PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Hratch Tzien (ranked 509 p4p, 449 weight class) and Khakim Khadzhimurad (ranked 56 p4p, 45 weight class). Tzien's entrance music is R*ck It. A fine choice. 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.

Tzien
vs
Khadzhimurad

170 cm
30
145
14 - 9 - 1

186 cm
31
157
17 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

KOMBAT KLOTHING
Voodoo Nutrition

Core Combat

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Hratch Tzien!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Khakim Khadzhimurad!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Josh West and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tzien tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Khadzhimurad was well out of range. Poor timing from Tzien.
Khadzhimurad let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

Tzien has closed the distance and engaged Khadzhimurad in a clinch.
Tzien stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Khadzhimurad prevents a body shot from Tzien.
Khadzhimurad lands a left hand that snaps the head of Tzien backwards.
A head punch on the inside from Tzien fails to land.
Tzien misses with a hook to the ribs.
Tzien misses with some punches.
Tzien lands a body punch in the clinch.
Tzien lands with a right to the head.
Tzien misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A shot in the inside from Tzien.
Khadzhimurad is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Tzien swings wildly with an uppercut but Khadzhimurad uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tzien tries to work over Khadzhimurad's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Tzien.
A short right from Khadzhimurad on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Khadzhimurad.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Khadzhimurad tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tzien's elbow.
Khadzhimurad misses with some punches.
Tzien has a couple of punches blocked by Khadzhimurad.
Tzien lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Khadzhimurad or not.
Khadzhimurad tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tzien blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Tzien lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Khadzhimurad blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Khadzhimurad struggles to land a body shot inside as Tzien controls his hands.
Tzien tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Tzien works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Khadzhimurad lands a left hand.
A right handed body shot lands from Khadzhimurad.
Khadzhimurad lands a shot to the body.
Tzien misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A left hand lands to the body for Khadzhimurad.
Khadzhimurad tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tzien's elbow.
Tzien blocks a body shot from Khadzhimurad.
Khadzhimurad swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Nice body punch from Tzien - that landed with a thud.
Tzien lands a left hand that snaps the head of Khadzhimurad backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Tzien.
Tzien tries to work over Khadzhimurad's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Tzien lands a left hand that snaps the head of Khadzhimurad backwards.
Khadzhimurad working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
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!
A right hand to the body from Tzien.
Khadzhimurad lands with a right to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tzien working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Khadzhimurad gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Tzien.

Tzien manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Tzien keeping moving, preventing Khadzhimurad from controlling successfully.
Tzien is trying to keep Khadzhimurad in close.

Khadzhimurad got a little sloppy there for a moment and Tzien has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Khadzhimurad has managed to get both his arms back between Tzien's legs - danger averted.

Tzien is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Khadzhimurad forces his way into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tzien is pressing down on Khadzhimurad's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Tzien 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.

Tzien pushes a forearm under Khadzhimurad's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Khadzhimurad is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:35 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Hratch Tzien!
Hratch Tzien decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.