PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Akop Mavsisan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ashot Karapenian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Mavsisan
vs
Karapenian

175 cm
25
138 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

168 cm
25
138 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Akop Mavsisan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ashot Karapenian!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karapenian throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Mavsisan.
Karapenian displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mavsisan.

Mavsisan gets caught napping as Karapenian dives in and scores a takedown. Mavsisan manages to retain guard.
Mavsisan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Karapenian.
Mavsisan preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Karapenian must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Karapenian trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mavsisan trying to control the position.
Karapenian stays in close to Mavsisan's body and controls the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Mavsisan has an active guard here but Karapenian has managed to pass into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karapenian is taking a breather. Mavsisan says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Ashot Karapenian wasn't active enough on the ground.
Horrible takedown by Mavsisan or perhaps it was just good defense by Karapenian which made him look bad.

Karapenian looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Karapenian slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mavsisan wants to get back to his feet but Karapenian is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Karapenian working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Karapenian landing some decent shots from guard.

Karapenian decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Mavsisan throws a right and a left that both miss.

Karapenian decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Karapenian perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mavsisan moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Mavsisan looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Mavsisan looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Karapenian gets to his feet - Mavsisan follows without any prompting.

Karapenian has Mavsisan up against the cage in a clinch.
Mavsisan jumps guard but Karapenian turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Akop Mavsisan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Karapenian doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karapenian managing to block the knees to the body from Mavsisan.
Karapenian lands with a light punch inside.
Mavsisan jumps guard but Karapenian turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Karapenian is pushing Mavsisan up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

Karapenian breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Karapenian shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Mavsisan napping and manages to drive through into side control!
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!
Mavsisan wants to get back to his feet but Karapenian drags him back down.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mavsisan being controlled for a moment.
Mavsisan is not content to let Karapenian control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ashot Karapenian dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Mavsisan decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Mavsisan working Karapenian over with strikes.
Mavsisan trying to control the action but Karapenian is working from the bottom.
Karapenian keeping hold of Mavsisan's head, controlling as best he can.
Karapenian wants to get back to full guard but Mavsisan has mounted him!
Mavsisan trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mavsisan scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Karapenian?

Mavsisan is working for a guillotine from mount but Karapenian frees his head quite easily.
Karapenian tries to hold on but Mavsisan pushes him away.
Karapenian is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Mavsisan lands with some strikes.
Karapenian is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Mavsisan with good strikes from the mount here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mavsisan lands with some strikes.
Karapenian tries to lock up and control but Mavsisan gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Mavsisan lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Mavsisan lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Mavsisan landing strikes from the mount.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mavsisan can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Karapenian is looking to escape.
Mavsisan is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Karapenian is looking to get to half guard.
Mavsisan wants to control the pace but Karapenian is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karapenian is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Karapenian is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Mavsisan is landing with some decent strikes but Karapenian is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Karapenian tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Mavsisan wants to control the pace but Karapenian is squirming around nicely.
Karapenian tries to hold on but Mavsisan postures up.
Mavsisan trying to control but Karapenian is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mavsisan is really struggling to control Karapenian but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Mavsisan in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Mavsisan tries to control but Karapenian wriggling away.
Mavsisan has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Mavsisan prevents Karapenian from getting the reversal.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mavsisan trying to control but Karapenian is having none of it.
Mavsisan prevents Karapenian from getting the reversal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akop Mavsisan dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Karapenian darts in and clinches Mavsisan up against the cage.
Karapenian gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Mavsisan.

Karapenian pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Karapenian closes the distance and clinches.

Mavsisan jumps guard and drags Karapenian to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Karapenian really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mavsisan. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Karapenian wants to control from the top but Mavsisan keeps moving.
Mavsisan trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Mavsisan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Karapenian stands up from Mavsisan's guard - Karapenian perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Karapenian drives through with a takedown into Mavsisan's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Mavsisan wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mavsisan is on top in guard.
Karapenian looking for a sweep. Not yet Karapenian, not yet.
Karapenian controls Mavsisan momentarily but Mavsisan frees himself.
Ashot Karapenian has got the better of the ground game so far.
Karapenian is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karapenian is thwarting Mavsisan's attempts to control the position.
Mavsisan is staying active underneath Karapenian, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Mavsisan is pressing down on Karapenian's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Karapenian is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Karapenian controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Mavsisan is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mavsisan working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Karapenian doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Karapenian manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Karapenian controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Karapenian stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mavsisan swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Mavsisan is looking to stand up but Karapenian isn't so interested in that idea.

Mavsisan has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Karapenian can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karapenian scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Mavsisan utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Mavsisan wants to sweep but no luck.
Mavsisan manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Mavsisan landing strikes from the mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mavsisan lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ashot Karapenian.
Well Karapenian 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Ashot Karapenian!