PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mak Dolan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Serj Tankian (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.

Dolan
vs
Tankian

202 cm
21
183 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Demonic Clothing

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 Los Angeles, Mak Dolan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Serj Tankian!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dolan has a takedown stuffed.
Tankian tries to clinch but Dolan is having none of it.
Tankian looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Dolan shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Tankian's guard.

Dolan postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Tankian is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Dolan, into his guard.
Dolan has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Tankian has passed into side control.
Dolan is looking for a sweep.
Dolan is not content to let Tankian control the position.
You can see the frustration on Dolan's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Dolan tries to improve position but can't.
Dolan is working hard here to advance position.
Tankian wants to stand but Dolan has his arm trapped.
Tankian throws an elbow but Dolan slips to the side and avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Dolan shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Tankian has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Dolan is working away from the top position though.
Tankian is trying to get back to full guard.
Dolan seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Tankian is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Dolan pulls his head out easily.
Dolan is pressing down on Tankian's thigh, looking to free his foot. Tankian is holding on for now.
Dolan wants to control but Tankian is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tankian tries to get to full guard but Dolan has control of the leg.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Dolan drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Dolan really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Tankian keeping moving, preventing Dolan from controlling successfully.
Tankian wants to sweep but no luck.
Dolan wants to control from the top but Tankian keeps moving.
Tankian wants to sweep but no luck.
Dolan won't allow Tankian to get back to his feet.

Dolan drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Tankian dives on top into guard.
Dolan is breathing heavily.
Dolan working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Tankian is looking to stand up but Dolan won't let him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dolan will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Dolan seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tankian sitting in guard here, content to control.
Dolan keeping moving, preventing Tankian from controlling successfully.
Tankian preventing the sweep.
Dolan is controlling Tankian's posture.
Dolan tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Tankian trying to control the position from guard on top but Dolan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dolan is trying to control the position but Tankian postures up.
Tankian trying to stand up but can't free himself from Dolan's guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Dolan.
Dolan tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Tankian counters with a takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tankian wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dolan keeps working.

Tankian decides to stand back up.
Tankian connects with a solid leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Tankian has closed the distance and engaged Dolan in a clinch.

Tankian pulls guard.
Dolan being controlled here momentarily.
Tankian can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Dolan controls the pace.
Tankian is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Dolan dives into side control.
Tankian is not content to let Dolan control the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Dolan looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Tankian being controlled for a moment.
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!

Dolan looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Tankian controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Tankian is trying to get back to full guard.
Dolan seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Tankian does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Tankian works his way to full guard. Good work.
Dolan controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Dolan postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Tankian is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Dolan, into his guard.
Dolan looking to control.
Dolan is controlling Tankian's posture.
Tankian would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dolan looking to control.
Tankian missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Tankian stopping the sweep attempt from Dolan.

Tankian stands up from Dolan's guard - Tankian perhaps looking for a knockout.
Dolan shoots and misses
and Tankian counters with a body kick that stops Dolan in his tracks momentarily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Tankian closes the distance and clinches.
Tankian wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Dolan has him pressed against the cage.
Dolan has Tankian pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Tankian manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Dolan is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mak Dolan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dolan is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Tankian pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Dolan goes for a takedown in the clinch but Tankian prevents it.

Dolan gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Tankian regains guard.
Dolan wants to pass the guard but Tankian is keeping the position.
Tankian looking to hit a scissor sweep but Dolan is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dolan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tankian swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Tankian is looking for a triangle but Dolan pushes his legs off easily.
Dolan sitting in guard here, content to control.
Dolan wants to control from the top but Tankian keeps moving.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Dolan misses with a takedown attempt

and Tankian counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Dolan's guard now.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tankian tries to stand but Dolan is controlling from the bottom.

Dolan had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Tankian is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Dolan Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Tankian's back instead.
Tankian trying to control the hands but Dolan breaks the grip.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dolan is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Tankian knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Tankian for a finish.
Dolan struggling to keep hold of the position.
Dolan is riding his opponent, not letting Tankian buck him off.
Tankian wants to control his opponent's hands but Dolan gets his hands free.
Dolan controlling from the back.
Dolan doesn't have the hooks in and Tankian manages to turn into his guard.
Tankian is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Tankian postures up.
Dolan is pulling down on Tankian's head. It's preventing any offense from Tankian, at least for the moment.
Tankian trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Tankian stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Tankian looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Dolan is fending him off so far but Tankian persists. Nope, Dolan circles away and we're back to standing.
Dolan closes this distance looking for a takedown but Tankian circles away.
Tankian misses with a low kick.
Dolan wants to clinch.
Tankian fails with a takedown attempt.
Mak Dolan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dolan fails with a takedown attempt.

Dolan drives through with a takedown into guard.
Tankian trying to keep a closed guard but Dolan is proving a slippery customer.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dolan wants to control from the top but Tankian keeps moving.
Dolan stands and throws Tankian's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Tankian is trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Serj Tankian 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!

Dolan scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Tankian sneaks back into half guard.
Dolan trying to pass the guard but Tankian defending well.
Tankian looks like he's trying to stand up.
Dolan trying to mount his opponent but Tankian defends it.

Dolan is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Tankian has managed to free his arm - good work.
Dolan is taking a breather. Tankian 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.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tankian tries to roll over but Dolan keeps him under control.
Dolan trying to control from half guard but Tankian is working away.

Tankian is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Dolan pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Dolan shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Dolan showed some decent athleticism there.
Dolan prevents Tankian from standing back up.
Dolan keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Tankian is not content to let Dolan control the position.
Dolan trying to mount his opponent but Tankian defends it.
Dolan seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Dolan has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tankian is trying to maintain the position but Dolan is very close to passing his half guard.
Tankian holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Tankian is trying to control but can't.
Tankian tries to kick Dolan off but Dolan keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Dolan trying to control from half guard but Tankian is working away.
Dolan looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Dolan prevents Tankian from standing back up.
Dolan sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Tankian tries to roll over but Dolan keeps him under control.
Tankian is trying to stand back up but Dolan is controlling him

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Tankian gets caught flat footed, as Dolan shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Dolan showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Dolan passes into half guard.
Dolan moves nicely into side control.
Dolan taking a breather here.
Dolan moves into full mount!

Dolan working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Tankian wants to control but Dolan is having none of it.
Dolan sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tankian is trying desperately to improve position.
Mak Dolan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tankian holds on, trying desperately to control.
Tankian really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The referee warns Tankian that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

It looks like Serj Tankian has been cut.
Dolan pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Mak Dolan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tankian is looking to improve his position but Dolan isn't that keen on the idea.
Dolan moves to the back.
Dolan trying to control.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Dolan.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mak Dolan showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Tankian 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

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