PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ravil Ahmedov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Geghard Karekin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Ahmedov
vs
Karekin

177 cm
25
180 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

179 cm
29
165 lbs
6 - 5 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

KaotiK

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ravil Ahmedov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 1, fighting out of London, Geghard Karekin!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, James Atkins and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ahmedov throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Karekin counters with a takedown into side control.
Ahmedov defending against the ground and pound.
Ahmedov is looking for a sweep.
Karekin throws an elbow but Ahmedov slips to the side and avoids it well.
Karekin misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Ahmedov is looking to reverse the position.
Karekin remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Karekin throws an elbow but Ahmedov slips to the side and avoids it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ahmedov defending against the ground and pound.
Karekin throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karekin taking a breather here.
Karekin throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Karekin.
Karekin lands an elbow.
Karekin tries to score with some ground and pound. Ahmedov controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Karekin working the ground and pound.
Karekin working the ground and pound from side control.
Ahmedov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Karekin scores with a couple of short elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karekin trying to control the position but Ahmedov is working away.
Karekin has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Karekin working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Karekin scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Ahmedov to see if he's OK.
Karekin looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Ahmedov is avoiding damage well.
Karekin lands a few punches from side control.
Ahmedov is looking for a sweep.
Karekin passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Ahmedov!
Ahmedov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Karekin working the ground and pound effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karekin wants to control the pace but Ahmedov is squirming around nicely.
Ahmedov working to try and regain half guard.
Karekin with a couple of short strikes.
Ahmedov is looking to improve his position but Karekin isn't that keen on the idea.
Karekin lands a couple of good shots and Ahmedov has given up his back, trying to escape the position!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karekin is landing with strikes from the back.
Karekin slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Karekin lands a shot to the head.
A lull in the action here.
Ahmedov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Karekin on the ground.
Karekin is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Ahmedov. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Karekin trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Karekin lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Ahmedov hold on?!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Will Karekin go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Geghard Karekin dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ahmedov falls off balance throwing a combination

and Karekin counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Ahmedov trying to control the position.
Karekin throwing strikes but missing.
Karekin makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Karekin slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karekin trying to control but Ahmedov is working from the bottom.
Ahmedov trying to keep a closed guard but Karekin is proving a slippery customer.
Geghard Karekin has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ahmedov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Karekin is one step ahead there.
Karekin throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Ahmedov throws a body shot but no joy.
Nice defenses there by Karekin.
Karekin keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ahmedov.
Karekin walks into a left hand.
Ahmedov throws a lazy uppercut

and Karekin decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ahmedov's guard.
Karekin is pushing down on Ahmedov's leg trying to pass to half guard. Ahmedov is fighting to maintain full guard but Karekin has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karekin lands strikes from half guard.
Karekin missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ahmedov tries to get to full guard but Karekin has control of the leg.
Karekin trying to control the action but Ahmedov is working from the bottom.
Karekin slips a nice elbow through Ahmedov's hands, connecting with Ahmedov's forehead.
Ahmedov controlling the position for now.
Karekin not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Karekin trying to control the action but Ahmedov is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karekin stalling.
Let's hope that Karekin has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Karekin is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Karekin looking to control but Ahmedov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Karekin with the ground and pound from mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Karekin lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Karekin lands with some strikes.
Karekin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ahmedov is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Geghard Karekin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Ahmedov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Ahmedov misses with an uppercut. Karekin saw that one coming.
Karekin is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Ahmedov misses with a hook. Karekin ducked under it nicely.
Karekin tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Karekin uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ahmedov.
Karekin feints the counter takedown.
Ahmedov misses the body punch

and Karekin counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Ahmedov!
Karekin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ahmedov keeps working.
Karekin has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Karekin lands a couple of good shots and Ahmedov has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The referee is taking a good look at Ahmedov as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Karekin!
Ahmedov is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karekin gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Karekin. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Ahmedov prevents Karekin from getting a body triangle.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Karekin.

Ahmedov is rocked!
Karekin scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
Oh Ahmedov is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
The referee is taking a good look at Ahmedov as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Karekin!
Karekin lands with a hammerfist to the side of Ahmedov's head.
Karekin is raining down hard shots and and Ahmedov has had enough - he's tapped out due to the strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Geghard Karekin!