PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hratch Tzien (ranked 1188 p4p, 79 weight class) and Astro Traveller (ranked 1034 p4p, 67 weight class). Tzien comes to the cage accompanied by R*ck It. Traveller has chosen For Heavy Metal we will die! as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Tzien
vs
Traveller

170 cm
24
140 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

175 cm
25
142 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Urban Fighter
Dark Knight Nutrition

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hratch Tzien!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Astro Traveller!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Traveller throws a solid leg kick but Tzien takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Traveller.
Traveller finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Good shot there by Traveller.
Tzien throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Nice defenses there by Tzien.
Traveller slips a jab from Tzien.
Astro Traveller seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tzien punishes Traveller's body with a nice straight punch.
Tzien thows a left - swing and a miss!
Traveller with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Tzien to score with a decent uppercut.
Traveller will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Tzien is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Traveller.
Tzien misses with a two punch combination.
Tzien takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Tzien avoids the head kick by Traveller.
Tzien throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Traveller.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A chopping leg kick lands by Tzien.
Tzien clobbers Traveller with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Traveller takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Traveller moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Tzien scores with a head kick. Traveller tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tzien swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Tzien checks a low kick from Traveller.
Traveller jabs Tzien right on the nose. Tzien blinks but takes it well.
Tzien walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Traveller checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Traveller blocks a low kick nicely.
Tzien bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A looping hook to the body misses from Traveller. Tzien does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tzien throws a quick counter kick to the body but Traveller avoids it.
Traveller has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Tzien.
Tzien connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Tzien throws a leg kick that misses.
A slapping body kick lands there for Traveller.
Traveller misses with a hook. Tzien ducked under it nicely.
Tzien takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Traveller throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Traveller is looking to land body kicks.
Tzien misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Traveller scoring well with a low kick there.
Tzien digs a good hook to Traveller's body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tzien slips under a jab.
As Traveller backs away, Tzien returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Tzien blocks a leg kick.
Traveller throws a head kick that Tzien semi-blocks.
Tzien tried to score with a low kick but Traveller checks it.
Traveller cracks Tzien with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Tzien checks a leg kick.
Tzien takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Traveller throws a head kick that misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Traveller. Tzien does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tzien tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Traveller is able to avoid easily.
Traveller is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Tzien.
Traveller is looking to score with low kicks.
Tzien throws a jab when Traveller was well out of range.
Tzien moves out of range as Traveller throws a body kick.
Traveller misses the shot to the body.
Tzien looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Tzien fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Traveller manages to avoid it.
Tzien lets loose with a powerful body kick. Traveller will feel that in the morning.
Traveller looking to land some kicks to the body here.
A little feinted left hand from Tzien on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Jab from Traveller.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tzien throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Tzien throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Traveller takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Tzien uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Traveller keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Traveller throws a quick inside leg kick.
Traveller lands with a nice combination. Tzien backs away looking to recover.

It looks like Hratch Tzien has been cut.
Tzien shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Traveller misses with a left hand
and Tzien counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Traveller has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Tzien.
Traveller lands a two punch combo.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Traveller looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Tzien throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Traveller on the side of the head.
Traveller misses with a looping right.
Tzien lands a nice looking body shot.
Traveller scores with a hook to the body. Tzien takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Traveller fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Tzien.
Tzien checks a leg kick.
It looked like Tzien wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tzien throws a head kick but Traveller moves out of range.
Traveller scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Traveller rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Tzien moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Traveller blocks a head kick by Tzien.
Traveller scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Tzien doesn't seem bothered though.
Traveller moves out of range of the leg kick from Tzien.
Traveller swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Traveller takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Traveller moves out of range of the strikes.
Traveller misses the jab.
Tzien is looking to clinch but Traveller is avoiding it.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Traveller! But no joy.
Traveller connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Tzien's hands.
Traveller throws a hook to the side of Tzien's head but Tzien sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Tzien misses with a hook. Traveller ducked under it nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tzien connects with a solid leg kick.
Traveller misses with a straight left.
Tzien takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Traveller throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Astro Traveller will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Hratch Tzien's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A big left from Traveller misses.
Tzien connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Tzien throws a nice inside leg kick.
Tzien tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Tzien uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Traveller.
Tzien was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Tzien lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Tzien misses with a wild body shot.
Decent striking displayed by Traveller there.
Tzien is looking to land body kicks.
Traveller bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Traveller misses with a kick to the body.
Traveller looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Traveller cracks the inside of Tzien's front leg.
A clash of legs there as Traveller blocks the low kick.

Tzien clinches up with Traveller and pushes him back against the cage.
Tzien misses with a shot to the kidneys.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Traveller lands a right hand that snaps the head of Tzien backwards.
Traveller lands an uppercut.
Tzien lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tzien tries to throw a body punch but Traveller avoids it by throwing Tzien back against the cage.
Traveller lands a right hand that snaps the head of Tzien backwards.
Tzien tries a body shot but Traveller blocks it.
Traveller misses with some punches.
Tzien's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Tzien lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Traveller.
Tzien struggles to land a body shot inside as Traveller controls his hands.
Traveller prevents a body shot from Tzien.
Tzien has Traveller pressed against the cage, preventing Traveller from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Tzien scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Tzien swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Tzien tries to throw a body punch but Traveller avoids it by throwing Tzien back against the cage.
Traveller misses with a hook from the clinch.
Traveller misses with some punches.
Tzien lands with a left to the head.
Tzien blocks an uppercut.
Traveller blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Traveller manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Traveller misses with an uppercut.
Traveller throws a nice looking combination but Tzien bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Jab by Traveller.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tzien misses with an attempted mid kick.
Tzien tried to score with a low kick but Traveller checks it.
Tzien throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tzien ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Traveller listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Tzien looks to throw the jab but Traveller is out of range.
Tzien takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Traveller scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
A left lands for Tzien.
Tzien scores with a nice right hand.
Traveller swings for the body but Tzien moves out of range.
Traveller lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Tzien throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Traveller is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Tzien with a body shot.
Tzien throws a body shot but no joy.
Traveller throws a chopping leg kick but Tzien manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tzien connects with a body shot.
Tzien digs a good body shot into Traveller's ribs.
Nice defenses there by Tzien.
Tzien tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Traveller was well out of range. Poor timing from Tzien.
Traveller throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Tzien counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Astro Traveller seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Traveller misses with an uppercut
and Tzien counters with a nice leg kick.
Tzien clobbers Traveller with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Tzien fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Traveller is out of range.
Tzien misses with a head kick.
Tzien throws a shot from downtown. Traveller moves away and avoids it.
Traveller is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Tzien with a body shot.
Traveller waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Tzien.
Traveller throws a right hand that Tzien ducks under and follows up with a left that Tzien also avoids with ease.
Tzien throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Traveller tries to work over Tzien's front leg with a kick but Tzien checks it.
Tzien tries to clinch but Traveller moves out of range.
A big left from Tzien misses.
Traveller walks forward, straight into a front kick from Tzien.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Tzien tries to land a leg kick but Traveller saw it coming and moves away.
Traveller throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Tzien.
Traveller swings for the body but Tzien moves out of range.
An inside leg kick lands from Traveller.
Traveller lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Traveller moves out of range of the strikes.
Traveller tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Tzien slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Tzien throws a body kick that misses.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Traveller lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Tzien has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Tzien and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Tzien sizes up Traveller with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Tzien has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Tzien there as he acknowledges the shot.
Traveller takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tzien slips a straight right by Traveller.
Traveller swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Traveller throws a body punch but Tzien moves out of range.
Tzien is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
A big right from Traveller misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Hratch Tzien will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Hratch Tzien's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Tzien checks a leg kick.
Traveller misses with a straight left.
Traveller closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
A lazy left from Traveller finds it's target.
Tzien turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Tzien misses with a low kick.
Traveller lands a nice looking body shot.
Traveller lands a jab.
Tzien slips a straight right by Traveller.
Jab, jab by Tzien - just one landing.
Traveller misses with a straight right.
Tzien uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Traveller.

Tzien darts in and clinches Traveller up against the cage.
Tzien has a couple of punches blocked by Traveller.
Traveller makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Traveller's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Tzien goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Traveller pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Traveller blocks a leg kick.
A little jabbing left from Traveller on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Traveller misses with a two punch combination.
Traveller moves out of range as Tzien throws a body kick.
Traveller throws a right and a left that both miss.
Tzien ducks under a wild hook from Traveller.
Traveller misses with a low kick.
Tzien doesn't manage to clinch there - Traveller circles away.
Tzien swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Traveller throws a sloppy head kick and Tzien moves out of range easily.
Tzien walks into a straight right hand from Traveller.
A shot to the liver by Tzien. Beautiful body shot.
Traveller needs to keep his hands up - Tzien had a free shot at his head there.
Traveller throws a leg kick
and Tzien counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Nice defenses there by Tzien.
Tzien steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Traveller.

Tzien moves into the clinch successfully.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tzien tries to throw a body punch but Traveller avoids it by throwing Tzien back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tzien scores with a shot to the side of Traveller's head.
Traveller blocking some punches.
Traveller blocks a body shot from Tzien.
Tzien fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Tzien presses Traveller against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Tzien blocking some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Traveller fails to land.
Tzien lands a body shot.
Traveller has a couple of punches blocked by Tzien.
Tzien tries a body shot but Traveller blocks it.
Tzien misses with a punch to the body.
Traveller working hard to break the clinch.
Traveller tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Traveller misses with a short punch on the inside.
Traveller misses with a short punch on the inside.
Tzien swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Traveller lands a left hand.
Tzien blocks a body shot from Traveller.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tzien misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Tzien swings wildly with an uppercut but Traveller uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tzien lands an uppercut.
Traveller can't find room to land a body shot as Tzien controls the action.
Traveller working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A hook to the body from Traveller.
Traveller working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Tzien tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Tzien lands a right hand that snaps the head of Traveller backwards.
Tzien wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Tzien misses with a hook from the clinch.
Tzien wants to stall.
Tzien misses with a short punch on the inside.
Still in the clinch, Traveller scores with a nice short uppercut.
Good body shot from Tzien.
Traveller blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tzien scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Traveller blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Tzien.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A head punch on the inside from Tzien fails to land.
Traveller lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Tzien backwards.
Tzien blocks an uppercut.
Tzien blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Tzien blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Traveller misses with a hook from the clinch.
Tzien has a couple of punches blocked by Traveller.
Tzien works on Traveller's body with a couple of short punches.
Tzien blocking some punches.
Tzien struggles to land a body shot inside as Traveller controls his hands.
Tzien misses with a hook to the ribs.
Tzien tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Tzien has a couple of punches blocked by Traveller.
Tzien misses with a short punch on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Hratch Tzien.
I think Tzien has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Astro Traveller!
Astro Traveller was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.
In defeat, Hratch Tzien stepped up to the mic, saying '{]}[{]}[{}]{[}]{[}'.