoot takedown. Nazarethyan fights it but they end up in guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nazarethyan has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Nazarethyan has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nazarethyan keeping moving, preventing Sting from controlling successfully.
Sting throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sting trying to control the position from guard on top but Nazarethyan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Steinar Sting was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Sting misses the shot to the body.
Nazarethyan throws a jab but it's blocked by Sting.
Nazarethyan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nazarethyan tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sting manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nazarethyan is looking to slow Sting down with leg kicks.
Nazarethyan scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Nazarethyan fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Sting throws a leg kick which misses Nazarethyan's front leg but catches the back leg as Nazarethyan tries to avoid it.
Sting with a hook.

Sting clinches.
Nazarethyan goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Nazarethyan misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sting misses with the head strike.
Nazarethyan fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Nazarethyan can't find room to land a body shot as Sting controls the action.
Nazarethyan tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Nazarethyan looking to slow down the pace here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good body shot from Sting.
Sting jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Nazarethyan walks away with a smile on his face. Sting gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Nazarethyan throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Sting counters with a shoot takedown. Nazarethyan fights it but they end up in guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sting throws a big right hand that misses.
Sting missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sting has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Nazarethyan is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Nazarethyan is pressing down on Sting's thigh, looking to free his foot. Sting is holding on for now.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sting is refusing to be controlled, as Nazarethyan sits in half guard.
Sting wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Steinar Sting will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Suren Nazarethyan's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! 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.

Nazarethyan misses with a hook. Sting ducked under it nicely.
Nazarethyan misses with a wild body shot.
Sting uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nazarethyan.
Nazarethyan walks into a stiff left hand from Sting.
Sting blocks a low kick nicely.
Nazarethyan dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Sting. That did some damage!
Nazarethyan scores with a sloppy right hand. Sting should have avoided that one.
Sting uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Nazarethyan.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sting.
Nazarethyan lands a nice shot to the body.
A shot to the body from Nazarethyan misses

and Sting decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Nazarethyan's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nazarethyan has momentary wrist control but Sting slips an elbow through the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sting tries to free his leg and advance position but Nazarethyan is retaining full guard.
Nazarethyan manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Nazarethyan landing strikes, looking to finish!
Sting is trying desperately to improve position.
Nazarethyan looking to control but Sting is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Suren Nazarethyan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nazarethyan landing shots from mount.
Steinar Sting has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nazarethyan sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Sting tries to hold on but Nazarethyan pushes him away.
Sting is squirming around, avoiding Nazarethyan's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Nazarethyan controlling from mount.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Suren Nazarethyan.
Nazarethyan feints and then cracks Sting's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Sting down.
Nazarethyan dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sting throws a nice inside leg kick.
Nazarethyan blocks a head kick by Sting.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nazarethyan is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nazarethyan. Sting does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nazarethyan's corner calls for a 1-2. Nazarethyan obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Sting shoots in looking for a takedown but Nazarethyan manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sting's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Nazarethyan thumps Sting with a low kick.
Sting takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Nazarethyan lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Sting has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Sting and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
The crowd cheers as Sting lands an impressive looking overhand right. Nazarethyan doesn't seem phased though.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sting has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Sting there as he acknowledges the shot.

Nazarethyan takes the fight into the clinch.
A short right from Sting.

And that's the end of the fight!
Suren Nazarethyan showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Nazarethyan 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 49:46
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 50:46
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 49:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Suren Nazarethyan!
After winning the bout, Suren Nazarethyan thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.