PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Alkandros Vasilios (ranked 4171 p4p, 3426 weight class) and Khorchi Tugan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Vasilios
vs
Tugan

165 cm
18
155
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
145
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alkandros Vasilios!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Khorchi Tugan!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Steve Smith and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tugan looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Vasilios!
Tugan working the head and body with strikes.
Vasilios is being controlled here.
Vasilios holds on to Tugan's head and controls the position momentarily.
Vasilios is looking to regain half guard here but Tugan keeps moving and retains side control.
Tugan wants to control but Vasilios is keeping him busy.
Vasilios is trying to control Tugan's posture but Tugan avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vasilios is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Tugan off and has taken his back!
Tugan avoids the strikes from Vasilios.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Vasilios is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Tugan defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Despite being in a bad position, Tugan is controlling the hands, preventing any submission attempts.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Vasilios. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!

Tugan preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Vasilios.
Tugan is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Vasilios looking for the choke but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tugan staying busy and making it hard for Vasilios to control.
Tugan wants to escape the position.
Vasilios somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Vasilios misses with a punch to the head.
Vasilios keeps control of the position as Tugan tries to break free.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Vasilios struggling to keep hold of the position.
Vasilios has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Vasilios looking for the choke but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasilios is looking to control Tugan but Tugan is wriggling around and keeping busy.

Tugan defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Vasilios is not going to allow Tugan to sit and survive in this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Vasilios wants to control but Tugan is keeping busy.
Vasilios lands punches and elbows.
Tugan avoids the strikes from Vasilios.
Vasilios scores with punches from the back.

Vasilios looking to break Tugan's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Tugan remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Vasilios will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Vasilios scores with punches and elbows.

Vasilios working for the choke.
Tugan staying busy and making it hard for Vasilios to control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alkandros Vasilios dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Tugan moves out of range as Vasilios strikes.

Tugan forces Vasilios back against the cage and clinches.
A head punch on the inside from Vasilios fails to land.

Tugan pulls guard.

Tugan looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Vasilios wants to control from the top but Tugan keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vasilios postures up in Tugan's guard and throws a big left but Tugan blocks it.
We've been informed that Tugan has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tugan looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Vasilios working some strikes from top position.

Tugan is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Vasilios defends well.
Tugan is breathing heavily.
Tugan looking to control.
Vasilios is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Vasilios keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Tugan's head.
Vasilios trying to control the position from guard on top but Tugan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vasilios throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tugan preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Vasilios is working Tugan over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Tugan keeping moving, preventing Vasilios from controlling successfully.
Vasilios pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tugan is keeping the position for now.
Vasilios wants to control from the top but Tugan keeps moving.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Vasilios throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Tugan gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Tugan gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Vasilios keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vasilios looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Vasilios trying to control here.
Alkandros Vasilios overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Vasilios looking for submissions off his back.

Vasilios is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Tugan pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Vasilios gets full guard.
Vasilios is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tugan can do to turn this around?
Tugan trying to stand up but can't free himself from Vasilios's guard.
Vasilios trying to control the position.

Vasilios looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Tugan passes into half guard.
Vasilios is trying to maintain the position but Tugan is very close to passing his half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Khorchi Tugan 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! This is the final round!

Vasilios throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A low kick from Vasilios misses

and Tugan counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Tugan.
Vasilios keeping full guard, as Tugan tries to pass.

Vasilios throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Vasilios wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Tugan is now in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tugan stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Vasilios to get to his feet.
Tugan connects with a single shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tugan rushes Vasilios and presses him up against the cage.
Vasilios throws a head punch that misses.
Vasilios tries to work over Tugan's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Vasilios working aggressively here.
Tugan using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Vasilios has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Vasilios misses with a short punch on the inside.
Vasilios swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Vasilios looking to slow down the pace here.
Tugan prevents a body shot from Vasilios.
Tugan blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Vasilios misses with some punches.
Vasilios struggles to land a body shot inside as Tugan controls his hands.
Vasilios on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tugan wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Vasilios has him pressed against the cage.

Vasilios decides to pull guard.

Vasilios looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Tugan passes into half guard.
Vasilios gets back to full guard.
Vasilios looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Vasilios not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Tugan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vasilios swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Vasilios working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Tugan doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Tugan manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Tugan must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tugan is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Vasilios has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Tugan is looking to defend but Vasilios has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Tugan! Vasilios pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Tugan taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:24 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Alkandros Vasilios!
During a confident post fight interview, Alkandros Vasilios thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.