PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Armen Moshi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Swafford (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.

Moshi
vs
Swafford

165 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Armen Moshi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Chris Swafford!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Valeri Chadov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Moshi fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Swafford tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Moshi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Moshi shoots in for a double leg but Swafford sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nice sprawl there from Swafford as Moshi shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Armen Moshi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Moshi checks a leg kick nicely.
Swafford keeps the fight on the outside.
Moshi shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Swafford sprawls well. Swafford wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Moshi gets slowly back to his feet.
Swafford with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Moshi to score with a decent uppercut.
Swafford fails in his attempt to clinch.
Moshi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Swafford.

Moshi rushes Swafford and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Moshi is defending well against a takedown attempt.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Moshi just misses with a elbow thrown towards Swafford's brow.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Swafford pulls guard.
Moshi might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Swafford has Moshi pulled in close to control his posture.
Moshi has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Swafford looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Swafford controls Moshi momentarily but Moshi frees himself.

Moshi avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Swafford pushes Moshi off and scrambles back to his feet.

Moshi has Swafford up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Swafford pulls guard successfully.
Moshi sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Swafford's guard.
Swafford is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Moshi's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Moshi's back!
Moshi trying to get back to his feet but Swafford is in full control for now.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Swafford is trying to stick to Moshi's back but Moshi is turning into Swafford. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Swafford's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Moshi.
Moshi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Swafford on the ground.
Moshi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Moshi advances position into side control!
Moshi remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Swafford's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Swafford tries to improve position but can't.
Swafford pushes Moshi away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Moshi gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Swafford looking for a sweep but Moshi has passed into full mount! Oh no!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moshi tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Swafford is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Moshi unloads with some shots from mount but Swafford bucks and avoids them well.
Swafford wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Moshi.
Swafford is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Swafford holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Moshi tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Moshi throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Armen Moshi will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Swafford changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Moshi tries to avoid it but Swafford manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Moshi to the ground. Moshi escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Moshi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Moshi closes the distance and clinches.
Swafford letting Moshi take a breather here.
Swafford is trying to maintain a safe position but Moshi gets an underhook and turns Swafford into the cage.
Moshi works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Swafford gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Moshi.
Moshi has Swafford pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Swafford manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Moshi fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Armen Moshi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Moshi stalls.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swafford is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Moshi is trying to pull guard but Swafford has him pressed against the cage.
Swafford misses with a short punch on the inside.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Swafford manages to pull guard.

Swafford scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Moshi takes the fight into the clinch.

Moshi pulls guard successfully.
Swafford trying to control but Moshi is working from the bottom.
Moshi pulls Swafford in to control the position.
Swafford wants to control from the top but Moshi keeps moving.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Moshi is on top in guard.
Swafford looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moshi wants to control from the top but Swafford keeps moving.
Moshi is really struggling to control Swafford but he's trying to hold on to the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Swafford manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Moshi is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Moshi wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Swafford.
Swafford looking to control but Moshi is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moshi bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Moshi passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Armen Moshi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Moshi wants to control but Swafford is keeping him busy.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Moshi stands up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Armen Moshi 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!

Moshi moves into the clinch.
Moshi is pressed up against the cage. Swafford has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Moshi down to the mat. Moshi avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Moshi shoots in for a double leg but Swafford sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Moshi tries to score a power double leg takedown but Swafford sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Moshi somewhat.

Moshi pushes Swafford up against the cage in a clinch.

Swafford manages to break the clinch.
Moshi misses with a takedown attempt - Swafford sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Armen Moshi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The fight stays on the outside here - Swafford looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Moshi pushes Swafford up against the cage in a clinch.
Moshi avoiding damage as Swafford throws knees to the body.

Swafford pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Moshi looks for a takedown but Swafford sprawls well.
Moshi tries for a takedown but Swafford sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Swafford tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Moshi tries to clinch up.

Moshi clinches.
Swafford tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Swafford dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Moshi is trying to drag Swafford to the mat but Swafford just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Swafford breaks the clinch.
Swafford tries to clinch up.
Swafford misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Moshi clinches with his opponent.
Swafford looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Swafford is trying to pull guard but Moshi has him pressed against the cage.
Swafford keeps control of Moshi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Moshi just misses with a elbow thrown towards Swafford's brow.
Swafford wants a takedown.
Moshi stalling.

Moshi decides to pull guard.

Moshi is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Moshi is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Swafford is defending well.

Swafford breaks the clinch.
Swafford looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Moshi is fending him off so far but Swafford persists. Nope, Moshi circles away and we're back to standing.
Nice sprawl there from Moshi as Swafford shoots in.
Armen Moshi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Moshi is defended easily by Swafford.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moshi shoots in and drives through. Swafford sprawls well.
Swafford is looking to chop away at Moshi's legs.
Swafford shoots in for a takedown but Moshi shows good takedown defense.
Nice cross by Moshi.
Moshi feints a jab promting Swafford to slip. Moshi then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Swafford slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
No luck for Moshi with that takedown attempt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Moshi thows a body shot but no joy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Armen Moshi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Moshi 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight for Armen Moshi!
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight for Armen Moshi!
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight for Armen Moshi!

Armen Moshi wins by unanimous decision!