PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Serj Tankian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Adam Arandaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Serj Tankian has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Tankian
vs
Arandaa

187 cm
22
185 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

175 cm
22
190 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Serj Tankian!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Adam Arandaa!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tankian throws a leg kick which misses Arandaa's front leg but catches the back leg as Arandaa tries to avoid it.

Arandaa darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Tankian wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tankian keeping control of the position.
Arandaa trying to mount his opponent but Tankian defends it.
The fighters are battling for position here. Tankian manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Arandaa trying to control but Tankian is working from the bottom.

Arandaa 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.

Tankian is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arandaa fails to pull guard.
Tankian is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Tankian tries to land a knee to the head but Arandaa blocks with his arms.

Tankian manages to break the clinch.
Tankian plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Arandaa tries to clinch there but Tankian circles away.
Tankian lands a high kick to the side of Arandaa's head that stuns him and send him tumbling down to the canvas! Tankian dives into guard, looking to finish.

Arandaa is rocked!
Tankian knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Arandaa on the ground.
Tankian is stalling in the full guard.
Arandaa is still in real trouble! Can Tankian finish him?

Tankian decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Arandaa seems to have recovered his senses.

Tankian shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Arandaa's guard.
Tankian is breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Arandaa tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Tankian decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Arandaa tries to clinch up but Tankian circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tankian tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Tankian fails with an attempt to clinch.
Arandaa is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tankian throws a right and a left that both miss.
Arandaa blocks a head kick by Tankian.
Tankian throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Arandaa drives through with a takedown into guard.
Tankian wants to stand and escape but Arandaa is having none of it.
Tankian is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Arandaa prevents Tankian from getting back to his feet.
Tankian will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Tankian is on top in guard.
Tankian tries to free his leg and advance position but Arandaa is retaining full guard.
Tankian wants to get up but he can't break Arandaa's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arandaa controls Tankian momentarily but Tankian frees himself.
Tankian would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Arandaa has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Tankian can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Arandaa wants to stand and escape but Tankian is having none of it.
Arandaa is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Arandaa wants to stand and escape but Tankian is having none of it.
Tankian has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Arandaa trying to keep a closed guard but Tankian is proving a slippery customer.
Arandaa should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Arandaa is controlling Tankian's posture.

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 wants to control from the top but Arandaa keeps moving.
Tankian tries to stand but Arandaa is controlling from the bottom.
Arandaa trying to control the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Arandaa waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Tankian.

Arandaa gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Tankian would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Arandaa is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tankian with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Arandaa scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Arandaa tries to advance to mount but can't.
Arandaa in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
A bit of a lull in the action here.
Tankian managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Arandaa.
Tankian is not content to let Arandaa control the position.

Tankian explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tankian doesn't manage to clinch there - Arandaa circles away.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Arandaa.
Arandaa wants to control but Tankian is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tankian takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Arandaa throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

Arandaa wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Tankian, who protects the arm well.
Arandaa working away.
The strikes coming from Arandaa are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Tankian trying to remain calm as Arandaa controls from the top position.
Arandaa working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
An elbow from Arandaa crashes against the mat.
Arandaa working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Arandaa working the head with strikes.

Arandaa stands up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Arandaa drives through and clinches with Tankian against the cage.
Arandaa is looking to break free of the clinch but Tankian has double underhooks.
Tankian trying to stall but Arandaa improves his position.
Tankian keeps control of Arandaa as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A knee to the head by Tankian.
Arandaa tries to stall but Tankian uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Tankian lands a nice elbow.
Arandaa misses with some punches.
A knee to the head by Tankian.
Tankian can't get the takedown.

Arandaa lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Tankian wants to improve his position but Arandaa is controlling well.
Arandaa passes the guard and advances to mount!
Arandaa controlling his opponent.

Arandaa swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Tankian is now in Arandaa's guard. A big mistake from Arandaa there, giving up the dominant position!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arandaa has a closed guard, preventing Tankian from standing up.
Tankian trying to control the position from guard on top but Arandaa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Arandaa wants to sweep here but Tankian controlling him for the moment.

Arandaa is looking for a triangle but Tankian pushes his legs off easily.
Arandaa has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Arandaa trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Tankian won't allow Arandaa to get back to his feet.
Adam Arandaa has got the better of the ground game so far.

Arandaa working for submissions but it's allowed Tankian to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Tankian is taking a breather. Arandaa says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Tankian has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Arandaa is trying to control but Tankian passes into side control!
Arandaa tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Arandaa tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Arandaa throwing hammer fists to the chest of Tankian. What's that going to do exactly?
Arandaa wants to control but Tankian is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Adam Arandaa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Tankian's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Arandaa showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Tankian.
Tankian throws a head kick that misses.
Arandaa misses with a takedown attempt - Tankian sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Tankian throws a head kick that misses.

Arandaa closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Arandaa wants to free his trapped foot but Tankian is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Tankian has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Arandaa is working away from the top position though.
Tankian avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Arandaa.
Tankian keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Tankian is looking to improve his position.

Arandaa decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Arandaa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Some wild striking there from Tankian.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arandaa shoots in and drives through. Tankian sprawls well.
Tankian lands a high kick to the side of Arandaa's head that stuns him and send him tumbling down to the canvas! Tankian dives into guard, looking to finish.
Arandaa working a defensive guard but Tankian passes into half guard.
Arandaa has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Tankian is working away from the top position though.
The fighters are battling for position here. Arandaa manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Tankian is looking to stand up but Arandaa won't let him.
Tankian stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Arandaa swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Arandaa manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Tankian manages to get himself to full guard.
Tankian wants to stand up but Arandaa is controlling him.
Arandaa stays in close to Tankian's body and controls the position.
Tankian controls Arandaa momentarily but Arandaa frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arandaa throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Arandaa content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Tankian wants to stand and escape but Arandaa is having none of it.
Arandaa trying to control the position from guard on top but Tankian is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Arandaa pushing down on Tankian's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Arandaa trying to pass the guard but Tankian defending well.

Tankian has one foot on Arandaa's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Tankian lands a nice looking body kick.

Arandaa tries to keep at a distance but Tankian has taken the fight into the clinch.

Arandaa jumps guard.

Arandaa is working an open guard so Tankian takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Tankian.
Tankian shoots in and drives through. Arandaa sprawls well.
Tankian tries a head kick but it misses.
Tankian wants to clinch.
Arandaa ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

Arandaa looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Arandaa scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Tankian is trying to control but can't.
Tankian wants to get back to his feet.
Arandaa not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Arandaa not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Tankian is trying to stand up here but Arandaa is controlling him well.
Tankian controlling the position for now.
Arandaa tries to pass to full mount but Tankian defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arandaa prevents Tankian from improving his position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Tankian avoids the head kick by Arandaa.
Tankian pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Arandaa avoids the head kick by Tankian.
Arandaa blocks a head kick by Tankian.

Arandaa clinches up against the cage.
Arandaa is trying to break the clinch but Tankian has him pressed against the cage.

Arandaa breaks the clinch.
Arandaa dodges the punch combination from Tankian.
Serj Tankian is winning the standup battle so far.

Arandaa shoots in and bounces Tankian off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Tankian trying to control the position here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tankian is looking to stand up but Arandaa isn't so interested in that idea.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Adam Arandaa.
I think Arandaa has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Adam Arandaa!