PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Suren Nazarethyan (ranked 2075 p4p, 249 weight class) and Victor Szczęsny (ranked 1420 p4p, 174 weight class). Nazarethyan's entrance music is Amerika. A fine choice. 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.

Nazarethyan
vs
Szczęsny

155 cm
46
150 lbs
46 - 39 - 2

225 cm
41
135 lbs
41 - 22 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 46 - 39 - 2, fighting out of London, Suren Nazarethyan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 41 - 22 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Victor Szczęsny!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Gregory Folan and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nazarethyan throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Szczęsny counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Szczęsny lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Szczęsny throws a big shot that misses.
Nazarethyan does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Szczęsny looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Nazarethyan looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Nazarethyan bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Nazarethyan ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Szczęsny dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nazarethyan misses with a shot to the body
and Szczęsny counters with a thumping low kick.
Szczęsny connects with a good right hand that stumbles Nazarethyan. Nazarethyan circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Szczęsny throws a head kick that Nazarethyan semi-blocks.
Szczęsny looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Szczęsny blocks a leg kick.
Nazarethyan throws a nice looking combination but Szczęsny bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nazarethyan throws a leg kick but Szczęsny sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Szczęsny jabs Nazarethyan to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Suren Nazarethyan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nazarethyan throws a nice outside leg kick.
Szczęsny moves out of range as Nazarethyan strikes.
Szczęsny steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Nazarethyan.
Nazarethyan tests Szczęsny's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Szczęsny throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nazarethyan throws a body shot but no joy.
Szczęsny thumps Nazarethyan with a low kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Nazarethyan, right into the meat.
A big left from Nazarethyan misses.
Szczęsny is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Nazarethyan doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Szczęsny lunges at Nazarethyan with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Nazarethyan's hand.
Szczęsny lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Suren Nazarethyan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Szczęsny misses the shot to the body.
Szczęsny lands a jab to the nose.
Nazarethyan throws a sloppy body shot
and Szczęsny counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Szczęsny chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Nazarethyan can pounce on him.
Nazarethyan throws a lazy body kick
and Szczęsny counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Nazarethyan thinking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Szczęsny attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Nazarethyan with a hook.
Szczęsny finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Nazarethyan swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Nazarethyan looks to throw a body kick
and Szczęsny counters with an outside leg kick.
Nazarethyan throws a body kick that misses.

Szczęsny has taken the fight to the clinch.
Nazarethyan comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like Victor Szczęsny has been cut.
The referee calls for Szczęsny to work.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Szczęsny stalling in the clinch but Nazarethyan improves position.
Nazarethyan misses with the head strike.
A bit of stalling here from Szczęsny.
Nazarethyan misses with the head strike.
Szczęsny trying to stall but Nazarethyan improves his position.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Victor Szczęsny.
Nazarethyan throws a shot from downtown. Szczęsny moves away and avoids it.
Szczęsny shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Nazarethyan as he jumps to the side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Szczęsny throws a big shot that misses.
Szczęsny walks into a jab.
Nazarethyan misses with a hook. Szczęsny ducked under it nicely.
Nazarethyan throws a leg kick that misses.
A low kick from Nazarethyan misses
and Nazarethyan takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nazarethyan misses the jab.
Szczęsny misses with a hook
and Nazarethyan counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Nazarethyan scores with a leg kick.
Good work by Szczęsny as he checks the leg kick.
Nazarethyan on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Szczęsny with a hook.
Nazarethyan throws a leg kick but Szczęsny sees it coming and moves out of range.
Szczęsny appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Nazarethyan blocks a head kick by Szczęsny.
Nazarethyan fires out a quick counter leg kick but Szczęsny just manages to avoid it.
Nazarethyan pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Szczęsny was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Szczęsny uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Nazarethyan.
Szczęsny let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Szczęsny connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nazarethyan blocks a low kick nicely.
Nazarethyan swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Szczęsny counters with a good low kick that Nazarethyan was not able to check.
Szczęsny checks the leg kick.
Szczęsny's jab looks to have found its range, popping Nazarethyan under the eye.
Szczęsny digs a good body shot into Nazarethyan's ribs.
Nazarethyan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Szczęsny checks the leg kick nicely there.
Nazarethyan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Szczęsny.
Szczęsny avoids a kick to the body.
Szczęsny lands a jab-cross combination.
Szczęsny fails to land with a series of punches.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Szczęsny darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Nazarethyan throws a leg kick that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Victor Szczęsny dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Victor Szczęsny's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Nazarethyan throws a head kick but Szczęsny moves out of range.
A slow jab from Szczęsny misses its intended target.
Szczęsny fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Szczęsny moves out of range as Nazarethyan strikes.
Nazarethyan misses with an uppercut. Szczęsny saw that one coming.
Victor Szczęsny seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Szczęsny fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Nazarethyan checks the leg kick.
Szczęsny misses with a body kick.
Szczęsny has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Nazarethyan throws a leg kick but Szczęsny checks it.
Nazarethyan slips a jab from Szczęsny.
Szczęsny has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nazarethyan looks to land a body kick but Szczęsny moved away.
A leg kick checked by Szczęsny.
Nazarethyan is looking to land body kicks.
Nazarethyan is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Nazarethyan has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Szczęsny.
Nazarethyan throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Szczęsny attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Nazarethyan looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Good work by Szczęsny as he checks the leg kick.
Szczęsny is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Szczęsny throws out a powerful jab.
Szczęsny misses with the combination.
Szczęsny throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Szczęsny scores with a hook.
Szczęsny misses with a body kick.
Szczęsny on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Szczęsny blocks a head kick by Nazarethyan.
Nazarethyan throws a hook but Szczęsny avoids it easily.
Szczęsny lands a head kick!
Nazarethyan takes a kick to the side of the head.
Nazarethyan looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nazarethyan throws a quick inside leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nazarethyan throws a poor cross that misses
and Szczęsny counters with an inside leg kick.
Nazarethyan scores with a jab to the jaw.
Szczęsny plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Szczęsny throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Szczęsny throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Szczęsny lands a high kick!
Nazarethyan scores with a crisp jab that stopped Szczęsny in his tracks.
Nazarethyan misses with a body punch
and Szczęsny counters with a good low kick that Nazarethyan was not able to check.
Nazarethyan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
That kick from Nazarethyan tenderised Szczęsny's leg. Szczęsny is trying to keep his angry face on.
Nazarethyan throws a right hand that misses
and Szczęsny counters with a solid body kick.
Nazarethyan dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Szczęsny. That did some damage!
Szczęsny looks to land a left hand but Nazarethyan moved out of range nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nazarethyan moves out of range of the leg kick from Szczęsny.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Szczęsny, right into the meat.
Szczęsny is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Nazarethyan swings widly with a right hand
and Szczęsny connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Nazarethyan sizes up Szczęsny with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Nazarethyan chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Szczęsny can pounce on him.
Nazarethyan looks to land a body kick but Szczęsny moved away.
Nazarethyan lands with a good body shot.
Nazarethyan throws a low kick but Szczęsny moves out of range easily.
Szczęsny uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Nazarethyan.
Szczęsny dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nazarethyan misses with a leg kick
and Szczęsny counters with a stiff right hand.
Szczęsny uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Nazarethyan.
Nazarethyan throws a lazy right hand but Szczęsny sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Szczęsny throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Szczęsny blocks the body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Szczęsny throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nazarethyan looks to land a body kick but Szczęsny moved away.
Szczęsny uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Nazarethyan.
Szczęsny throws out a counter right but Nazarethyan avoids it with no problem.
Szczęsny misses with a body shot.
Nazarethyan was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Szczęsny throws a body punch but Nazarethyan moves out of range.
Nazarethyan moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Nazarethyan throws a shot from downtown. Szczęsny moves away and avoids it.
Nazarethyan tries to score with a low kick but Szczęsny moves his leg out of the way.
Szczęsny is trying to counter with his kicks.
Szczęsny staying out of range there.
Szczęsny will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Nazarethyan throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Nice takedown defense from Nazarethyan. No joy for Szczęsny on that attempt.
Nazarethyan tried to counter with a leg kick but Szczęsny avoided it.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Szczęsny.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Victor Szczęsny will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Victor Szczęsny's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Nice jab there from Szczęsny.
Nazarethyan looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Szczęsny displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Nazarethyan throws out the jab.
Szczęsny looks to score with a jab to the body but Nazarethyan is just out of range.
A decent looking cross lands there for Szczęsny.
Szczęsny throws a sloppy head kick and Nazarethyan moves out of range easily.
Nazarethyan is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Szczęsny.
Nazarethyan takes a swing at Szczęsny's ribcage but misses.
Nazarethyan attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Szczęsny throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Szczęsny connects with a solid leg kick.
Szczęsny throws a jab when Nazarethyan was well out of range.
Szczęsny throws a body punch but Nazarethyan moves out of range.
Nazarethyan lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Nazarethyan avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nazarethyan throws a body punch but Szczęsny moves out of range.
Szczęsny thows a left - swing and a miss!
A quick step to the side and Nazarethyan tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nazarethyan misses with a hook. Szczęsny ducked under it nicely.
Szczęsny tries a quick counter leg kick but Nazarethyan is wise to it.
Szczęsny slips a straight right by Nazarethyan.
Nazarethyan throws a push kick but Szczęsny slaps the foot to one side.
Nazarethyan wants to land a leg kick but Szczęsny is out of range.
Szczęsny slips under a jab.
Nazarethyan on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Szczęsny tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Nazarethyan manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Szczęsny.
Szczęsny looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Nazarethyan is looking to score with low kicks.
Suren Nazarethyan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Szczęsny slips under a jab.
Szczęsny throws out a loose jab but Nazarethyan uses good head movement to avoid it.
It looked like Nazarethyan wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Nazarethyan throws a push kick but Szczęsny slaps the foot to one side.
Nazarethyan looks to land a left hand but Szczęsny moved out of range nicely.
Nazarethyan throws a looping overhand right but Szczęsny ducks down to avoid it.
Szczęsny raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Szczęsny slips a straight right by Nazarethyan.
Nazarethyan tried to score with a low kick but Szczęsny checks it.
It seemed like Szczęsny was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Szczęsny is looking to score with low kicks.
Nazarethyan is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Szczęsny's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Szczęsny fails in his attempt to clinch.
Szczęsny jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Szczęsny misses with a low kick.
Szczęsny jabs at Nazarethyan's body.
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!
Szczęsny checks a leg kick.
Nazarethyan fails to land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Szczęsny lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Nazarethyan throws a wild body kick that Szczęsny sees coming a mile off.
Szczęsny takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Szczęsny throws a quick inside leg kick.
Szczęsny feints and then cracks Nazarethyan's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Nazarethyan down.
Nazarethyan misses with an uppercut. Szczęsny saw that one coming.
Nazarethyan swings widly with a right hand
and Szczęsny counters with a nice low kick that buckles Nazarethyan's knee momentarily.
Nazarethyan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nazarethyan swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Szczęsny checks the leg kick.
Nazarethyan throws a hook but Szczęsny blocks it.
It seemed like Szczęsny was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
That kick from Szczęsny tenderised Nazarethyan's leg. Nazarethyan is trying to keep his angry face on.
Szczęsny lands with a slapping head kick.
Szczęsny fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Nazarethyan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Szczęsny blocks a jab.
Nazarethyan throws a lazy head kick
and Szczęsny counters with a thumping low kick.
Nazarethyan lands with a right hand.
Nazarethyan pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nazarethyan throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A solid leg kick lands there for Nazarethyan.
Victor Szczęsny is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
A cross from Szczęsny lands.
Szczęsny takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Szczęsny goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Nazarethyan feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Szczęsnys jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Szczęsny lunges at Nazarethyan with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Nazarethyan's hand.
Nazarethyan misses with a right hand
and Szczęsny counters with a left and a right that stings Nazarethyan.
Szczęsny is looking to slow Nazarethyan down with leg kicks.

And that's the end of the fight!
Victor Szczęsny comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Szczęsny winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Victor Szczęsny!
A determined Victor Szczęsny didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!
The defeated Suren Nazarethyan had this to say: 'I Will Come Back Stronger Than Before'.