PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Aharon Sarkisyan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Great Gonzo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Sarkisyan
vs
Gonzo

173 cm
20
163 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

150 cm
23
165 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
World class MT
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

Phantom Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Aharon Sarkisyan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Great Gonzo!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Leandro Rodrigues and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sarkisyan scores with a body shot.
Gonzo misses with a series of wild punches.
Gonzo misses with a body kick.
Sarkisyan pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Gonzo throws a counter combo.
Sarkisyan pivots, looking for a leg kick but Gonzo is out of range and Sarkisyan settles back down.
Sarkisyan misses with a looping left.
Aharon Sarkisyan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Gonzo clinches with his opponent.
Still in the clinch, Gonzo scores with a nice short uppercut.
Sarkisyan can't find room to land a body shot as Gonzo controls the action.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sarkisyan throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Gonzos head.
Sarkisyan lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Sarkisyan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gonzo checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Gonzo throws a counter combo.
Sarkisyan takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
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!
Sarkisyan lands with an overhand left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gonzo throws a front kick aimed at Sarkisyan's knee but Sarkisyan avoids it well.
Sarkisyan lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
A thudding body kick lands there by Gonzo!
Sarkisyan misses with a kick to the body
and Gonzo counters with a straight right hand.
Gonzo swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sarkisyan throws a nice head kick!

It looks like Great Gonzo has been cut.
Sarkisyan throws a chopping leg kick but Gonzo manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Sarkisyan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gonzo was well out of range. Poor timing from Sarkisyan.
Gonzo closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Sarkisyan.
Gonzo darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Good shot there by Sarkisyan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Sarkisyan goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Gonzo let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Gonzo misses with a wild combination.
Sarkisyan lets loose with a powerful body kick. Gonzo will feel that in the morning.
A telegraphed right hand from Sarkisyan misses the target.
Sarkisyan tries a low kick but Gonzo avoids it.
Gonzo dodges the punch combination from Sarkisyan.
Gonzo moves out of range of the body kick from Sarkisyan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sarkisyan swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sarkisyan tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Gonzo is able to avoid easily.
Sarkisyan misses the shot to the body.
Sarkisyan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sarkisyan throws a sloppy head kick and Gonzo moves out of range easily.
Gonzo thuds his right hand into Sarkisyan's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Gonzo bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Gonzo unleashes a big counter combination but Sarkisyan bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Gonzo pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Gonzo moves into range and clinches up with Sarkisyan.

Sarkisyan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Good leg kick by Sarkisyan there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Gonzo throws a series of punches but Sarkisyan avoids them all with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sarkisyan throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Gonzo chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Sarkisyan can pounce on him.
Sarkisyan connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Gonzo wants to clinch
and Sarkisyan connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gonzo takes one on the button.
It looks like Sarkisyan has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Sarkisyan misses with a wild body shot.
Gonzo feints a counter leg kick.
A head kick misses from Sarkisyan.
Gonzo unleashes a big counter combination but Sarkisyan bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Sarkisyan shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Sarkisyan takes a swing at Gonzo's ribcage but misses.
Sarkisyan avoids a kick to the body.
Sarkisyan looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aharon Sarkisyan dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Great Gonzo's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Gonzo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sarkisyan circles away quickly and effectively.
Sarkisyan is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Sarkisyan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sarkisyan seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Gonzo throws a sloppy head kick and Sarkisyan moves out of range easily.
Gonzo lands a head kick!
Aharon Sarkisyan is winning the standup battle so far.
Sarkisyan misses with a left hand
and Gonzo counters with a three punch combo that has Sarkisyan backing up. Sarkisyan nods at Gonzo to acknowledge the strikes.
Gonzo tries to close the distance and clinch but Sarkisyan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sarkisyan lands a nice looking body kick.
Gonzo takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sarkisyan misses the shot to the body.
Sloppy strikes from Gonzo. Those never looked like landing.
Great Gonzo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sarkisyan missing with a left hand there. Gonzo was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sarkisyan bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
A combination from Gonzo does no damage.
Sarkisyan scores with a jab to the body.
Gonzo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sarkisyan.
Gonzo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sarkisyan throws a right hand that misses
and Gonzo counters with a series of strikes. Sarkisyan will be more careful next time no doubt.
Sarkisyan throws a quick inside leg kick.
Gonzo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sarkisyan swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Gonzo lands with a thumping leg kick.
Gonzo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sarkisyan looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gonzo keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sarkisyan pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Gonzo misses with a double jab.
Sarkisyan throws a head kick that misses.
Gonzo throws a counter combo.
Sarkisyan throws the left hand but Gonzo avoids the punch easily.
Gonzo is looking for the big counter here.
Gonzo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sarkisyan is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Gonzo looks to land a combination but Sarkisyan avoids it well.
Gonzo bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Gonzo is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Gonzo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gonzo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sarkisyan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sarkisyan throws a jab when Gonzo was well out of range.
Despite the aggression on Gonzo's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gonzo connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Sarkisyan's hands.
Sarkisyan thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gonzo slips a jab from Sarkisyan.

Gonzo gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A head punch on the inside from Sarkisyan fails to land.
Sarkisyan looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Sarkisyan's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gonzo moves out of range of the strikes.
Gonzo lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gonzo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gonzo misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Gonzo throws a right hand that Sarkisyan ducks under and follows up with a left that Sarkisyan also avoids with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sarkisyan throws a sloppy head kick and Gonzo moves out of range easily.
Gonzo moves out of range of the leg kick from Sarkisyan.
A clash of legs there as Gonzo blocks the low kick.
Gonzo uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sarkisyan.
Gonzo throws a counter combo.
Sarkisyan lands a nice looking body shot.
Sarkisyan throws a right hand that misses
and Gonzo counters with a one-two to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sarkisyan throws a lazy right hand but Gonzo sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Gonzo feints a counter leg kick.
Sarkisyan throws a body shot but no joy.
Sarkisyan dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Gonzo. That did some damage!
Gonzo moves out of range of the body kick from Sarkisyan.
As Sarkisyan backs off Gonzo throws a huge counter combo but Sarkisyan manages to avoid it all.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Great Gonzo will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Great Gonzo'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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Sarkisyan misses with an uppercut. Gonzo saw that one coming.
Sarkisyan cracks Gonzo with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Sarkisyan tries to land a leg kick but Gonzo saw it coming and moves away.
As Sarkisyan backs off Gonzo throws a huge counter combo but Sarkisyan manages to avoid it all.
Gonzo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sarkisyan.
Gonzo has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Gonzo throws a lazy body kick
and Sarkisyan counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sarkisyan misses with a body shot.
Gonzo misses with a double jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sarkisyan tries to land a body kick
and Gonzo makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Sarkisyan with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Gonzo moves away from the strike by Sarkisyan.
Sarkisyan lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gonzo throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Sarkisyan finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Sarkisyan swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Gonzo counters with a three punch combo that has Sarkisyan backing up. Sarkisyan nods at Gonzo to acknowledge the strikes.
Sarkisyan pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Despite the aggression on Gonzo's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

Gonzo moves into the clinch.
Gonzo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sarkisyan has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.

Sarkisyan breaks the clinch.
Sarkisyan listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Sarkisyan connects with a crisp jab.
A swing and a miss from Sarkisyan.
Sarkisyan throws a leg kick but Gonzo sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Gonzo throws out a counter right but Sarkisyan avoids it with no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gonzo throws a combination that misses
letting Sarkisyan counter with a right hand.
Gonzo misses with a few strikes there.
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!
Gonzo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sarkisyan.
Sarkisyan is looking to counter with a body kick.
Sarkisyan throws a leg kick which misses Gonzo's front leg but catches the back leg as Gonzo tries to avoid it.
Gonzo feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Sarkisyan's calf.
Sarkisyan swats away the attempt to clinch by Gonzo.
Sarkisyan is looking to counter punch.
A solid leg kick lands there for Gonzo.
Gonzo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Gonzo!
Gonzo misses with a head kick.
Sarkisyan fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Gonzo checks it well.
Gonzo feints a counter leg kick.
Gonzo lands with a thumping leg kick.
Sarkisyan chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Sarkisyan connects with a nice looking jab.
Gonzo throws a body kick that misses.
Good leg kick by Gonzo there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Sarkisyan throws a push kick but Gonzo slaps the foot to one side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sarkisyan lets loose with a powerful body kick. Gonzo will feel that in the morning.
Good standup being displayed there by Sarkisyan as he connects with a hook.
Sarkisyan tries a head kick but it misses.
Gonzo is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sarkisyan takes a swing at Gonzo's ribcage but misses.
Gonzo throws a right hand that Sarkisyan ducks under and follows up with a left that Sarkisyan also avoids with ease.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sarkisyan looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Gonzo lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Gonzo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gonzo checks a leg kick.
Gonzo lands a high kick!
Sarkisyan misses with a body kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Aharon Sarkisyan.
I think Sarkisyan has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aharon Sarkisyan!
A victorious Aharon Sarkisyan thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.