PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between The Azazel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Armando Julio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Azazel comes to the cage accompanied by johnny cash- ring of fire. Julio has chosen Wings Of Life as his entrance music. 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.

Azazel
vs
Julio

186 cm
23
227 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

192 cm
22
240 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, The Azazel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Armando Julio!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Valeri Chadov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Azazel shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Julio as he avoids it easily.
Azazel misses with a straight left.
Azazel misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Julio.

Azazel gets a takedown into half guard.

Azazel is trying to work for a kimura but Julio is defending well.

Azazel is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Azazel is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Julio!
Julio is working to get back to half guard.

Azazel looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Azazel looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Azazel trying to control but Julio is having none of it.
Julio tries to hold on but Azazel pushes him away.
Azazel wants to control the pace but Julio is squirming around nicely.
Julio tries to reverse the position but Azazel maintains control.

Azazel is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Julio has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Azazel looking to control but Julio is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Julio tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Julio sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Julio is trying to maintain the position but Azazel is very close to passing his half guard.
Azazel wants to pass the guard but Julio is defending well.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Julio trying to control but Azazel postures up.
Azazel moves into full mount! Julio won't be happy about that!
Julio tries to reverse the position but Azazel maintains control.
Julio is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Azazel working for a guillotine from mount but Julio is in no mood to give up.

Azazel goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Julio is on top in guard.
Julio trying to control but Azazel is working from the bottom.

Azazel working for a triangle but Julio defends it easily.
Julio trying to control but Azazel is working from the bottom.
Azazel manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Julio manages to get himself to full guard.
Azazel trying to control the position from guard on top but Julio is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Julio looking for a guillotine here but Azazel defends easily.
Julio looks gassed!
Julio keeping moving, preventing Azazel from controlling successfully.
Azazel is really struggling to control Julio but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Azazel advances position into side control!
Julio is trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

The Azazel dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Azazel throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Julio shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Julio was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Azazel is looking to improve his position but Julio isn't that keen on the idea.
Azazel regains half guard.
Julio is keen to just control but Azazel is a slippery customer.
Julio tries to pass to full mount but Azazel defends it.
Azazel gets back to full guard.
Julio is breathing heavily.

Azazel looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Julio passes into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azazel struggling a bit here.
Azazel is trying to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The ground and pound from Julio seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Azazel sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Azazel is staying active underneath Julio, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Azazel wants to get back to full guard.

Julio wants to work for an arm triangle but Azazel is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Azazel works his way to full guard. Good work.
Azazel is trying to keep Julio in close.
Azazel seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Azazel looking to control.
Azazel looking for a sweep. Not yet Azazel, not yet.

Julio drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Azazel dives on top into guard.
Julio keeping moving, preventing Azazel from controlling successfully.

Julio is looking for a triangle but Azazel pushes his legs off easily.
Azazel pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Julio is keeping the position for now.
Azazel slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Azazel tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Azazel has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Azazel thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Azazel is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Julio is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Julio can't do much from the bottom here.
Azazel taking a breather here.
Julio tries to buck Azazel off but Azazel is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azazel 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.
Azazel's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Azazel wants to control but Julio is keeping him busy.
Julio can't do much from the bottom here.
Julio is trying to buck Azazel off.

Azazel is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Julio knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Azazel is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Julio knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Azazel controls the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

The Azazel dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Julio misses with a takedown attempt

and Azazel counters with a nice double leg into side control. Julio won't be happy with that.
Julio trying to remain calm as Azazel controls from the top position.

Azazel is trying to get an arm triangle but Julio is defending well.
Julio tries to improve position but can't.
Azazel wants to control but Julio is keeping him busy.
Azazel advances to mount.

Azazel working for a submission but Julio is keeping him at bay.
Azazel controlling his opponent.
Julio takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Julio tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Julio defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Azazel.
Julio can't escape the position.
Azazel can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Julio is looking to escape.

Azazel jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Julio manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Azazel wants to control but Julio is keeping him busy.

The referee stands the fighters back up. The Azazel just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Azazel throws an overhand right that lands on Julio's shoulder, as Julio tries to avoid the shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Julio doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Azazel counters with a nice double leg into side control. Julio won't be happy with that.
Armando Julio has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Azazel is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Julio has escaped the position, nice work there.
Azazel passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Julio!

Azazel working for a guillotine from mount but Julio is in no mood to give up.
Julio tries to lock up and control but Azazel gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azazel controlling from mount.

Azazel looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Azazel goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Julio turns into him and now he's in Azazel's guard.
Azazel manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Julio is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Azazel looking to control but Julio is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Julio can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azazel trying to control but Julio is having none of it.

Azazel with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Azazel sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Azazel is going olschool here, as he tries to force Julio to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Julio shrugs it off.
Julio keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
The Azazel showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Azazel, 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... The Azazel!