PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Garegin Balayan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Albert Pagara (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.

Balayan
vs
Pagara

180 cm
19
176 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

182 cm
19
178 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Great low kicks
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Garegin Balayan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Albert Pagara!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Tiny Johnson and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balayan uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Pagara.
Balayan ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Pagara misses with an uppercut. Balayan saw that one coming.
Pagara lands with an overhand left.
Balayan looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Balayan misses with a kick to the body.
Pagara changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Balayan.
A telegraphed right hand from Pagara misses the target.
Pagara ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Balayan moves away.
Balayan feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Balayan misses with an uppercut. Pagara saw that one coming.
A telegraphed right hand from Balayan misses the target.
Albert Pagara seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A clash of legs there as Pagara blocks the low kick.
Balayan is looking to land body kicks.
Balayan feints and then cracks Pagara's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Pagara down.

Pagara moves into range and throws a big uppercut. OH! Balayan goes down! Can Pagara finish him!?

Balayan is rocked!

It looks like Garegin Balayan has been cut.
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!
Balayan avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Oh Balayan is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Pagara missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Balayan wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Balayan seems to have got his legs back now.
Balayan keeping moving, preventing Pagara from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balayan pulls Pagara in close to his closed guard and prevents Pagara from doing any damage or advancing position.
Pagara throws a big right hand that misses.
Pagara looking to sit in guard and control but Balayan gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Pagara not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Balayan controls from within his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pagara is looking to sweep but instead, Balayan has passed into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pagara tries to roll over but Balayan keeps him under control.
Balayan controlling the pace.
Pagara trying to hold on to Balayan's head to control him but Balayan postures up.
Pagara tries to roll over but Balayan keeps him under control.
Pagara is trying to control but can't.
Pagara wants to get back to full guard.
Pagara trying to hold on to Balayan's head to control him but Balayan postures up.
Pagara tries to roll over but Balayan keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pagara is trying to maintain the position but Balayan is very close to passing his half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Balayan in particular looking to stall.
Balayan prevents Pagara from improving his position.
Balayan controlling the pace.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Pagara takes a swing at Balayan's ribcage but misses.
Pagara missing with a left hand there. Balayan was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Pagara swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Balayan.
Pagara tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Balayan was well out of range. Poor timing from Pagara.
Pagara walks into a left hand.
Pagara moves out of range as Balayan throws a body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Balayan.
Balayan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Pagara slips a straight right by Balayan.
Balayan connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Pagara momentarily.
Balayan keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Balayan looks to land a combination but Pagara avoids it well.
It seemed like Pagara was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Balayan finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Donk. Pagara catches Balayan right on the button with a cross.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Balayan throws a leg kick but Pagara moved away.
Balayan throws a head kick that misses.
Some wild striking there from Pagara.
Balayan is looking to land body kicks.
Pagara lands a nice shot to the body.
Good exchange - Balayan coming out on top.
Pagara lands with a big left! Balayan is wobbled badly! Pagara comes in with a flurry of punches and drops Balayan to the floor. The ref jumps in to save him from unneccessary punishment.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Albert Pagara!
Albert Pagara bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.