PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ashot Agopyan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roy Tiger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Agopyan
vs
Tiger

180 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
22
188 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ashot Agopyan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Roy Tiger!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Robert Twigg and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tiger throws a series of punches but Agopyan moves out of range.
Tiger misses with a double jab.
Tiger moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Tiger tries a head kick but it misses.
Tiger tries a head kick but it misses.
Tiger throws a nice looking combination but Agopyan bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A punch combination from Tiger misses.
Tiger's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Tiger duly obliges.
Agopyan fails with a takedown attempt.

Agopyan has closed the distance and engaged Tiger in a clinch.
Tiger is trying to break the clinch but Agopyan has him pressed against the cage.
Tiger can't break the clinch.
Tiger wants to break the clinch but can't.

Tiger manages to break the clinch.

Agopyan closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Agopyan stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Agopyan closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Tiger to the mat! Tiger manages to get full guard.
Agopyan sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Agopyan drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Agopyan jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Agopyan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Agopyan trying to control but Tiger is working from the bottom.
Agopyan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tiger swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Agopyan throwing strikes from guard but Tiger blocks nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tiger is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Agopyan is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Agopyan is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Tiger throws a head kick that misses.
Tiger throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Tiger is looking to score with low kicks.
Tiger looks to land a combination but Agopyan avoids it well.
Tiger throws a head kick but Agopyan moves out of range.

Agopyan closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Tiger to the mat! Tiger manages to get full guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Tiger is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Agopyan wants to pass the guard but Tiger is keeping the position.
Agopyan controlling from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Agopyan postures up in Tiger's guard and throws a big left but Tiger blocks it.

Agopyan stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Agopyan gets a clinch.

Agopyan decides to pull guard.
Agopyan is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Agopyan seems to be working for a kimura but Tiger defends the submission attempt.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Tiger tries to kick Agopyan off but Agopyan keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Agopyan is looking for a kimura but Tiger is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Agopyan to get the leverage.
Tiger is trying to stand back up but Agopyan is controlling him

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Agopyan missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Agopyan clinches.
Tiger wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Agopyan keeps control of Tiger as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Agopyan has Tiger pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Tiger manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Tiger is trying to break free.
Agopyan tries to break the clinch but Tiger is controlling the position.
Agopyan goes for a takedown attempt but Tiger pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ashot Agopyan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Agopyan avoids the body shot from Tiger.
Tiger rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Agopyan moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ashot Agopyan dominated that round.
That's time! Agopyan's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Tiger throws a right and a left that Agopyan avoids nicely.
A punch combination from Tiger misses.
Tiger looks to land a combination but Agopyan avoids it well.

Agopyan feints and as Tiger raises his hands in defense, Agopyan changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Agopyan passes Tiger's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Agopyan is keen to just control but Tiger is a slippery customer.
Agopyan scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Agopyan is trying to control the action in half guard but Tiger is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Tiger is trying to stand.
Agopyan not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Agopyan throwing shots but Tiger is blocking nicely.
Agopyan seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Agopyan decides to return to a standing position.
Agopyan avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tiger tries to bum rush Agopyan with a series of wild strikes but Agopyan uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Roy Tiger is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Agopyan looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Agopyan passes Tiger's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Agopyan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tiger keeps working.
Tiger wants to get back to his feet.
Agopyan moves into full mount! Tiger won't be happy about that!
Agopyan sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Tiger wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tiger blocking the ground and pound.
Agopyan looking to control and managing it successfully.
Agopyan throwing strikes here but Tiger is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

Agopyan looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Tiger is trying to stand.
Agopyan wants to control the action but instead Tiger gets a body lock and reverses into Agopyan's guard! Nice work!
Agopyan wants to sweep here but Tiger controlling him for the moment.

Tiger avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Tiger wants to stand but Agopyan is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Agopyan throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Tiger stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Agopyan fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Tiger sprawls well initially but Agopyan persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Agopyan uses his free foot to push down on Tiger's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Tiger.
Tiger is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Agopyan thowing shots but they're missing.
Agopyan throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Agopyan tries to control but Tiger wriggling away.
Agopyan thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tiger's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

Agopyan working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Tiger has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.

Agopyan has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Tiger has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Tiger trying to get back to his feet but Agopyan is in full control for now.
Ashot Agopyan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Agopyan is looking for the choke from the back position but Tiger is controlling his hands well.

Agopyan has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Tiger has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Tiger is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ashot Agopyan dominated that second round.
That's time! Agopyan's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Agopyan.
Agopyan in side control, throwing shots but Tiger defends.
Tiger managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Agopyan.

Agopyan swings around for an armbar but Tiger sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Agopyan's guard.
Tiger trying to stand up but can't free himself from Agopyan's guard.

Agopyan is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Tiger trying to stand up but can't free himself from Agopyan's guard.
Agopyan manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Tiger manages to get himself to full guard.
Tiger is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Agopyan is controlling him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tiger keeping moving, preventing Agopyan from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tiger wants to stand up but Agopyan is controlling him.
Agopyan is looking to work some ground and pound but Tiger has wrist control.
Tiger keeping moving, preventing Agopyan from controlling successfully.
Agopyan thows a big elbow that misses.
Tiger utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Agopyan staying out of range there.
Tiger throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Agopyan lands a jab.

Agopyan looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tiger is looking to stand up but Agopyan isn't so interested in that idea.
Agopyan throwing strikes but missing.
Agopyan slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Tiger tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Agopyan misses with an elbow to the head.
Agopyan trying to control momentarily.
Tiger controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Agopyan trying to control.
Agopyan throwing sloppy strikes.

Agopyan is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Tiger is defending well though. Agopyan let's go of the attempt for now.
Agopyan missing with strikes.

Agopyan has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

Agopyan looking for the choke from the back.

Tiger defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Agopyan's arms.
Tiger is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Agopyan trying to control.
Tiger wants to get back to his feet.
Roy Tiger has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Agopyan is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Tiger is defending well though. Agopyan let's go of the attempt for now.
Even with his hooks in, Agopyan manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Even with his hooks in, Agopyan manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Tiger really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Agopyan. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Agopyan patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

And that's the end of the fight!
Ashot Agopyan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Agopyan, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ashot Agopyan!