PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ike Anthony (ranked 5167 p4p, 0 weight class) and Narek Keshishian (ranked 5752 p4p, 0 weight class). Narek Keshishian will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Anthony
vs
Keshishian

217 cm
24
178 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

186 cm
25
171 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ike Anthony!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Narek Keshishian!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Daniel Blasius and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Keshishian lands a really nice looking cross but Anthony seems unphased.

Anthony rushes Keshishian and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Anthony really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Anthony pulls guard.
Anthony wants to get back to his feet but Keshishian is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Keshishian wants to control from the top but Anthony keeps moving.
Keshishian's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Anthony throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Anthony uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Keshishian throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Keshishian fails with an attempt to clinch.
Narek Keshishian seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Keshishian fails with the takedown
and Anthony counters with a nice uppercut.

Keshishian looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Anthony wants to get back to his feet.
Keshishian trying to pass the guard but Anthony defending well.
Anthony wants to get back to full guard.
Anthony wants to get back to full guard but Keshishian has passed into side control.
Keshishian really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Anthony. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Anthony is trying to buck Keshishian off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Keshishian lands some shots froms side control.
Keshishian landing a few strikes.
Anthony pushes Keshishian away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Keshishian gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Keshishian avoids the strikes from the bottom by Anthony.
Keshishian trying to control the position but Anthony is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Keshishian looking to control but instead Anthony has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Keshishian prevents Anthony from improving his position.
Anthony works his way to full guard. Good work.
Anthony keeping moving, preventing Keshishian from controlling successfully.
Keshishian loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Anthony thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Keshishian wants to control from the top but Anthony keeps moving.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Anthony fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Keshishian lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Anthony displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Keshishian.
It looked like Anthony was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Keshishian.
Keshishian shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ike Anthony has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Narek Keshishian.

Anthony looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Keshishian is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Anthony is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
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 Ike Anthony will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Keshishian closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Anthony to the mat! Anthony manages to get full guard.
Keshishian content to stall in guard here.
Anthony working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Keshishian.
Keshishian showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Keshishian looking to pass the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Anthony throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Keshishian won't allow Anthony to get back to his feet.
Anthony keeping moving, preventing Keshishian from controlling successfully.
Anthony wants to stand up but Keshishian is controlling him.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Keshishian misses with a head kick.
Keshishian shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Anthony as he jumps to the side.
Anthony has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Keshishian scores with a takedown into Anthony's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anthony is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Keshishian trying to control but Anthony is working from the bottom.
Anthony is looking to stand up but Keshishian isn't so interested in that idea.
Keshishian is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Keshishian working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Anthony looking to hit a scissor sweep but Keshishian is one step ahead there.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Keshishian falls off balance throwing a combination
and Anthony counters with a left and a right that stings Keshishian.

Keshishian fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Anthony to the ground. Keshishian is now in Anthony's guard.
Anthony looking to hit a scissor sweep but Keshishian is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anthony keeping moving, preventing Keshishian from controlling successfully.
Anthony throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Keshishian connects with a couple of short punches.
Keshishian showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Keshishian must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Keshishian passes into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Narek Keshishian showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Keshishian throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Anthony was covering up waiting for the punch and Keshishian finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Anthony trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Anthony keeping moving, preventing Keshishian from controlling successfully.
Keshishian sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Anthony's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Anthony is looking to escape.
Anthony won't allow Keshishian to pass to mount.
Keshishian looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Anthony with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Keshishian wants to take a breather but Anthony is having none of it.
Anthony wants to get back to his feet.
Keshishian tries to pass the half guard into mount. Anthony knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Keshishian is trying to control the action in half guard but Anthony is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Anthony tries to kick Keshishian off but Keshishian keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Anthony dives in and scores a takedown into Keshishian's guard.
Keshishian trying to keep a closed guard but Anthony is proving a slippery customer.
Anthony wants to control from the top but Keshishian keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anthony won't allow Keshishian to sweep him here.
Anthony passes Keshishian's left leg - he's now in half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Keshishian can do anything to dispel that myth.
Anthony keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Keshishian is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Anthony scores with a couple of nice shots.
Anthony passes into side control, despite Keshishian's attempt to control the position.
Anthony will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Keshishian wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anthony controlling from side mount.
Anthony working the ground and pound but Keshishian is defending the strikes.
Keshishian wants to control but Anthony postures up.

Anthony decides to stand back up.

Keshishian closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Anthony to the mat! Anthony manages to get full guard.
Keshishian takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Keshishian wants to control from the top but Anthony keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Keshishian trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Anthony thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Keshishian distracts Anthony with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Keshishian lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Keshishian trying to control the position from guard on top but Anthony is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Keshishian trying to move into half guard but instead Anthony has managed to sweep!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ike Anthony.
I think Anthony 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:29
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!