PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bernard Bear (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sarkis Zakoyan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bernard Bear could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Sarkis Zakoyan's chin.

Bear
vs
Zakoyan

194 cm
21
240 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

193 cm
19
269 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bernard Bear!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sarkis Zakoyan!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bear scores with a nice strike.
Bear just misses with a punch to the body.
Bear fails with a takedown attempt.
Bear shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Zakoyan sprawls well. Zakoyan wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Bear gets slowly back to his feet.
Zakoyan misses with a head kick.
Zakoyan throws a quick inside leg kick.
Zakoyan throws a series of punches but Bear avoids them all with ease.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bear shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Zakoyan as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bernard Bear. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Zakoyan gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Bear trying to control but Zakoyan is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zakoyan wants to get back to his feet but Bear is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Bear won't allow Zakoyan to sweep him here.
Bear throwing strikes from guard but Zakoyan blocks nicely.
Zakoyan has momentary wrist control but Bear slips an elbow through the middle.
Zakoyan not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Bear passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bear cracks Zakoyan with a big right hand but Zakoyan just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Zakoyan parries the strikes from Bear easily there. Bear is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Zakoyan to escape.
Bear wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zakoyan keeps working.
The strikes coming from Bear are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Bear has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Bear is chipping away with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zakoyan is not content to let Bear control the position.
Bear working the ground and pound but Zakoyan is defending the strikes.
Bear scoring with punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bear fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Zakoyan tries to buck Bear off but Bear is having none of it.
Bear is chipping away with strikes.

Zakoyan is rocked!

Bear swings around for an armbar but Zakoyan sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Bear's guard.
Zakoyan is still in real trouble! Can Bear finish him?

Bear is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Zakoyan is aware though and is defending well.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Zakoyan working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Zakoyan trying to control but Bear is working from the bottom.
Zakoyan seems to have recovered his senses.
Zakoyan might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Bear haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Bear trying to keep a closed guard but Zakoyan is proving a slippery customer.
Zakoyan controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Zakoyan lands a couple of elbows.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bear is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Bear wants to sweep but no luck.
Bear is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Bear lands with a punch from half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zakoyan is doing well to control the position and prevent Bear from advancing to side control.
Bear missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bernard Bear dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Bear shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Zakoyan sprawls well. Zakoyan wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Bear gets slowly back to his feet.
Zakoyan stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Bear fails to land the takedown.
Bear goes for a double leg but Zakoyan avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Zakoyan continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bernard Bear. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zakoyan lands with a thumping leg kick.
Zakoyan throws the left hand but Bear avoids the punch easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bear with a lazy takedown attempt
and Zakoyan counters with a straight right hand.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Bear.
Zakoyan wants to counter the offense by Bear and move into the clinch position.
Bear displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bear tries to score a power double leg takedown but Zakoyan sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Bear somewhat.
Zakoyan throws a hook but Bear avoids it easily.
Bear lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Zakoyan circles away quickly and effectively.

Bear fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Zakoyan to the ground. Bear is now in Zakoyan's guard.
Bernard Bear overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bear landing with the ground and pound.
Bear missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Bear loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Zakoyan not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Bear keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Zakoyan's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zakoyan working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bear doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bear manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Zakoyan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bear.
Bear is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zakoyan can do to turn this around?
Bear throws a big right hand that misses.
Bear wants to control from the top but Zakoyan keeps moving.
Bear throws a strike but Zakoyan rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Bear looking to control.
Zakoyan won't allow Bear to sweep him here.
Zakoyan trying to control the position from guard on top but Bear is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zakoyan is stalling in the full guard.
Bear is trying to control the position but Zakoyan postures up.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Zakoyan missing with a left hand there. Bear was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Zakoyan rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Bear moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Bear attempts a counter takedown but Zakoyan avoids it well and moves away.
Bear shoots in for a double leg but Zakoyan sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Zakoyan stuffs the takedown attempt from Bear. Bear gets slowly back to his feet.
Bear shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Zakoyan as he avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bear closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Bear works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
You can see the frustration on Zakoyan's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Zakoyan dodges the ground and pound from Bear.
Bear working the strikes but Zakoyan uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Zakoyan is trying to get back to full guard.
Bear throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Bear throwing shots but Zakoyan is blocking nicely.
Bear is trying to control. Zakoyan wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
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 Bernard Bear will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Zakoyan gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Bear to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Bear throws a strike but Zakoyan rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Bear looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Zakoyan is in close to Bear's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Bear is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Zakoyan trying to control but Bear is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zakoyan lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Bear is trying to control the position but Zakoyan postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zakoyan postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Bear 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.
Zakoyan looking to pass the guard.
Zakoyan trying to control the position from guard on top but Bear is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bear pulls Zakoyan in close to his closed guard and prevents Zakoyan from doing any damage or advancing position.

Bear had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Zakoyan defends it easily.
Zakoyan trying to control but Bear is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Zakoyan lands with a kick to the temple. Bear shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Bear misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Bernard Bear seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zakoyan stuffs the takedown.
Zakoyan steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Bear.
Zakoyan stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bernard Bear. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bear fails to land the takedown.
Bear will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Bear slips under a jab from Zakoyan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zakoyan waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Bear.
Bear changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Zakoyan tries to avoid it but Bear manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Zakoyan to the ground. Zakoyan escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Zakoyan pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Bear scores with a punch to the head.
Zakoyan misses with a looping right.
Bear shoots in for a takedown but Zakoyan shows good takedown defense.
Sarkis Zakoyan seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bear gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Bear tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Zakoyan swivels and escapes.
Zakoyan appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Bear fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Zakoyan avoids it really well and circles away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bear with a poor takedown

and Zakoyan counters with a nice double leg into side control. Bear won't be happy with that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zakoyan creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Bear sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bear tries to improve position but can't.
Zakoyan controlling the position.
Zakoyan lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Bear down.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zakoyan throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Bear stops Zakoyan from passing to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sarkis Zakoyan really 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.

Zakoyan takes the fight into the clinch.
Zakoyan manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Bear blocking some punches.
Bear is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A bit of stalling here from Zakoyan.
Zakoyan pushes off an throws an elbow but Bear leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Bear on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zakoyan can't find room to land a body shot as Bear controls the action.
Zakoyan lands with a left to the head.
Bear prevents a body shot from Zakoyan.

Zakoyan breaks the clinch.
Zakoyan stuffs the takedown.
Bear blocks a head kick by Zakoyan.
Zakoyan stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bernard Bear. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Zakoyan is fighting off a takedown attempt but Bear is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Zakoyan to the mat. Zakoyan regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Zakoyan seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zakoyan controls Bear momentarily but Bear frees himself.
Zakoyan keeping moving, preventing Bear from controlling successfully.
Bear is in close to Zakoyan's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Bear trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Zakoyan utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Zakoyan utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Zakoyan stuffs the takedown attempt from Bear. Bear gets slowly back to his feet.
Zakoyan throws a counter combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bear fails with a takedown attempt.
Bear shoots in for a takedown but Zakoyan shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Bear shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Zakoyan defends it nicely.
Bear closes the distance and clinches up with Zakoyan, looking for a takedown. Bear pushes Zakoyan against the cage but Zakoyan circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Zakoyan as Bear shoots in.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Bear takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bear moves out of range as Zakoyan strikes.
Bear fails with the takedown.

Zakoyan has managed to clinch.
Zakoyan tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Zakoyan.

Zakoyan has hold of one of Bear's legs. Bear is fighting the takedown attempt but Zakoyan gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Zakoyan trying to control the position from guard on top but Bear is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bear tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Zakoyan trying to control but Bear is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sarkis Zakoyan dominated that fourth round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Bear on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
A slow jab from Zakoyan misses its intended target.
Bear drops down looking for a counter takedown but Zakoyan sprawls and moves away.
Zakoyan tests Bear's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Bear 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.
Bear controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Bear missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bear lands a couple of digs.
Zakoyan keeping full guard, as Bear tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bear throwing strikes but missing.
Bear postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Zakoyan controls Bear momentarily but Bear frees himself.
Bear loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Zakoyan is trying to control the position but Bear postures up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Bear blocks a leg kick.

Zakoyan gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Bear to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zakoyan looking to control.
Bear throws a strike but Zakoyan rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Zakoyan trying to control the position from guard on top but Bear is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bear not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Zakoyan with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bear tries to strike from the bottom.
Zakoyan is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zakoyan with a nice head shot there.
Bear wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Zakoyan showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Zakoyan stands up over Bear, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Bear has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. Zakoyan doesn't defend quickly enough and Bear has managed to lock this one up! Can Zakoyan escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to Bear on a fantastic submission victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Bernard Bear!
Bernard Bear retains his heavyweight title!