PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Artur Azaryan (ranked 2010 p4p, 223 weight class) and Oliver Queen (ranked 2081 p4p, 230 weight class). Azaryan comes to the cage accompanied by Notorious BIG - Mo Money Mo Problems. 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.

Azaryan
vs
Queen

185 cm
25
176 lbs
7 - 6 - 1

177 cm
42
176 lbs
17 - 6 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

Sportivité

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 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Artur Azaryan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Oliver Queen!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Robert Twigg and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Azaryan throws out a loose jab but Queen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Queen throws a leg kick but Azaryan checks it.
We've been hearing reports that Azaryan has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Queen throws an off balance right hand
and Azaryan counters with a nice low kick that buckles Queen's knee momentarily.
Queen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Queen tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Oliver Queen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A shot to the body from Queen misses
and Azaryan counters with a stiff right hand.
Queen thumps Azaryan with a low kick.
Queen throws a leg kick but Azaryan moved away.
Azaryan bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Azaryan throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Queen lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Azaryan takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Queen throws a leg kick that is checked
and Azaryan counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azaryan tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Queen throws a leg kick
and Azaryan counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
That kick from Queen tenderised Azaryan's leg. Azaryan is trying to keep his angry face on.
Queen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Queen throws a chopping leg kick but Azaryan manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Azaryan swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Queen throws a right hand that Azaryan ducks under and follows up with a left that Azaryan also avoids with ease.
Queen just misses with a punch to the body.
Azaryan throws a right and a left that Queen avoids nicely.
Good standup being displayed there by Queen as he connects with a hook.
Azaryan swings and misses with a hook to the body.
As Azaryan backs off Queen throws a huge counter combo but Azaryan manages to avoid it all.
Queen throws a solid leg kick but Azaryan takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Queen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Queen falls off balance throwing a combination
and Queen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Azaryan feints and then cracks Queen's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Queen down.
Queen throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Azaryan counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Queen takes a swing at Azaryan's ribcage but misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Queen throws a lazy right hand but Azaryan sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Azaryan was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Good exchange - Azaryan coming out on top.
Azaryan tried to score with a low kick but Queen checks it.
Azaryan slips under a jab from Queen.
Queen blocks a leg kick.
Queen shapes to counter with a head kick.
Azaryan with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Queen to score with a decent uppercut.
Azaryan is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Azaryan throws out a loose jab but Queen uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azaryan throws a poor cross that misses
and Queen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Queen thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Azaryan if he has to take too many more of those.
Azaryan takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Queen scores with a kick to the midsection.
Queen lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Azaryan defending well as Queen loads up on a big left hand.
Azaryan lands a jab-cross combination.
Azaryan throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Queen.
Azaryan walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
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!
Azaryan misses with a head kick.
Queen ducks under a wild hook from Azaryan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azaryan uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Queen.
Azaryan is looking to counter punch.
Queen with a jab.
Azaryan drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Azaryan looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Queen throws the left hand but Azaryan avoids the punch easily.
Azaryan connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Queen momentarily.
Queen throws a body kick that misses.
Azaryan is looking for a counter combo.
A slow jab from Queen misses its intended target.
Queen throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Azaryan counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Nice shot lands for Queen.
Azaryan uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Queen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Oliver Queen dominated that 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.

The fighters circling - Queen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Azaryan displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Queen throws out the jab.
Azaryan scores with the left hand. Queen knows he should have avoided that one.
Queen with a nice cross.
A decent looking cross lands there for Queen.
A punch combination from Azaryan misses.
Queen throws a front kick aimed at Azaryan's knee but Azaryan avoids it well.
Azaryan moves out of range of the body kick from Queen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Queen tests Azaryan's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Queen takes one on the button.
Azaryan misses with a two punch combination.
Queen feints a counter leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slow jab from Azaryan misses its intended target.
Azaryan ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
An attempted straight right counter from Azaryan misses the target.
Azaryan uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Queen.
Queen changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Queen misses with an uppercut. Azaryan saw that one coming.
Azaryan looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Azaryan misses with an uppercut. Queen saw that one coming.
Azaryan rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Queen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Queen lands a body shot.
Azaryan uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Queen.
Azaryan misses with a left hand
and Queen counters with a good low kick that Azaryan was not able to check.
Queen scores with a jab to the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Queen throws an overhand right that lands on Azaryan's shoulder, as Azaryan tries to avoid the shot.
A quick step to the side and Azaryan tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nice uppercut there from Queen.
Azaryan on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Queen wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Azaryan moves out of range of the leg kick from Queen.
Queen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Queen walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Azaryan swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Queen drops his hands momentarily and Azaryan takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Azaryan shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Queen dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Azaryan. That did some damage!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good work by Azaryan as he checks the leg kick.
Azaryan was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Queen scoring well with a low kick there.
Azaryan throws a head kick that misses
letting Queen counter with a right hand.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Azaryan might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Azaryan lands a really nice looking cross but Queen seems unphased.
Azaryan misses with a body shot
and Queen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Queen throws a hook but Azaryan blocks it.
It looked like Azaryan wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Jab by Queen.
Queen throws a head kick but Azaryan moves out of range.
Queen falls off balance throwing a combination
and Azaryan counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Queen throws a sloppy head kick and Azaryan moves out of range easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azaryan looks to land a left hand but Queen moved out of range nicely.
Azaryan cracks Queen with a good jab.
Queen scores with a head kick. Azaryan tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Azaryan lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Queen circles away quickly and effectively.
Azaryan cracks Queen with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Queen throws a low kick but it's checked well by Azaryan.
Azaryan goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
An inside leg kick lands from Queen.
Queen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Azaryan is looking to counter punch.
Azaryan cracks the inside of Queen's front leg.
Queen misses with a right hand
and Azaryan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Oliver Queen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Queen misses with a body shot
enabling Azaryan to counter with a crisp jab.
Azaryan missing with a left hand there. Queen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Queen flicks out a counter leg kick but Azaryan steps away.
A jab lands there for Azaryan.
Queen throws the left hand but Azaryan avoids the punch easily.
Queen fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Azaryan has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Azaryan.
Azaryan scores with a jab to the jaw.
Azaryan throws a hook to the side of Queen's head but Queen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Azaryan ducks under a wild hook from Queen.
Azaryan swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Queen.
Queen cracks Azaryan with an open hand slap.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azaryan throws out a powerful jab.
Queen swings away with a leg kick that misses.
A jab from Queen misses.
Queen defending well as Azaryan loads up on a big left hand.
Queen bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Queen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Azaryan.
Queen comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Azaryan takes a kick to the side of the head.
Queen throws a jab when Azaryan was well out of range.
Azaryan misses with a looping right.
Queen uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Azaryan has time to react.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Queen throws a leg kick but Azaryan sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Azaryan throws a big counter combination but Queen scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Azaryan cracks Queen with a good jab.
Queen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Queen rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Azaryan counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Azaryan throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Queen throws a body kick that misses
and Azaryan counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Azaryan misses with a looping right.
Azaryan blocks a head kick by Queen.
Azaryan throws a lazy right hand but Queen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Queen lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Oliver Queen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Some bone on bone action there as Azaryan checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Queen has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Queen throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Azaryan looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Queen tests Azaryan's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Queen misses with a telegraphed body shot
letting Azaryan counter with a right hand.
Queen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Azaryan avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A low kick from Queen is predictable there
enabling Azaryan to counter with a crisp jab.
Queen feints and then cracks Azaryan's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Azaryan down.
Azaryan throws a sloppy head kick and Queen moves out of range easily.
A little jabbing left from Queen on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Queen throws a head kick that misses.
Artur Azaryan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Queen looks to throw the jab but Azaryan is out of range.
Queen stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Azaryan.
Azaryan throws a jab when Queen was well out of range.
Azaryan throws a right hand that Queen ducks under and follows up with a left that Queen also avoids with ease.
Azaryan lands with a cross.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Azaryan throws a shot from downtown. Queen moves away and avoids it.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Queen.
Queen looks to throw the jab but Azaryan is out of range.
Azaryan throws a right and a left that Queen avoids nicely.
Queen feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Azaryans jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Queen works Azaryan's body with a nice hook.

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 Artur Azaryan.
Well Queen 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 28:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Oliver Queen!
Oliver Queen looked relieved post fight as he said the following; 'Good fight Artie, lets go have a beer and toast one up to Eric.'.
Artur Azaryan spoke after the fight, saying 'I'm fed up of this promotion giving me unfair fights. I just fought a guy 50lbs heavier than me. I won't turn down a fight but if you book a damn card, maybe take this in to consideration. I shouldn't have to do your job for you!'.