PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vartan Mamikonyan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Timo Takka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mamikonyan comes to the cage accompanied by True Armenian Hero. Takka has chosen Kavinsky - Nightcall 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?

Mamikonyan
vs
Takka

179 cm
27
193 lbs
13 - 9 - 0

195 cm
34
194 lbs
19 - 15 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Great elbows
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Perkele!

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 13 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Vartan Mamikonyan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Timo Takka !
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, John Roberts and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mamikonyan moves into the clinch successfully.
Takka managing to block the knees to the body from Mamikonyan.

Takka pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Takka scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

Takka looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Takka tries to pass the half guard into mount. Mamikonyan knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Mamikonyan moves into full guard.
Takka throws an elbow that misses. Mamikonyan uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Takka 's guard. Nice move by Mamikonyan!
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Takka holds on and takes a little breather.
Mamikonyan sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takka is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Mamikonyan throws a big right hand that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Takka trying to keep a closed guard but Mamikonyan is proving a slippery customer.
Takka is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Mamikonyan has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Timo Takka was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Mamikonyan misses with an uppercut.
Mamikonyan tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Takka counters with a slapping leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mamikonyan tries to clinch but Takka is having none of it.
Mamikonyan moves in looking to clinch but Takka pushes him off.
Takka leaves Mamikonyan with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Mamikonyan closes the distance looking to clinch
and Takka counters with a nice leg kick.
Mamikonyan wants to clinch
and Takka counters with a lovely straight right hand!

It looks like Vartan Mamikonyan has been cut.
Takka moves out of range of the strikes.
Mamikonyan tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Takka manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Mamikonyan shoots and misses
and Takka counters with a lovely straight right hand!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Takka keeps the fight on the outside.
Takka circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mamikonyan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Takka swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mamikonyan fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vartan Mamikonyan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mamikonyan tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Takka counters with a three punch combo that has Mamikonyan backing up. Mamikonyan nods at Takka to acknowledge the strikes.
Mamikonyan is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Takka is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Takka stuffs the takedown.
Mamikonyan misses with the combination.
Horrible takedown by Mamikonyan or perhaps it was just good defense by Takka which made him look bad.
Takka throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Mamikonyan stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Takka throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Mamikonyan.
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!
Takka moves out of range as Mamikonyan strikes.
Mamikonyan tries to clinch there but Takka circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takka cracks Mamikonyan with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Takka keeps the fight on the outside.
Mamikonyan fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Takka looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mamikonyan is fending him off so far but Takka persists. Nope, Mamikonyan circles away and we're back to standing.
Takka checks a low kick from Mamikonyan.
Takka swats away the attempt to clinch by Mamikonyan.
Mamikonyan shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Takka swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Vartan Mamikonyan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Mamikonyan tries to clinch but Takka moves out of range.

Mamikonyan gets caught flat footed, as Takka shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Takka looking to sit in guard and control but Mamikonyan gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Mamikonyan content to stall in guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Timo Takka dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Vartan Mamikonyan's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Takka stuffs the takedown.
Mamikonyan wants to clinch up but Takka keeps it at a distance.
Mamikonyan walks into a straight right hand from Takka .
Timo Takka seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Takka checks a low kick from Mamikonyan.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Takka enables Mamikonyan to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Takka manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Mamikonyan looking to pass the guard.
Mamikonyan works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Takka keeping hold of Mamikonyan's head, controlling as best he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mamikonyan wants to work for an arm triangle but Takka is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Mamikonyan trying to control from Takka 's half guard. Takka has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Takka wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Mamikonyan looking to sit in guard and control but Takka gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Takka 's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mamikonyan bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Takka 's guard.
Mamikonyan wants to control from the top but Takka keeps moving.
Mamikonyan tries to free his leg and advance position but Takka is retaining full guard.
Mamikonyan trying to control but Takka is working from the bottom.
Vartan Mamikonyan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Takka keeping full guard, as Mamikonyan tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Vartan Mamikonyan.
Mamikonyan with a poor takedown
and Takka counters with a series of strikes. Mamikonyan will be more careful next time no doubt.
Mamikonyan closes the distance looking to clinch
and Takka counters with an outside leg kick.
Takka tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mamikonyan sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Takka somewhat.
Mamikonyan swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Mamikonyan fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vartan Mamikonyan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mamikonyan swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Takka has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Takka .
Takka cracks Mamikonyan with a good jab.

Vartan Mamikonyan's cut is getting worse.
Timo Takka is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mamikonyan is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Mamikonyan shoots in looking for a takedown but Takka manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Mamikonyan's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Mamikonyan moves out of range of the leg kick from Takka .
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!
A cross from Mamikonyan lands.

Mamikonyan shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mamikonyan thows a huge punch but Takka dodges it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vartan Mamikonyan dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Vartan Mamikonyan'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. This is the final round!

Takka shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Mamikonyan defends it nicely.
Mamikonyan tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Takka manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Mamikonyan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Takka swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mamikonyan tries to clinch but Takka moves out of range.
Mamikonyan tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Takka manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Mamikonyan darts in trying to clinch
and Takka counters with a one-two to the body.
Mamikonyan takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Mamikonyan shoots in for a double leg but Takka sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Mamikonyan shoots for a takedown but Takka saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Mamikonyan takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takka throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Takka is trying hard to land a takedown here. Mamikonyan sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Takka throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Mamikonyan takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Takka fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Mamikonyan on the side of the head.
Takka has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Takka throws a head kick that misses.
Takka lands with a hook. Mamikonyan tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Mamikonyan misses with a looping right.
Takka avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Takka cracks Mamikonyan with a right hand to the side of the head.
Mamikonyan wants to clinch but Takka slips to the side
and Takka counters with a stiff right hand.

Vartan Mamikonyan's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Takka throws a left and a right that both miss
and Mamikonyan counters with a nice low kick that buckles Takka 's knee momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takka stuffs the takedown attempt from Mamikonyan. Mamikonyan gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vartan Mamikonyan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A head kick from Takka lands but Mamikonyan takes it in his stride.

Mamikonyan is rocked!
Mamikonyan tries to close the distance and clinch but Takka swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Oh Mamikonyan is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Mamikonyan fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Mamikonyan seems to have got his legs back now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Takka connects with an inside leg kick.
Mamikonyan has a takedown stuffed.

Takka looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Takka makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takka slips nicely into half guard.
Mamikonyan might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Takka stalling.
Takka is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Mamikonyan is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Mamikonyan wants to stand back up but Takka manages to pass into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takka tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Mamikonyan is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Takka 's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Takka is looking for a kimura here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Well, if Takka is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

And that's the end of the fight!
Timo Takka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Takka 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Timo Takka !
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Timo Takka made sure he mentioned Perkele!, along with how happy he was to win his fight.
In defeat, Vartan Mamikonyan stepped up to the mic, saying 'This is my 3th loss in row, :-( I must back to gym and train harder then ever! Thx everyone to watching me!!!'.