PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Levon Minasian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago Meida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thiago Meida has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Levon Minasian's chin.

Minasian
vs
Meida

195 cm
21
246 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

210 cm
25
285 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

Great wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Levon Minasian!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thiago Meida!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Daniel Cesar and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Minasian dodges the punch combination from Meida.

Minasian darts in and clinches Meida up against the cage.
Meida prevents the takedown attempt.
Minasian misses with a punch on the inside.
Meida wants to break the clinch but can't.
Minasian takes a shot to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Minasian fails to land.
Minasian prevents Meida from breaking the clinch.
Meida throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Minasians head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Minasian gets through Meida's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Minasian working aggressively here.
Minasian doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Meida tries to circle away but Minasian has him pinned against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Minasian wants to take the fight to the mat but Meida manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Meida is trying to push Minasian away but Minasian has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Minasian goes for a takedown in the clinch but Meida prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Levon Minasian. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Meida has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Minasian changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Meida fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Minasian tries to score a power double leg takedown but Meida sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Minasian somewhat.
Meida connects with a looping right hand.
No joy there for Meida, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Minasian throws an overhand right that lands on Meida's shoulder, as Meida tries to avoid the shot.
Minasian shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Meida counters with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Minasian fails to land the takedown.
Meida scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Meida throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Minasian.
Minasian fails with the takedown.
Meida throws a counter combo.
Thiago Meida is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Meida enables Minasian to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Meida manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Meida is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Minasian missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Meida keeping full guard, as Minasian tries to pass.
Minasian is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Minasian scoring with some ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Minasian's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Meida keeping full guard, as Minasian tries to pass.
Minasian stops Meida from standing up.
Minasian wants to control from the top but Meida keeps moving.
Minasian might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Minasian makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Meida wants to get back to his feet but Minasian is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Minasian trying to control but Meida is working from the bottom.
Minasian passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Minasian lands a few punches from side control.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Meida tries to escape but Minasian is in control.

Meida bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
An inside leg kick from Minasian misses.
Donk. Minasian catches Meida right on the button with a cross.
Some wild striking there from Meida.
Meida throws a right and a left that both miss.
Minasian feinted with a counter takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Meida 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.

Minasian misses with a hook
and Meida counters with a nice uppercut.
Nice takedown defense from Meida. No joy for Minasian on that attempt.
Meida looks to land a combination but Minasian avoids it well.
Minasian takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Meida avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Minasian tries to clinch but Meida is having none of it.
Minasian dives in and grabs Meida's left leg, looking for a takedown. Meida pushes down on Minasian's head and hops out.
Meida throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Minasian is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Meida leaves Minasian with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Levon Minasian. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Minasian swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Meida jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meida rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Minasian moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Minasian shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Meida as he avoids it easily.
Meida has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A combination from Meida does no damage.

Meida lands a left and a right that send Minasian crashing to the mat, dazed. Meida thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

It looks like Levon Minasian has been cut.
Minasian tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Meida paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Meida falls off balance throwing a combination

and Minasian counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Meida is staying active underneath Minasian, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Meida on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Meida is looking to escape.
Minasian scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Minasian trying to control from half guard but Meida is working away.
Meida avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Minasian.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Minasian thows a huge punch but Meida dodges it nicely.
Meida really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Minasian. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Minasian is looking for a kimura but Meida is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Minasian to get the leverage.
Minasian prevents Meida from standing back up.
Minasian thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Meida's head.
Meida wants to get back to his feet.
Minasian moves nicely into side control.
Minasian tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Minasian creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Minasian misses with the ground and pound.
Levon Minasian overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Minasian lands some shots froms side control.
Meida prevents Minasian from moving into mount.

Minasian wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Meida, who protects the arm well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Minasian working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Minasian trying to control the position but Meida is working away.
Minasian working the ground and pound but Meida is defending the strikes.
Minasian tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Meida is being controlled here.
Minasian in side control lands a decent elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Check out the look on Minasian's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Minasian throws an elbow but Meida slips to the side and avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Minasian is looking to take a break and control but Meida is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Meida wants to get back to his feet but Minasian drags him back down.
An elbow from Minasian crashes against the mat.
Meida wants to get back to his feet but Minasian drags him back down.
The strikes coming from Minasian are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Minasian wants to control but Meida is keeping him busy.
Minasian in side control lands a decent elbow.
Minasian creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Minasian tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Minasian is chipping away with strikes.
Meida wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
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 Levon Minasian will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Levon Minasian's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Minasian fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Meida sprawls well initially but Minasian persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Meida manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Minasian keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Meida is pressed up against the cage. Minasian has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Meida down to the mat. Meida avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Thiago Meida is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Meida enables Minasian to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Meida manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Minasian stops Meida from standing up.
Minasian wants to control from the top but Meida keeps moving.
Minasian is looking to work some ground and pound but Meida has wrist control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Minasian throws a big right hand that misses.
Minasian missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Minasian trying to control the position from guard on top but Meida is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Minasian sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Meida's guard.
Minasian wants to pass to mount but Meida is defending the position.
Minasian wants to lay and pray for a moment but Meida keeps working.
Minasian stops Meida from getting back to his feet.

Meida is defending against the submission attempts here by Minasian.
Ground and pound from Minasian.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Minasian is trying to control. Meida wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Minasian is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Meida defends it well.
Meida is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Minasian scores with a couple of nice shots.
Minasian is looking to advance position but Meida won't allow it.
Meida looks like he's trying to stand up.
Minasian 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.
Minasian wants to take a breather but Meida is having none of it.
Meida is trying to stand back up but Minasian is controlling him

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Meida looks to land a combination but Minasian avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meida shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Minasian eats them both and turns towards Meida to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Meida throws a leg kick but Minasian sees it coming and checks it nicely.

Minasian shoots in and bounces Meida off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Meida wants to get back to his feet but Minasian is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Minasian pushes down on Meida's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Minasian is trying to work for a kimura but Meida is defending well.
Minasian throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Minasian thows a huge punch but Meida dodges it nicely.
Minasian thows a huge punch but Meida dodges it nicely.
Minasian lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Meida regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Minasian.
Meida wants to get back to his feet but Minasian is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Minasian trying to control but Meida is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Meida wants to stand and escape but Minasian is having none of it.
Minasian trying to control but Meida is working from the bottom.
Meida avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Levon Minasian showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Minasian 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Levon Minasian!
Levon Minasian thanked the fans post fight for their support.