PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Arthur Minasian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Raban (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Minasian comes to the cage accompanied by https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX4b4eyEwI8. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that James Raban was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Minasian
vs
Raban

194 cm
30
262 lbs
13 - 8 - 0

200 cm
38
270 lbs
21 - 21 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Aspire Clothing
Lion Fightwear

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 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Arthur Minasian!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 21 - 0, fighting out of New York, James Raban!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Aafke Stam and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raban feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Minasians jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
A shot to the body from Raban misses
and Minasian counters with a stiff right hand.
Raban misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Minasian.
Minasian throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Minasian throws a leg kick that misses.
Minasian takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Raban has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
A left and a right from Raban both land. Nice combination.

It looks like Arthur Minasian has been cut.
A jab from Raban finds it's way through Minasian's defenses.
Raban slips under a jab from Minasian.
Raban throws a push kick but Minasian slaps the foot to one side.
Raban just misses with a punch to the body.
Minasian plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

It looks like James Raban has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Raban gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Raban.
Sloppy strikes from Minasian. Those never looked like landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Minasian scores with a nice strike.
Minasian dodges the punch combination from Raban.
Raban misses with a body shot.
Raban takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
James Raban seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Raban fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nice straight punches there by Minasian. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Minasian.
Raban misses with a wild combination.
Minasian takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

Raban feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Minasian is pulling down on Raban's head. It's preventing any offense from Raban, at least for the moment.
Minasian wants to get back to his feet but Raban is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raban trying to control the position from guard on top but Minasian is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Minasian wants to get back to his feet but Raban is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Raban trying to control but Minasian is working from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Minasian is on top in guard.

Minasian is fighting to break Raban's control of his arms but Raban is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raban is trying to keep Minasian in close.
Raban tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Minasian wants to stand but Raban is controlling his posture from full guard.
Raban trying to keep a closed guard but Minasian is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Raban working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Minasian doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Minasian manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Raban not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Minasian connects with a leg kick. Raban looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Raban shoots and misses
and Minasian counters with a left to the body.
Raban tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Raban is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Minasian rather than just go for the knockout.
Raban swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Minasian lands a leg kick that knocks Raban off balance momentarily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Raban. Minasian does a little dance to reset his feet.
Minasian was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Minasian scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Some wild striking there from Raban.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Arthur Minasian will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Minasian's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Raban throws a hook but Minasian blocks it.
Raban fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Minasian on the side of the head.
Raban throws a head kick but Minasian moves out of range.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Minasian loads up on a big right hand but Raban slips the punch.
Arthur Minasian is winning the standup battle so far.
Raban shoots in for a double leg but Minasian sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Raban gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Minasian tries to work over Raban's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Raban just leaning against Minasian, taking a breather.
Raban's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That has opened up James Raban's cut even more.
Minasian misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Minasian lands a body punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice right hand lands inside from Minasian.
A shot in the inside from Minasian.
Raban is breathing heavily.
Raban misses with a hook to the ribs.

Minasian escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nice uppercut there from Minasian.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Raban throws a sloppy head kick and Minasian moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters circle each other, looking for something big. Minasian moves in and throws an overhand right. That hurt Raban! Minasian continues to tee off on Raban, landing with a left and a right! Minasian connects with a right hand that leaves Raban sleeping against the cage! What a finish by Minasian!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:07 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Arthur Minasian!
Our winner, Arthur Minasian, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.