PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Derge Tankian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arek xXx (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.

Tankian
vs
xXx

169 cm
20
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
21
198 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 Tokyo, Derge Tankian!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Arek xXx!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tankian scores a takedown into full mount!
Tankian tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
xXx is looking to improve his position but Tankian isn't that keen on the idea.
xXx wants to control but Tankian is having none of it.
xXx is trying desperately to improve position.
xXx prevents Tankian from taking his back.
xXx tries to reverse the position but Tankian maintains control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tankian takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Tankian could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Tankian stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Tankian takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Tankian throws a head kick that misses
and xXx counters with a head kick. That will keep Tankian thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

xXx closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - xXx lands in his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tankian keeping moving, preventing xXx from controlling successfully.
Tankian not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Tankian keeping moving, preventing xXx from controlling successfully.

Tankian working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. xXx doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. xXx manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
xXx looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
xXx throws a big right hand that misses.
Tankian has a closed guard, preventing xXx from standing up.
xXx wants to pass the guard but Tankian is keeping the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
xXx with a poor takedown

and Tankian counters with a nice double leg into guard.
xXx looks gassed!
Tankian keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of xXx's head.
Tankian might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Tankian missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Tankian slips nicely into half guard.
Tankian prevents xXx from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
xXx is looking to control Tankian's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can xXx avoid being mounted?
Tankian trying to control the action but xXx is working from the bottom.
xXx taking some punishment here, with Tankian in his half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
xXx is in trouble now - Tankian has advanced to mount!
xXx is trying desperately to improve position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Derge Tankian dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Tankian closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Tankian lands in his opponent's guard.
xXx is trying to keep Tankian in close.
Tankian trying to control but xXx is working from the bottom.
Tankian has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Tankian has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of xXx is proving hard to escape from.

That's one minute gone in the round.
xXx tries to land a sweep but no joy.
xXx will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Tankian pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. xXx is keeping the position for now.
xXx manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Tankian manages to get himself to full guard.
xXx is breathing heavily.
Tankian keeping moving, preventing xXx from controlling successfully.
Tankian keeping full guard, as xXx tries to pass.
Tankian manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. xXx manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
xXx is trying to hold Tankian in close to prevent damage but Tankian has managed to pass into half guard.

Tankian is working for a submission of some sort.
xXx tries to roll over but Tankian keeps him under control.
Tankian perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
xXx is trying to stand back up but Tankian is controlling him
Tankian not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Tankian missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
xXx wants to control but Tankian is keeping busy.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
xXx shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Tankian counters with a three punch combo that has xXx backing up. xXx nods at Tankian to acknowledge the strikes.
Tankian is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
xXx misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Tankian drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tankian tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Tankian has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
xXx can't do much from the bottom here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
xXx looking for a sweep but Tankian has passed into full mount! Oh no!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Derge Tankian dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Tankian clinches but xXx breaks the clinch
and xXx makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
xXx doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Tankian counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Tankian perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Tankian decides to stand up.

Tankian darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Tankian stands up out of the half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Tankian throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. xXx was covering up waiting for the punch and Tankian finishes the takedown easily into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
xXx controls Tankian momentarily but Tankian frees himself.

Tankian decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on xXx, up you get!

Tankian gets the takedown into side control.
xXx tries to bench press Tankian off him but Tankian keeps the position.
xXx throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
xXx is looking to regain half guard here but Tankian keeps moving and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
xXx is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Tankian advances to mount.
Tankian controlling from the full mount.
xXx is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tankian controlling the pace for now.
xXx tries to lock up and control but Tankian gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
xXx really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Tankian putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Tankian looking to control and managing it successfully.
Tankian with a couple of short strikes.
xXx in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Tankian controlling from mount.
xXx is trying to reverse the position but instead Tankian has taken his back - oops!
Arek xXx has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Derge Tankian is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tankian really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for xXx.

And that's the end of the fight!
Derge Tankian showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Tankian, 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:26
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:26
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Derge Tankian!