PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Artur Azaryan (ranked 2134 p4p, 92 weight class) and Alexey Markov (ranked 3826 p4p, 162 weight class). Azaryan kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Notorious BIG - Mo Money Mo Problems. Artur Azaryan could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Alexey Markov's chin.

Azaryan
vs
Markov

185 cm
25
176 lbs
5 - 5 - 1

188 cm
24
223 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Artur Azaryan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexey Markov!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Daniel Bishop and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Markov's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Markov duly obliges.
Azaryan ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Markov throws a leg kick that is checked
and Azaryan counters with a body kick.
Azaryan definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Markov takes a swing at Azaryan's ribcage but misses.
Markov lands with a cross.
Azaryan scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Markov avoids the body shot from Azaryan.
Markov lands a nice shot that snaps Azaryan's head back.
Markov scores with the left hand. Azaryan knows he should have avoided that one.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A jab from Azaryan misses.
Alexey Markov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fighters circling - Markov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Azaryan misses with an uppercut. Markov saw that one coming.
Markov scores with a hook.
Markov fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Markov shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Markov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Azaryan moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Azaryan throwing a counter right hand but Markov manages to avoid it.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Azaryan checks a leg kick.
A little feinted left hand from Azaryan on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Markov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Azaryan manages to avoid it.
Markov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Markov let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Markov throws out a loose jab but Azaryan uses good head movement to avoid it.
It looked like Azaryan was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Markov.
Markov throws an off balance right hand
letting Azaryan counter with a right hand.
Azaryan slips a jab and a cross from Markov.
Markov throws a lazy uppercut
and Markov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Markov misses the shot to the body.
Markov looks to land a right hand but Azaryan moved out of range.
Markov swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Azaryan counters with a one-two to the body.
Azaryan throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Markov stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Markov misses with a left hand
and Azaryan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Markov looks to land a left hand but Azaryan moved out of range nicely.
Markov misses with a hook.
Azaryan was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Markov throws a leg kick that misses.
A counter left hand to the body from Azaryan misses its target.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Markov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Azaryan is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Markov has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Azaryan finds it's way round the side to connect with Markov's head.
Markov misses with an uppercut
and Azaryan counters with a stiff right hand.
Markov throws a jab but it's blocked by Azaryan.
Azaryan fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Markov on the side of the head.
Markov throws an ugly left hook that misses
enabling Azaryan to counter with a crisp jab.
Markov is looking to chop away at Azaryan's legs.
Azaryan is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Azaryan blocks a leg kick.
Azaryan is looking to counter with a body kick.
Markov missing with a left hand there. Azaryan was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Markov misses with an uppercut
and Azaryan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Markov throws a shot from downtown. Azaryan moves away and avoids it.
Markov misses with a right hand
enabling Azaryan to counter with a crisp jab.
A shot to the body from Markov misses
and Azaryan counters with a nice uppercut.
Markov throws out a loose jab but Azaryan uses good head movement to avoid it.
Azaryan steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Markov.
Azaryan uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Markov.
Markov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Azaryan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Markov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Markov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Markov lands with a good body shot.
Azaryan is looking to slow Markov down with leg kicks.
Markov gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Azaryan.
Azaryan ducks under a wild hook from Markov.
Azaryan thinks about countering with a head kick.
Markov takes a swing at Azaryan's ribcage but misses.
An attempted straight right counter from Azaryan misses the target.
Markov misses with a body shot
and Azaryan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Markov slips under a jab.
Azaryan throws a poor cross that misses
and Markov counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Azaryan thinking.
Azaryan takes one on the button.
Azaryan clobbers Markov with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Markov slips a jab and a cross from Azaryan.
Markov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Azaryan just misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Markov misses.
Markov throws a jab but it's blocked by Azaryan.
Azaryan with a nice cross.
Markov misses with a telegraphed body shot
letting Azaryan counter with a right hand.
Markov fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Markov misses with a straight right.
Markov throws a poor cross that misses
letting Azaryan counter with a right hand.
Markov lands a body shot.
Azaryan looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Markov throws a left and a right that both miss
and Azaryan counters with a stiff right hand.
Azaryan throws the kick towards the body but Markov avoids it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Markov throws out a loose jab but Azaryan uses good head movement to avoid it.
Markov connects with a body shot that sends Azaryan's belly button to the back.
Markov walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
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 Artur Azaryan will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Azaryan ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Markov misses with a body punch
and Azaryan counters with a three punch combo that has Markov backing up. Markov nods at Azaryan to acknowledge the strikes.
A nice inside leg kick there by Azaryan. That's going to slow Markov down.
Markov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Azaryan manages to avoid it.
Azaryan checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Markov misses with a looping right.
An attempted straight right counter from Azaryan misses the target.
Markov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Azaryan.
Markov looks to throw the jab but Azaryan is out of range.
Azaryan is looking for a counter combo.
Markov throws out a loose jab but Azaryan uses good head movement to avoid it.
That kick from Azaryan tenderised Markov's leg. Markov is trying to keep his angry face on.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Markov throws a poor cross that misses
letting Azaryan counter with a right hand.
Markov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Azaryan moves away.
Nice uppercut lands for Azaryan. That snapped Markov's head back.
Markov misses with a leg kick
and Azaryan counters with a nice leg kick.
Azaryan looks to land a right hand but Markov moved out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Markov throws a lazy uppercut
and Azaryan counters with a nice uppercut.
Azaryan scores with a crisp jab that stopped Markov in his tracks.
Markov rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Azaryan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Markov misses with an uppercut.
Azaryan scores with the left hand. Markov knows he should have avoided that one.
Markov throws a body punch but Azaryan moves out of range.
It looked like Azaryan wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Markov has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Azaryan throws a hook but Markov avoids it easily.
Markov connects with a looping right hand.
Markov throws a big shot that misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Markov. Azaryan does a little dance to reset his feet.
Markov bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Azaryan's head.
Markov takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Markov missing with a left hand there. Azaryan was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A little feinted left hand from Azaryan on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Markov throws a leg kick
and Azaryan counters with a stiff right hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Markov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azaryan misses with a jab, cross combination.
Markov appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Markov throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Markov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Markov misses with a straight left.
It looked like Azaryan was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
A combination from Markov does no damage.
Markov throws a shot from downtown. Azaryan moves away and avoids it.
Markov listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Markov lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Azaryan at a distance.
Markov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Azaryan.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Markov might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Azaryan has got the better of the exchanges.
Markov rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Azaryan counters with a straight right hand.
Markov misses with a body shot.
Azaryan uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Markov.
Azaryan was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Azaryan throws a looping overhand right but Markov ducks down to avoid it.
Azaryan throws a looping overhand right but Markov ducks down to avoid it.
Markov misses with an uppercut.
Azaryan slips under a jab from Markov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azaryan cracks Markov with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
The crowd cheers as Markov lands an impressive looking overhand right. Azaryan doesn't seem phased though.
Azaryan slips a jab from Markov.
Markov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Azaryan was well out of range. Poor timing from Markov.
Markov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Azaryan fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Azaryan moves out of range of the strikes.
Markov misses with a hook.
Markov connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Markov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
An attempted straight right counter from Azaryan misses the target.
Azaryan misses with a low kick.
Azaryan connects with a jab.
Markov misses with a lunging right hand
enabling Azaryan to counter with a crisp jab.
Markov throws a jab when Azaryan was well out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Markov misses the jab.
Markov throws an overhand right that lands on Azaryan's shoulder, as Azaryan tries to avoid the shot.
An attempted straight right counter from Azaryan misses the target.
Azaryan takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Azaryan blocks a jab.
Markov misses the shot to the body.
Markov misses with a shot to the body
and Azaryan counters with a body kick.
Markov ducks under a wild hook from Azaryan.
Good leg kick by Azaryan there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Markov misses with an uppercut
and Markov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Azaryan keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Markov takes a swing at Azaryan's ribcage but misses.
A big right from Azaryan misses.
Markov tests Azaryan's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Artur Azaryan is winning the standup battle so far.
A big right from Azaryan misses.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Azaryan lands a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Artur Azaryan dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Markov throws a shot from downtown. Azaryan moves away and avoids it.
Markov throws a leg kick but Azaryan sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Markov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Azaryan was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Markov throws an off balance right hand
enabling Azaryan to counter with a crisp jab.
Markov blocks a head kick by Azaryan.
Markov swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Markov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Markov chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Azaryan can pounce on him.
Azaryan takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Markov misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Azaryan counters with a straight right hand.
Markov throws a leg kick
enabling Azaryan to counter with a crisp jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Azaryan lands the left hand.
Markov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Azaryan is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Azaryan waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Markov.
Markov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Markov throws a leg kick
and Azaryan counters with a good low kick that Markov was not able to check.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azaryan defending well as Markov loads up on a big left hand.
Azaryan appears to be looking for a big counter.
Azaryan moves out of range as Markov strikes.
Markov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Markov throws a right hand that misses
and Azaryan counters with a good low kick that Markov was not able to check.
A swing and a miss from Azaryan.
Markov misses with a right hand
and Azaryan connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Markov scores with a punch to the head.
Azaryan looks to land a left hand but Markov moved out of range nicely.
Markov throws a big shot that misses.
Azaryan uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Markov.
Markov misses with a combination
and Azaryan connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Markov stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Azaryan throws a nice outside leg kick.
Artur Azaryan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Markov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Markov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Azaryan.
Azaryan missing with a left hand there. Markov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A nice side step and Markov releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Markov rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Azaryan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A shot to the liver by Markov. Beautiful body shot.
Markov swings away with a body shot that misses
and Azaryan counters with a nice uppercut.
Markov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Markov misses with an uppercut
and Azaryan counters with a low kick, right behind Markov 's knee.
Azaryan misses with a looping right.
Markov misses with an uppercut.
Donk. Markov catches Azaryan right on the button with a cross.
Markov throws a poor cross that misses
and Azaryan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Markov throws a poor cross that misses
letting Azaryan counter with a right hand.
Azaryan lands a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Markov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Markov ducks under a wild hook from Azaryan.
Markov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Markov misses with a hook
and Azaryan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Azaryan moves out of range of the leg kick from Markov.
Azaryan keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
A left lands for Azaryan.
Markov throws a solid leg kick but Azaryan takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Markov.
Azaryan appears to be looking for a big counter.
A head kick misses from Azaryan.
Markov misses with a left hand
and Azaryan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Markov looks to score with a jab to the body but Azaryan is just out of range.
It looked like Azaryan wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Markov throws a sloppy body shot
and Azaryan counters with a stiff right hand.
Markov throws a leg kick
and Azaryan counters with a good low kick that Markov was not able to check.
Azaryan blocks a jab.
Azaryan checks the leg kick nicely there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azaryan takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Azaryan's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Azaryan duly obliges.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Azaryan misses with a straight left.
Azaryan misses with a straight left.
Azaryan throws a wild body kick that Markov sees coming a mile off.
Markov's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Markov with a hook.
Markov throws a jab when Azaryan was well out of range.
Azaryan throws out a powerful jab.
Markov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Azaryan.
Markov misses with an uppercut.
Azaryan throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Markov stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Markov misses with a left hand
and Azaryan counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Alexey Markov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Markov swings widly with a right hand
and Markov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

And that's the end of the fight!
Artur Azaryan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Azaryan has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Artur Azaryan!
Post fight, Artur Azaryan stared into the camera and said 'Thanks for all those for turning up. Time to build on this win and improve my record. I will one day be known as the best of the best.'.