PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Trametinib Mekinist (ranked 875 p4p, 109 weight class) and Garegin Balayan (ranked 1164 p4p, 144 weight class). Trametinib Mekinist had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Mekinist
vs
Balayan

180 cm
24
187 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

180 cm
25
176 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Trametinib Mekinist!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Garegin Balayan!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Stewart Dunkirk and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mekinist throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Mekinist throws a lazy uppercut
and Balayan counters with a left to the body.
Mekinist uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Balayan.
Balayan steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Mekinist.
Balayan looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Mekinist throws a lazy uppercut
and Balayan connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Mekinist tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Balayan is able to avoid easily.
Mekinist misses the shot to the body.
Balayan lands with a cross.
Nice uppercut there from Balayan.
Balayan misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Balayan uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Mekinist.
Balayan uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Mekinist has time to react.
A telegraphed right hand from Mekinist misses the target.
Mekinist with a hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Balayan lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Balayan throws the kick towards the body but Mekinist avoids it.
Mekinist on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Balayan. Balayan obviously looking to wear him down.
Mekinist swings widly with a right hand
and Balayan counters with a nice uppercut.
Balayan punishes Mekinist's body with a nice straight punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mekinist gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Mekinist scores with a jab to the jaw.

Mekinist closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Mekinist blocking some punches.
Nice body punch from Balayan - that landed with a thud.
Mekinist misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Balayan lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Mekinist backwards.
Balayan lands a hook to the side of the head.
Mekinist blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Balayan breaks from the clinch.
Balayan scores with a jab to the jaw.
Mekinist throws a low kick but it's checked well by Balayan.
Mekinist takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Balayan throws a half hearted mid kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Balayan goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Balayan's corner calls for a 1-2. Balayan obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Balayan is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Mekinist had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Balayan throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Mekinist throws a head kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balayan tries to land a leg kick but Mekinist saw it coming and moves away.
Mekinist is looking to counter punch.
Balayan defending well as Mekinist loads up on a big left hand.
Mekinist misses with a two punch combination.
Mekinist pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Balayan throws out a loose jab but Mekinist uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mekinist with a jab.
Balayan looks to land a left hand but Mekinist moved out of range nicely.
Mekinist misses the shot to the body.
Mekinist has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Balayan finds it's way round the side to connect with Mekinist's head.
Mekinist uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Balayan.
Mekinist throws a head kick that misses.
Balayan staying out of range there.
Balayan displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Mekinist throws out the jab.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Balayan.
Balayan connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
A low kick from Mekinist is predictable there
letting Balayan counter with a right hand.
Mekinist misses with a looping right.
Mekinist swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mekinist walks into a straight right hand from Balayan.
A big left from Mekinist misses.
Balayan avoids the body shot from Mekinist.
Mekinist has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Balayan.
Balayan throws a series of strikes that have Mekinist backpedaling.

It looks like Trametinib Mekinist has been cut.
Balayan lands with an uppercut that bounces Mekinist off the cage and back into range.
Balayan scores with a leg kick.
Balayan lands a slapping body shot.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Balayan.
Balayan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mekinist moves away.
Mekinist throws a big shot that misses.
Balayan ducks under a wild hook from Mekinist.
Mekinist looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mekinist throws a shot from downtown. Balayan moves away and avoids it.
Balayan tries to counter with a clinch but Mekinist shakes him off and moves away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Balayan. Mekinist does a little dance to reset his feet.
A solid leg kick lands there for Balayan.
Balayan fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Mekinist.
Mekinist goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balayan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Balayan throws a looping overhand right but Mekinist ducks down to avoid it.
Mekinist connects with a body shot.
Mekinist fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Balayan manages to avoid it.
Mekinist takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Trametinib Mekinist seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mekinist connects with a jab.
Mekinist throws a hook to the side of Balayan's head but Balayan sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Mekinist's jab looks to have found its range, popping Balayan under the eye.
Balayan takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Balayan defending well as Mekinist loads up on a big left hand.
Mekinist fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Balayan tests Mekinist's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Mekinist pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Mekinist.
Balayan slips under a jab.
Mekinist tries to bum rush Balayan with a series of wild strikes but Balayan uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Balayan is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Mekinist with a body shot.
Mekinist throws a body kick that misses.
Balayan is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Mekinist with a body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Garegin Balayan dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Trametinib Mekinist's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A shot to the liver by Balayan. Beautiful body shot.
Balayan works the jab nicely.
A big left from Mekinist misses.
Mekinist takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Balayan lands a nice leg kick that just misses Mekinist's sensitive parts.
Mekinist takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Balayan pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Mekinist throws a chopping leg kick but Balayan manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Mekinist lands a head shot.
Mekinist misses the shot to the body.
Mekinist throws a head kick that misses
and Balayan counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Mekinist gets cracked there but stands up to it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Balayan cracks a nice hook into Mekinist's ribs.
Garegin Balayan seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Mekinist throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Balayan connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Balayan closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Mekinist throws a leg kick

and Balayan counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Balayan.
Balayan lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Mekinist or not.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Balayan creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A right hand to the body from Balayan.
Balayan makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Balayan lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Balayan lands a hook that snaps the head of Mekinist backwards.
A right handed body shot lands from Balayan.
Balayan lands a shoulder strike.
Balayan stalling.
A right handed body shot lands from Balayan.
Balayan lands a right hand.
A right handed body shot lands from Balayan.
Balayan scores with a nice hook to the head.
Balayan pushes Mekinist back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Mekinist.
Balayan lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Balayan lands a nice uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Balayan lands a right hand that snaps the head of Mekinist backwards.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Mekinist tries to pull guard but Balayan forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Balayan.
Balayan lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A body shot lands from Balayan.

Balayan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mekinist looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Balayan lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Mekinist takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.

Mekinist gets tackled into the cage by Balayan. Balayan maintains the clinch.
Balayan makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Mekinist tries to work over Balayan's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Balayan lands with a right to the head.

Mekinist decides to pull guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Balayan advances to half guard.
Balayan performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Balayan tries to pass to full mount but Mekinist defends it.
Mekinist is trying to maintain the position but Balayan is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balayan is taking a breather. Mekinist says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Let's hope that Balayan has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Balayan passes the guard and advances to mount!
Balayan sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Mekinist tries to hold on but Balayan postures up.

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.
Balayan controlling his opponent.
Mekinist is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Balayan controlling from the full mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Garegin Balayan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Trametinib Mekinist's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Balayan misses with a body shot.
Mekinist slips a straight right by Balayan.
Mekinist throws out a loose jab but Balayan uses good head movement to avoid it.
Balayan throws a nice outside leg kick.
Mekinist misses with a looping right.
A big left from Mekinist misses.
Balayan doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Mekinist connects with a good right hand that stumbles Balayan. Balayan circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Mekinist is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Balayan.
Balayan avoids a kick to the body.
Balayan stuns Mekinist with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Good standup being displayed there by Mekinist as he connects with a hook.
Balayan displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Mekinist throws out the jab.
Balayan tries a quick counter leg kick but Mekinist is wise to it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mekinist misses with a body kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Balayan, right into the meat.
Balayan lands a head shot.
Mekinist tried to score with a low kick but Balayan checks it.
Mekinist takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A combination from Mekinist does no damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balayan lands a right hook to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mekinist scores with a nice right hand.
Balayan jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
A jab from Balayan does it's job there.

Balayan closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Balayan lands a body punch.
Balayan lands a hook that snaps the head of Mekinist backwards.
Balayan lands with a right to the head.
Mekinist tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Balayan smiles and moves away.
Balayan lands with a nice body kick.
Balayan throws a nice outside leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Balayan. Mekinist shrugs it off though.
Balayan throws a leg kick which misses Mekinist's front leg but catches the back leg as Mekinist tries to avoid it.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Mekinist crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Balayan - the referee stops the clock and Mekinist gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Balayan. Mekinist manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
A bone on bone clash there as Balayan blocks the leg kick.
Trametinib Mekinist has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Balayan has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balayan stuns Mekinist with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
A nice inside leg kick there by Balayan. That's going to slow Mekinist down.
A big right from Mekinist misses.
A decent looking cross lands there for Balayan.
Balayan connects with a leg kick. Mekinist looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Balayan lands a body shot.
Balayan lands a glancing blow to the side of Mekinist's head.
Mekinist throws a big shot that misses.
Balayan paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Mekinist misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Balayan.
Balayan appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Mekinist throws an overhand right that lands on Balayan's shoulder, as Balayan tries to avoid the shot.

Balayan fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Mekinist, pushing him back against the cage.
Balayan lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Balayan presses Mekinist against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Balayan softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Balayan.
Mekinist tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Balayan's elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balayan lands a shoulder strike.
Mekinist misses with some punches.
Balayan lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Mekinist or not.
Mekinist will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
A short body shot lands from Balayan as the two fighters clinch.
Balayan goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Balayan misses with a body punch.

Balayan's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mekinist moves to clinch but Balayan breaks away
and Balayan counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A jab lands there for Balayan.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Balayan, as that shot connected.
Mekinist misses with a head kick.
Sloppy strikes from Balayan. Those never looked like landing.
Balayan stuns Mekinist with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Good leg kick by Balayan there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Mekinist is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Balayan slips under a jab from Mekinist.
Balayan thumps Mekinist with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Balayan throws a quick inside leg kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Balayan.
Mekinist rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Balayan moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Balayan lands a jab to Mekinist's midsection.
Mekinist misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A punch lands to the side of Mekinist 's head but he takes it in his stride.
A nice inside leg kick there by Balayan. That's going to slow Mekinist down.
Nice body kick from Balayan.
Balayan scores with a punch to the head.
Mekinist avoids a punch combination nicely.
Mekinist throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Balayan sees it coming and avoids it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mekinist takes one on the button.
A lazy body kick from Mekinist
and Balayan counters with a solid body kick.
A thudding body kick lands there by Balayan!
Balayan lands a body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Garegin Balayan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Balayan has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 26:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Garegin Balayan!
A victorious Garegin Balayan thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.