PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Aoki Aoki (ranked 520 p4p, 72 weight class) and Garegin Balayan (ranked 394 p4p, 57 weight class). Aoki comes to the cage accompanied by Baka Survivor. Balayan is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Troika. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Aoki
vs
Balayan

180 cm
27
170 lbs
16 - 6 - 0

180 cm
26
176 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

KOMBAT KLOTHING

THE END 32

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 16 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aoki Aoki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Garegin Balayan!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Alan Glass and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aoki waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Balayan.
Balayan scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Balayan gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Aoki blocks a low kick nicely.
Aoki throws a jab when Balayan was well out of range.
Aoki avoids the body shot from Balayan.
Aoki swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Balayan.
Aoki definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Aoki checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Aoki catches Balayan with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Balayan jabs Aoki right on the nose. Aoki blinks but takes it well.
Balayan with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Aoki to score with a decent uppercut.
Aoki Aoki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Aoki throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Aoki misses with a looping left.
Balayan lands with an overhand left.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A swing and a miss from Aoki.
Balayan wants to counter with a clinch but Aoki pushes him away.

Aoki closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Balayan did well to prevent Aoki getting side control.

Balayan manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Aoki keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Balayan doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Balayan misses with a short punch on the inside.
Balayan throws a punch but it's blocked by Aoki.
Balayan works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Balayan has a couple of punches blocked by Aoki.
Balayan tries a body shot but Aoki blocks it.
Balayan misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Balayan lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Balayan lands with a light punch inside.
A right hook to the body lands for Balayan.
Aoki blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch on the inside from Aoki fails to land.
Aoki misses with a punch to the body.
Balayan lands a right hand that snaps the head of Aoki backwards.
Aoki pushes Balayan back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Balayan working aggressively here.
Balayan blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Balayan doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Balayan lands a hook to the side of the head.
Balayan lands with a short punch from the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Balayan lands a body punch.
Aoki scores with a shot to the side of Balayan's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balayan throws a head punch that misses.
Aoki is trying to pull guard but Balayan turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Balayan.
Aoki can't find room to land a body shot as Balayan controls the action.
Balayan struggles to land a body shot inside as Aoki controls his hands.
Aoki misses with a hook from the clinch.
Aoki tries to pull guard but Balayan won't allow it.
Balayan lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Aoki.
Balayan lands with a light punch inside.

Aoki drags the fight down to the ground.

Aoki escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Balayan gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Balayan seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Aoki is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Balayan defends well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Aoki working for submissions but it's allowed Balayan to get to half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Aoki is looking to control Balayan's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Aoki avoid being mounted?

Aoki looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Balayan controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Aoki is trying to maintain the position but Balayan is very close to passing his half guard.
Balayan wants to take a breather but Aoki is having none of it.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Balayan in particular looking to stall.

Aoki looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Aoki actively working from the bottom here.
Balayan is figuring out what he wants to do next.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Garegin Balayan dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Nice body punch from Balayan.
The fighters circling - Aoki throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Balayan throws a nice inside leg kick.
Aoki loads up on a big right hand but Balayan slips the punch.
Aoki misses with a wild body shot.
Balayan jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Aoki lands a nice looking body shot.
Aoki is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Balayan feints and then cracks Aoki's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Aoki down.
Aoki ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Balayan moves away.
Balayan lands a nice hook to Aoki's body. Aoki takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
A looping hook to the body misses from Balayan. Aoki does a little dance to reset his feet.
Aoki half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balayan tries to land a front kick but Aoki steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Aoki is looking to counter punch.
Aoki misses with a hook. Balayan ducked under it nicely.
Balayan misses with a hook.
Aoki just misses with a punch to the body.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Balayan! But no joy.
Balayan lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
A big left from Aoki misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki misses with a looping left.
Balayan tries a quick counter leg kick but Aoki is wise to it.
Aoki takes one to the chin there.
Aoki scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Balayan just misses with a punch to the body.
Balayan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Aoki was well out of range. Poor timing from Balayan.
Aoki shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Balayan sprawls well. Balayan wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Aoki gets slowly back to his feet.
Balayan throws the kick towards the body but Aoki avoids it.
Balayan throws a leg kick but Aoki checks it.
Aoki misses with an uppercut. Balayan saw that one coming.
Aoki shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Balayan as he jumps to the side.
Balayan cracks Aoki with a good jab.
Balayan slips a straight right by Aoki.
Balayan scores with a crisp jab that stopped Aoki in his tracks.
Balayan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Balayan 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Balayan staying out of range there.
Aoki takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Aoki thows a left - swing and a miss!
Balayan lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Balayan throws a body kick that misses.
Balayan has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Balayan digs a good hook to Aoki's body.
Aoki doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Balayan chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Aoki takes a swing at Balayan's ribcage but misses.
Balayan does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
A slow jab from Balayan misses its intended target.
Aoki drops down looking for a counter takedown but Balayan sprawls and moves away.
Aoki misses with a hook. Balayan ducked under it nicely.
Aoki fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aoki Aoki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Balayan lands a nice looking body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balayan thuds his right hand into Aoki's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Garegin Balayan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Balayan connects with the punch.
Aoki takes a swing at Balayan's ribcage but misses.
Balayan flicks out a counter leg kick but Aoki steps away.
Aoki rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Balayan counters with a body kick.
Balayan tries a low kick but Aoki avoids it.
Aoki drops down looking for a counter takedown but Balayan sprawls and moves away.
Balayan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Aoki keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Aoki looks to throw the jab but Balayan is out of range.
Balayan scores with a hook to the body. Aoki takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Aoki throws a looping overhand right but Balayan ducks down to avoid it.
Balayan scores with a hook.
Balayan throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Aoki sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Aoki slips a straight right by Balayan.
Balayan ducks right into an uppercut from Aoki.
Aoki sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Balayan keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Aoki.
Balayan throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Garegin Balayan seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balayan fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Aoki has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Aoki thuds a left hand into Balayan's body.
Aoki stuns Balayan with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Balayan keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Aoki.
Aoki lands a body shot.
Aoki throws a hook but Balayan blocks it.
Balayan has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Balayan throws a leg kick but Aoki checks it.
A cross from Balayan lands.
Balayan chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Balayan looks to land a right hand but Aoki moved out of range.
Aoki tries to move into range but Balayan moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Good standup being displayed there by Aoki as he connects with a hook.
Balayan lands with a nice body kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A swing and a miss from Balayan.
Balayan wants to slow Aoki down by chopping away at his legs.
Balayan staying out of range there.
Balayan is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Aoki with a body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Garegin Balayan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Balayan throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Aoki throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Balayan lands a leg kick that knocks Aoki off balance momentarily.
Balayan's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Aoki connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Balayan scrambles back to his feet.
Balayan scores with a kick to the body.
Balayan throws a jab but it's blocked by Aoki.
Balayan keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Aoki.
Aoki throws a big shot that misses.
Aoki sets himself, and Balayan steps forward looking for the clinch! Aoki avoids it this time.
Balayan throws a lazy right hand but Aoki sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A big right from Aoki misses.
Balayan jabs at Aoki's body.
Aoki takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balayan throws a hook to the side of Aoki's head but Aoki sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Aoki throws a big shot that misses.
Aoki misses with a hook.
Aoki takes a swing at Balayan's ribcage but misses.
Balayan needs to keep his hands up - Aoki had a free shot at his head there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balayan lands with a right hand.
Balayan throws a big shot that misses.
Balayan misses with a body kick.
Balayan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Aoki moves away.
Aoki on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Aoki throws a shot from downtown. Balayan moves away and avoids it.
Balayan ducks under a wild hook from Aoki.
Balayan throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Aoki sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Balayan darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Balayan misses with a wild body shot.
Aoki throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Balayan sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nice straight punches there by Aoki. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Aoki.
Balayan misses the shot to the body.
Aoki misses with a right hand
and Balayan counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Balayan ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Aoki looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Balayan turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Balayan closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Aoki lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Balayan blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Balayan tries to throw a body punch but Aoki avoids it by throwing Balayan back against the cage.
Balayan is working Aoki over against the cage.
Balayan cracks Aoki with a nice body shot.
Aoki swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Balayan can't find room to land a body shot as Aoki controls the action.
Aoki jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Balayan walks away with a smile on his face. Aoki gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Aoki bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Balayan's head.
Aoki Aoki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A solid leg kick lands there for Balayan.
Balayan tries a head kick but it misses.
Balayan lands with a hook. Aoki tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
A good leg kick by Balayan.
Aoki jabs at Balayan's body.
Aoki takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Balayan connects with a good right hand that stumbles Aoki. Aoki circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki walks into a straight right hand from Balayan.
Balayan scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Aoki takes a swing at Balayan's ribcage but misses.
Balayan explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Balayan pivots, looking for a leg kick but Aoki is out of range and Balayan settles back down.
Nice uppercut there from Balayan.
A swing and a miss from Aoki.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Balayan! But no joy.
Aoki misses the jab.
Aoki takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Aoki looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Balayan ducks under a wild hook from Aoki.
Balayan ducks under a wild hook from Aoki.
Balayan appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Balayan ducks under a wild hook from Aoki.
Aoki is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Balayan jabs at Aoki's body.
Aoki misses with a body punch
and Balayan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Balayan thumps Aoki with a low kick.
Aoki misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Balayan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aoki misses the jab.
Aoki has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Balayan.
Aoki throws a lazy right hand but Balayan sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Balayan chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Balayan fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Aoki on the side of the head.
Aoki will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Balayan scores with a spinning back kick!
Aoki takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Balayan lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Balayan scores with a hook to the body. Aoki takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Aoki rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Balayan counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Aoki thinking.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Aoki swings for the body but Balayan moves out of range.
Balayan lands a jab.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Aoki takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Aoki lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Balayan thows a body kick. Aoki tries to catch it but that hurt him.

And that's the end of the fight!
Garegin Balayan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Balayan has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Garegin Balayan!
A victorious Garegin Balayan thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.
In defeat, Aoki Aoki stepped up to the mic, saying 'Hey wtf?? I got paid well ! Ask no more questions...me no speakee English....'.