PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Flare (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manvel Gamburyan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gamburyan has chosen Gamburyan vs. Brown on April 24th as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Flare
vs
Gamburyan

180 cm
36
206 lbs
17 - 29 - 0

165 cm
39
167 lbs
9 - 21 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 29 - 0, fighting out of London, John Flare!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 21 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Manvel Gamburyan!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Dmitry Maklakov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Flare gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Gamburyan to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Flare will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Gamburyan is stalling in the full guard.
Flare wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Flare being controlled here, momentarily.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Flare holds on and takes a little breather.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A head kick misses from Gamburyan.
Flare tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gamburyan swivels and escapes.
Gamburyan throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sloppy strikes from Gamburyan. Those never looked like landing.

Gamburyan is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Flare's half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Still in half guard, Gamburyan seems content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Manvel Gamburyan was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Gamburyan keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Flare could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Flare tries for a takedown but Gamburyan circles away easily

and Gamburyan counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Flare. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gamburyan slows the pace down in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
It looks like Gamburyan might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Gamburyan's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Manvel Gamburyan hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Flare gets caught napping as Gamburyan dives in and scores a takedown. Flare manages to retain guard.
Gamburyan stays in close to Flare's body and controls the position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Gamburyan throwing strikes from guard but Flare blocks nicely.
Gamburyan stays in close to Flare's body and controls the position.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Manvel Gamburyan wasn't active enough on the ground.
Flare shoots in but Gamburyan avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Gamburyan.
Flare is breathing heavily.
Gamburyan shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Flare as he avoids it easily.
A combination from Gamburyan does no damage.
Flare slips a jab and a cross from Gamburyan.
Flare showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gamburyan.
Gamburyan has worked on his takedown defense in the runup to this fight and it is paying off so far.
Gamburyan shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Flare as he jumps to the side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gamburyan bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Gamburyan wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Flare, who protects the arm well.
Flare taking punishment in the form of punches.

Gamburyan has an Americana. Flare didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! Gamburyan is delighted and gyrates in front of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if Gamburyan hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:45 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Manvel Gamburyan!
Manvel Gamburyan took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Das Labor for their support in the buildup to the fight.