PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Eric Hambro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Artur Aleksanyan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Artur Aleksanyan told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Hambro
vs
Aleksanyan

180 cm
25
209 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
220 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Eric Hambro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Artur Aleksanyan!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Colin Fotheringham and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hambro throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Aleksanyan drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Hambro defends it well.
Hambro throws a jab when Aleksanyan was well out of range.
Hambro comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Aleksanyan avoids the body shot from Hambro.
Hambro misses with a looping left.
Hambro misses with a jab, cross combination.
Aleksanyan needs to keep his hands up - Hambro had a free shot at his head there.
Hambro feints a jab promting Aleksanyan to slip. Hambro then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Aleksanyan slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Aleksanyan rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hambro moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Aleksanyan slips under a jab from Hambro.

Aleksanyan shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Hambro is trying to defend but Aleksanyan finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hambro is holding on to half guard well.
Aleksanyan has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aleksanyan throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Aleksanyan looking to control but Hambro is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Hambro knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Aleksanyan on the ground.
Hambro is trying to escape the mount.
Aleksanyan avoids the attempt from Hambro to control.
Aleksanyan throwing strikes here but Hambro is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Hambro bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aleksanyan being controlled here, momentarily.
Hambro is fighting to break Aleksanyan's control of his arms but Aleksanyan is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Aleksanyan looking for a guillotine here but Hambro defends easily.
Hambro 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.
Hambro content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hambro pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Aleksanyan is keeping the position for now.
Hambro has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Hambro chips away with some ground and pound.
We've been hearing that Hambro has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hambro 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.
Hambro postures up and lands a big shot to Aleksanyan's brow.
Aleksanyan is striking but Hambro is not phased and passes to half guard.
Hambro prevents Aleksanyan from improving his position.
Hambro trying to control the action but Aleksanyan is working from the bottom.
Hambro sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Aleksanyan defending well though.
Hambro looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Aleksanyan with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Aleksanyan looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Hambro winds up and cracks Aleksanyan with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Hambro seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aleksanyan is trying to control but can't.
The fighters are battling for position here. Aleksanyan manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Aleksanyan wants to sweep but no luck.
Hambro trying to control the position from guard on top but Aleksanyan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Aleksanyan looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hambro trying to control the position from guard on top but Aleksanyan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hambro is working Aleksanyan over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Aleksanyan throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Aleksanyan had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hambro defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Hambro 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.

Hambro darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Hambro working over Aleksanyan with some ground and pound. Aleksanyan looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Aleksanyan is looking to improve his position.
Hambro working over Aleksanyan with some ground and pound. Aleksanyan looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Hambro is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hambro keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Hambro seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Aleksanyan is trying to control but can't.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Hambro connects with a nice short shot to Aleksanyan's temple.

Aleksanyan looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Hambro working Aleksanyan over with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hambro looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Aleksanyan with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Hambro is nestled in close to Aleksanyan, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Hambro keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Hambro is looking to take a break and control but Aleksanyan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hambro working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Hambro is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Hambro lands a nice short elbow.
Hambro working Aleksanyan over with strikes.
Aleksanyan wants to control but Hambro is keeping busy.
Hambro sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Hambro seems to be working for a kimura but Aleksanyan defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hambro lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Hambro scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Aleksanyan is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hambro lands strikes from half guard.
Aleksanyan is pressing down on Hambro's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Eric Hambro overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hambro makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Aleksanyan is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Hambro rolls with it to try and escape but Aleksanyan cranks on the arm and Hambro is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Artur Aleksanyan!