PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Garegin Balayan (ranked 209 p4p, 36 weight class) and Bang Pitung (ranked 810 p4p, 109 weight class). Balayan comes to the cage accompanied by Troika. Pitung has chosen Madball - Born Strong as his entrance music. On his way into the cage it seems that Garegin Balayan has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Garegin Balayan seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Balayan
vs
Pitung

180 cm
27
176 lbs
14 - 5 - 0

180 cm
29
187 lbs
18 - 6 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Garegin Balayan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Bang Pitung!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Sergei Dronov and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pitung lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Balayan circles away quickly and effectively.
Pitung throws a series of punches but Balayan moves out of range.
Balayan throws a jab when Pitung was well out of range.
Balayan has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Pitung throws a body punch but Balayan moves out of range.
Balayan thinks about countering with a body kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Balayan.
Balayan lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Pitung shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Balayan lands with a right hand.
Balayan connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
A punch combination from Pitung misses.

Balayan moves into range and clinches up with Pitung.
Balayan content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Pitung blocks a body shot from Balayan.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Balayan lands with a short shot to the head.
Balayan trying to land knees to the body.
Pitung tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Pitung misses with a hook to the ribs.
Pitung working aggressively here.
A right hand to the body from Balayan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pitung lands a right hand.
Balayan stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Pitung blocking some punches.
Pitung misses with some punches.
Balayan tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Balayan lands a hook that snaps the head of Pitung backwards.
Pitung misses with a short punch on the inside.
Balayan lands a body punch.
Pitung tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Balayan lands a right hand.
Pitung misses with the head strike.
Balayan lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Pitung backwards.
Balayan misses with a punch to the body.
Pitung misses with a hook to the ribs.
Balayan tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Balayan lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Balayan misses with a body punch.
Balayan goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Pitung goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Balayan tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Balayan swings wildly with an uppercut but Pitung uses good head movement to avoid it.
Balayan lands a left hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pitung prevents a body shot from Balayan.
Balayan tries a body shot but Pitung blocks it.
Pitung stalling in the clinch.
Pitung lands with a left to the head.
Balayan lands a left hand.
Pitung blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Balayan lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Pitung blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Balayan lands with a short shot to the head.
Pitung lands a right hand.
Balayan lands a body punch in the clinch.
Balayan lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Balayan lands with a right to the head.
Pitung scores with a shoulder strike.
Pitung prevents a body shot from Balayan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Balayan.
Pitung lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Balayan blocking some punches.
Balayan working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Pitung works on Balayan's body with a couple of short punches.
Balayan presses Pitung against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Nice body punch from Balayan.
Balayan lands a nice uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Balayan fails to land.
Pitung blocking some punches.
Pitung just leaning against Balayan, taking a breather.
Balayan lands an elbow that stopped Pitung in his tracks for a moment.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Balayan.
Balayan lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A right handed body shot lands from Balayan.
Pitung has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Balayan seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Pitung can turn it around.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Balayan blocking some punches.
Balayan misses with a body punch.
Balayan makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Balayan tries to work over Pitung's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Balayan digs a right hand underneath Pitung's ribcage. Pitung let out a lung full of air as it connected.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balayan lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Pitung scores with a shot to the side of Balayan's head.
Balayan misses with a hook to the ribs.
Pitung swings wildly with an uppercut but Balayan uses good head movement to avoid it.
Balayan lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Balayan tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Balayan lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Pitung.

Pitung breaks the clinch.
Balayan lands with a cross.
Pitung throws a jab when Balayan was well out of range.
Balayan closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

Balayan clinches with his opponent.
Balayan can't find room to land a body shot as Pitung controls the action.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Balayan doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Pitung throws a punch but it's blocked by Balayan.
Balayan misses with a hook to the ribs.
Balayan misses with a short punch on the inside.
Balayan blocks a punch to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Garegin Balayan dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Pitung tries a head kick but it misses.
Nice shot by Balayan.
Balayan is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Pitung can do to turn this around?
Pitung throws a body shot but no joy.
It looked like Balayan wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Balayan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Pitung moves away.
A little jabbing left from Pitung on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Pitung is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Balayan.
Pitung misses with a head kick.
Balayan moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Pitung moves away from the strike by Balayan.
Balayan lands the left hand.
Pitung with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Balayan to score with a decent uppercut.
Balayan misses with a body shot.
Pitung throws out a counter right but Balayan avoids it with no problem.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balayan fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Balayan misses with a hook.
Balayan throws a leg kick which misses Pitung's front leg but catches the back leg as Pitung tries to avoid it.
A big right from Pitung misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pitung checks a low kick from Balayan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pitung takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Pitung stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Balayan.
Balayan throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Pitung uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Balayan.
Balayan throws a hook but Pitung blocks it.
Pitung throws out a counter right but Balayan avoids it with no problem.
Pitung fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Garegin Balayan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Balayan rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Pitung counters with a left and a right that stings Balayan.
Pitung tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Balayan misses with a looping left.
Pitung fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
A jab from Pitung misses.
Balayan slips under a jab.
Pitung uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Garegin Balayan is winning the standup battle so far.
Pitung throws a series of punches but Balayan moves out of range.
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!
Pitung moves forwards but Balayan connects with a nice, crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balayan swings for the body but Pitung moves out of range.
Balayan keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Pitung.
Pitung throws a lazy right hand but Balayan sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Balayan lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Pitung throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Balayan ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Balayan connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Balayan bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Balayan scores with a kick to the body.
Balayan scores with a sloppy right hand. Pitung should have avoided that one.
Balayan steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Pitung.
Pitung takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Balayan shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
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 slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Pitung throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pitung misses with a hook. Balayan ducked under it nicely.
Balayan lands a lovely overhand right.
Balayan takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Balayan tries to land a front kick but Pitung steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Balayan scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Balayan looks to land a left hand but Pitung moved out of range nicely.
A countering left hand to the body from Pitung misses.
Pitung swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Pitung checks a leg kick.
Pitung lands with a nice body punch.
Balayan throws a big shot that misses.
Balayan blocks a head kick by Pitung.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Balayan, right into the meat.
Balayan connects with a body shot.
Balayan avoids the head kick by Pitung.
Balayan is looking to counter punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balayan thows a left - swing and a miss!
Pitung throws a head kick that misses.
Balayan is looking to counter punch.
Balayan takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Balayan takes a shot to the body in his stride.

Pitung closes the distance and clinches.
Pitung tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Balayan's elbow.
Balayan swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Balayan makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A short left from Balayan.
Pitung lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Balayan as Pitung tries to tie him up.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Balayan.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Balayan blocking some punches.
Pitung blocking some punches.
Pitung lands with a left to the head.
Balayan blocks an uppercut.
Balayan lands a body shot in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Garegin Balayan dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Pitung throws a series of punches but Balayan moves out of range.
Pitung 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.
Pitung throws a hook but Balayan blocks it.
Good leg kick by Balayan there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
A swing and a miss from Balayan.
Pitung avoids the body shot from Balayan.
Balayan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Balayan feints and then cracks Pitung's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Pitung down.
Balayan motions for Pitung to come forward. Balayan throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Balayan uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Pitung.
Balayan avoids the body shot from Pitung.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balayan throws a leg kick which misses Pitung's front leg but catches the back leg as Pitung tries to avoid it.
Balayan punishes Pitung's body with a nice straight punch.
A swing and a miss from Pitung.
Pitung scores with a jab.
An inside leg kick lands from Balayan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balayan fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Pitung looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Balayan lands a nice hook to Pitung's body. Pitung takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Balayan lands a lovely overhand right.
A big right from Pitung misses.
Balayan half committed to a counter leg kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Pitung.
Balayan scores with a punch to the head.
A looping hook to the body misses from Balayan. Pitung does a little dance to reset his feet.
Pitung cracks the inside of Balayan's front leg.
Balayan missing with a left hand there. Pitung was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Balayan throws the kick towards the body but Pitung avoids it.
Balayan lands a jab to the nose.
Balayan misses with a low kick.
Nice body kick from Balayan.
Balayan connects with a leg kick. Pitung looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Pitung drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Pitung walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Pitung moves out of range as Balayan throws a body kick.
Pitung throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Balayan sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Pitung lands a two punch combo.
Balayan with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Pitung moves away from the strike by Balayan.
Balayan uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Pitung.
Balayan misses with a body kick.
Balayan is looking to clinch but Pitung is avoiding it.
Balayan moves away from the strike by Pitung.
Pitung ducks right into an uppercut from Balayan.

Pitung tries to keep at a distance but Balayan has taken the fight into the clinch.
Pitung lands a right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balayan blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Balayan fails to land.

Balayan breaks from the clinch.
Pitung misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Balayan.
Balayan loads up on a big right hand but Pitung slips the punch.
Balayan scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Pitung has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Balayan throws a body shot but no joy.
Despite the aggression on Pitung's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Balayan rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Pitung moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
It seemed like Pitung was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Pitung throws a looping overhand right but Balayan ducks down to avoid it.
Pitung misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Balayan.
Pitung doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Pitung misses with a hook.
Balayan dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Balayan fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Balayan's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Pitung connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Balayan scrambles back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pitung swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Pitung throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pitung takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Balayan rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Pitung counters with a straight right hand.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Balayan checks a leg kick.
Balayan swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
A slow jab from Balayan misses its intended target.
Balayan keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Balayan uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Pitung.
A little feinted left hand from Balayan on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Pitung, as that shot connected.
Pitung's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Balayan connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Pitung scrambles back to his feet.
Pitung avoids the body shot from Balayan.
Balayan throws a hook to the side of Pitung's head but Pitung sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Balayan jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Pitung looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Balayan jabbing away but nothing is landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Garegin Balayan clearly takes that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Pitung takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Balayan lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
A thudding body kick lands there by Balayan!
Balayan lands a nice looking body shot.
Balayan slips a jab and a cross from Pitung.
A shot to the liver by Balayan. Beautiful body shot.
Balayan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Pitung was well out of range. Poor timing from Balayan.
A lazy left from Balayan finds it's target.
Balayan swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Balayan misses with a body kick.
Pitung scores with a jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pitung lands with a good body shot.
Pitung swings widly with a right hand
and Balayan counters with a nice low kick that buckles Pitung's knee momentarily.
Balayan scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Pitung uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Balayan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balayan tries to clinch up but Pitung circles away and keeps his distance.
Pitung gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Pitung thuds a left hand into Balayan's body.
Balayan throws a hook but Pitung blocks it.
Both fighters circling a little - Balayan finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Balayan connects with a body shot.
Balayan is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Balayan cracks Pitung with a good jab.
A left lands for Balayan.
Pitung wants to slow Balayan down by chopping away at his legs.
Balayan bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Pitung's head backwards.
Balayan throws a wild body kick that Pitung sees coming a mile off.
Pitung's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Pitung looks to score with a jab to the body but Balayan is just out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balayan on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Balayan just misses with a punch to the body.
Balayan lands with a straight right. Pitung didn't see that one coming.
A chopping leg kick lands by Balayan.
Pitung takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Balayan misses with a wild body shot.
Balayan avoids the head kick by Pitung.
Balayan pushes Pitung away with a front kick.
Balayan uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Pitung.
Balayan throws a leg kick but Pitung checks it.
Balayan bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Pitung has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Balayan.
Pitung walks into a jab.
Balayan scores with a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pitung looks to throw a body kick
enabling Balayan to counter with a crisp jab.
A jab from Balayan misses.
Pitung connects with a body shot that sends Balayan's belly button to the back.
Balayan misses with a looping right.
Balayan goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Pitung moves out of range of the body kick from Balayan.
Pitung checks a leg kick nicely.
Pitung misses with a left hand
and Balayan counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Pitung thinking.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Balayan, as that shot connected.
Balayan looks to land a body kick but Pitung moved away.
Balayan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Pitung manages to avoid it.
Pitung swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Balayan lands with a right hand.
Balayan throws out a loose jab but Pitung uses good head movement to avoid it.
Pitung takes one on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balayan throws a shot from downtown. Pitung moves away and avoids it.
Balayan connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Pitung bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Pitung swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Balayan takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Pitung tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Balayan misses with a body kick.
Balayan misses the jab.
Pitung lands a jab to the nose.
Pitung takes a swing at Balayan's ribcage but misses.
Pitung throws out a loose jab but Balayan uses good head movement to avoid it.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Pitung crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Balayan - the referee stops the clock and Pitung gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Balayan. Pitung manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Pitung keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Balayan.
Balayan lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Balayan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Pitung.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Garegin Balayan had his way with Bang Pitung in that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Pitung throws a head kick but Balayan moves out of range.
Balayan stuns Pitung with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Balayan looks to land a combination but Pitung avoids it well.
Pitung doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Pitung ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Balayan moves away.
Pitung on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Nice defenses there by Pitung.
Pitung appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Balayan looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Balayan throws a body kick that misses.
Balayan throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Pitung tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pitung shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Balayan smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
A leg kick checked by Pitung.
Pitung misses the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balayan slips under a jab from Pitung.
Balayan takes a jab right on the kisser.
Balayan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Pitung moves away.
Pitung takes a swing at Balayan's ribcage but misses.
Pitung misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Balayan.
Balayan misses with a wild body shot.
Pitung looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Pitung throws a low kick but Balayan moves out of range easily.
Balayan appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Balayan scores with a jab to the body.
Pitung misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Balayan looks to score with a jab to the body but Pitung is just out of range.
Balayan walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
A shot to the body from Pitung misses
letting Balayan counter with a right hand.
Pitung moves out of range as Balayan strikes.
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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balayan looks to land a body kick but Pitung moved away.
Pitung throws a body punch but Balayan moves out of range.
Balayan was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Balayan lands a nice leg kick that just misses Pitung's sensitive parts.
Balayan moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Balayan bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Pitung's head.
Pitung misses with a two punch combination.
Balayan scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Balayan fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Balayan scores with a nice strike.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Pitung, as that shot connected.
Pitung moves out of range as Balayan strikes.
Pitung staying out of range there.
Balayan uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Pitung.
Balayan throws out a leg kick but Pitung moves out of range and Balayan only half commits.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pitung checks a low kick from Balayan.
It seemed like Pitung was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Balayan lands a slapping body shot.
Balayan darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
A jab from Pitung finds it's way through Balayan's defenses.
Pitung throws a head kick that half lands.
Pitung misses with a head kick.
Bang Pitung has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Pitung lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Balayan has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Balayan and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Balayan throws a wild body kick that Pitung sees coming a mile off.
Balayan lands a nice looking body kick.
Balayan listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Balayan connects with an inside leg kick.
Balayan throws a lazy uppercut
letting Pitung counter with a right hand.
Balayan loads up on a big right hand but Pitung slips the punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pitung looks to land a right hand but Balayan moved out of range.
Balayan lands a lovely overhand right.
Balayan takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Balayan displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Pitung throws out the jab.
Pitung bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Balayan's head.
Balayan lands with an uppercut that bounces Pitung off the cage and back into range.
Balayan uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Pitung.
Pitung throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Pitung tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Pitung throws a series of punches but Balayan avoids them all with ease.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Balayan.
Balayan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Some bone on bone action there as Balayan checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Balayan misses with a body kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Garegin Balayan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Balayan 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 50:45
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 50:45
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Garegin Balayan!
After winning the bout, Garegin Balayan thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.