PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Edmond Chabazian (ranked 2072 p4p, 2338 weight class) and Alexander Rusev (ranked 228 p4p, 254 weight class). Edmond Chabazian has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Chabazian
vs
Rusev

184 cm
30
184
11 - 8 - 0

170 cm
23
174
8 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very quick

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Edmond Chabazian!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alexander Rusev!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Viktor Lagutenko and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rusev shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
enabling Chabazian to counter with a crisp jab.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rusev.
Rusev shoots in for a takedown but Chabazian shows good takedown defense.
Edmond Chabazian has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Rusev.
Rusev fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Chabazian shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rusev defends it nicely.
Rusev fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Chabazian avoids it really well and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rusev doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Chabazian counters with a takedown into side control.
Chabazian lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Rusev down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rusev is looking to reverse the position.
Chabazian in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Chabazian wants to control but Rusev is keeping him busy.

Chabazian is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Rusev is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rusev stops Chabazian from passing to mount.
Rusev is looking for a sweep.
Rusev managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Chabazian.

Chabazian tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Chabazian swings around for an armbar but Rusev sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Chabazian's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chabazian looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rusev is one step ahead there.

Chabazian throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Chabazian keeping moving, preventing Rusev from controlling successfully.
Chabazian controls Rusev momentarily but Rusev frees himself.
Rusev preventing the sweep.

Rusev avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Rusev won't allow Chabazian to sweep him here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rusev accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rusev working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Chabazian's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chabazian controls Rusev momentarily but Rusev frees himself.
Rusev stopping the sweep attempt from Chabazian.
Rusev tries to free his leg and advance position but Chabazian is retaining full guard.
Rusev content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Rusev pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Chabazian is keeping the position for now.
Rusev postures up.
Chabazian looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Chabazian has his foot on Rusev's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rusev works his way back into a safe position though.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rusev's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Rusev working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Chabazian's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rusev is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Chabazian looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Chabazian manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rusev manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chabazian with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Rusev wants to sweep but no luck.
Rusev is controlling Chabazian's posture.
Chabazian won't allow Rusev to sweep him here.
Chabazian stands up over Rusev, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Chabazian will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Chabazian scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Rusev trying to control the position.
Chabazian trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rusev looking to hit a scissor sweep but Chabazian is one step ahead there.
Rusev is trying to control the position but Chabazian postures up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Edmond Chabazian dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Chabazian slaps away a takedown attempt from Rusev, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Chabazian half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Chabazian is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rusev can do to turn this around?
A looping hook to the body misses from Chabazian. Rusev does a little dance to reset his feet.
Chabazian slaps away a takedown attempt from Rusev, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rusev wants to clinch but Chabazian slips to the side

and Chabazian decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rusev's guard.
Chabazian trying to control the position from guard on top but Rusev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Rusev working for a triangle but Chabazian defends it easily.
Chabazian postures up and lands a big shot to Rusev's brow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chabazian trying to control but Rusev is working from the bottom.
Rusev tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Chabazian has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rusev can't keep his opponent in guard - Chabazian advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Chabazian takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Chabazian looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Rusev taking some punishment here, with Chabazian in his half guard.
Chabazian throwing shots but Rusev is blocking nicely.

Chabazian is looking for a kimura here.
Chabazian scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Rusev looking for submissions off his back.
Rusev wants to improve his position but Chabazian is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rusev keeps trying to improve his position.
Chabazian wants to take a breather but Rusev is having none of it.

Chabazian is working for a submission of some sort.
Chabazian throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rusev is refusing to be controlled, as Chabazian sits in half guard.

Chabazian is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Chabazian throwing shots but Rusev is blocking nicely.
Chabazian prevents Rusev from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rusev manages to get to full guard.

Chabazian drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Rusev manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Chabazian has Rusev in his guard.

Rusev is working Chabazian over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Chabazian is trying to keep Rusev in close.
Rusev postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Chabazian is on top in guard.

Chabazian got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rusev has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Chabazian has managed to get both his arms back between Rusev's legs - danger averted.
Chabazian missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chabazian advances to half guard.

Chabazian seems to be looking for submissions.
Chabazian looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Rusev is looking to improve his position.
Chabazian throwing shots but Rusev is blocking nicely.
Rusev is trying to control but can't.
Chabazian throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rusev is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Chabazian's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Chabazian's back!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Chabazian tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rusev lands a big elbow.
Rusev landing strikes from the mount.
Chabazian is in all sorts of trouble here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Edmond Chabazian dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rusev.
Rusev shoots and misses

and Chabazian counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Rusev is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Chabazian trying to control the position from guard on top but Rusev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rusev pulls Chabazian in close to his closed guard and prevents Chabazian from doing any damage or advancing position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chabazian sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Rusev's guard.

Chabazian is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Rusev has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Chabazian is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Rusev still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Rusev has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Chabazian tries to bench press Rusev off him but Rusev keeps the position.
Chabazian is working hard here to advance position.
Rusev trying to control the action but Chabazian is working from the bottom.
Rusev scores with a couple of short elbows.
Rusev working the ground and pound.

Rusev tries for a kimura but Chabazian is defending well.
Chabazian manages to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chabazian taking some punishment here, with Rusev in his half guard.
Chabazian moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Rusev wants to control from the top but Chabazian keeps moving.
Rusev has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Rusev throws a big elbow that misses.
Chabazian is looking to sweep but instead, Rusev has passed into half guard.
Rusev tries to pass to full mount but Chabazian defends it.

Rusev is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Rusev is looking for a kimura but Chabazian is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Rusev to get the leverage.
Chabazian slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Chabazian looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chabazian seems keen to control Rusev's posture.
Rusev working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Chabazian's head.
Rusev preventing the sweep.
Rusev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Chabazian swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Chabazian working for a triangle but Rusev defends it easily.

Chabazian is looking for a triangle but Rusev pushes his legs off easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rusev's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Alexander Rusev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Chabazian looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rusev is fighting to break Chabazian's control of his arms but Chabazian is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Rusev working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Chabazian's head.
Edmond Chabazian overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rusev lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Chabazian wants to sweep but no luck.
Chabazian manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rusev manages to get himself to full guard.

Chabazian pushing down on Rusev's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Rusev looking for submissions off his back.
Rusev gets full guard.
Rusev striking from the bottom.
Chabazian chips away with some ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rusev trying to keep a closed guard but Chabazian is proving a slippery customer.
Rusev working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Chabazian.

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 Edmond Chabazian.
Well Chabazian has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Edmond Chabazian!
A very excited looking Edmond Chabazian made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.