PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Enver Gashi (ranked 6175 p4p, 414 weight class) and Taras Vovchanchyn (ranked 24970 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Gashi
vs
Vovchanchyn

170 cm
25
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
26
155 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Can Moonwalk

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Enver Gashi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Taras Vovchanchyn!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Gwen Towbar and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gashi dives in and grabs Vovchanchyn's left leg, looking for a takedown. Vovchanchyn pushes down on Gashi's head and hops out.

Gashi shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Vovchanchyn napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Gashi has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Vovchanchyn can't escape the position.

Gashi get's back to his feet.
Vovchanchyn stuffs the takedown attempt from Gashi. Gashi gets slowly back to his feet.
Vovchanchyn tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Gashi tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Vovchanchyn defends well and Gashi ends up having to push Vovchanchyn into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Vovchanchyn wants to counter the offense by Gashi and move into the clinch position.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Enver Gashi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vovchanchyn keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Gashi shoots in and gets a takedown into Vovchanchyn's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gashi drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gashi jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Vovchanchyn is trying to control the position but Gashi postures up.
Vovchanchyn wants to control but Gashi passes easily into half guard.
Vovchanchyn avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gashi.

Gashi is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Vovchanchyn has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Gashi is working away from the top position though.

Vovchanchyn makes his way to full guard, as Gashi worked for a kimura.

Gashi drops back looking for a leg! Vovchanchyn is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Vovchanchyn manages to kick Gashi off! Gashi jumps back into Vovchanchyn's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gashi trying to control but Vovchanchyn is working from the bottom.

Vovchanchyn working for a triangle but Gashi defends it easily.
Gashi postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Vovchanchyn wants to sweep here but Gashi controlling him for the moment.
Gashi throwing strikes but missing.
Vovchanchyn trying to keep a closed guard but Gashi is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gashi thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Vovchanchyn preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Vovchanchyn trying to control the position.
Gashi postures up in Vovchanchyn's guard and throws a big left but Vovchanchyn blocks it.

Gashi has gone for a leg lock! Vovchanchyn slips out almost immediately though and dives into Gashi's guard.

Gashi 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.

Vovchanchyn is posturing up here but Gashi has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Vovchanchyn tries to roll out but it's too tight and Vovchanchyn has to tap! Slick submission there by Gashi!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Enver Gashi!