PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tigran Minasian (ranked 3394 p4p, 3891 weight class) and Lu Cheng (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Minasian
vs
Cheng

181 cm
39
183
12 - 15 - 0

199 cm
19
170
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Determined

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 12 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tigran Minasian!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Lu Cheng!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Robert Twigg and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Minasian throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Minasian shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cheng throws a looping overhand right but Minasian ducks down to avoid it.
Minasian will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Minasian shoots for a takedown but Cheng saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tigran Minasian. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Minasian drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Cheng is trying to get back to half guard.
A lull in the action here as Minasian stalls from top position.

Minasian tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Cheng wants to control but Minasian postures up.
We've been hearing that Minasian has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Minasian controls the position.
Cheng is looking for a sweep.
Minasian takes a little break here. Cheng wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

Minasian tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Minasian has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Cheng!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Minasian tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Minasian avoids the attempt from Cheng to control.
Minasian controlling the position easily from mount.
Minasian wants to take Cheng's back but he can't do it this time.
Cheng is trying to escape the mount but Minasian keeps good control and instead manages to take Cheng's back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cheng is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Minasian.

Minasian is working for the choke. He's slipped one arm under the chin. Cheng has to defend the other arm for all he's worth... but Minasian has managed to get that arm free too and he's tightening the choke! Cheng taps out and looks absolutely disgusted with himself. Minasian doesn't care though - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:28 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Tigran Minasian!
Tigran Minasian seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.