BFC MMA ll PBP Commentary

Main event

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Artur Azaryan (ranked 1360 p4p, 177 weight class) and John Locke (ranked 3253 p4p, 352 weight class). Locke is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: What Makes a Good Man. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Azaryan
vs
Locke

185 cm
30
176 lbs
13 - 7 - 1

175 cm
35
183 lbs
31 - 20 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Artur Azaryan!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 31 - 20 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, John Locke!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Edson Gomes and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Azaryan fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Azaryan is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Locke's half guard.
Locke is trying to stand.
Azaryan is pressing down on Locke's thigh, looking to free his foot. Locke is holding on for now.
Azaryan works his way into side control.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Locke wants to get back to his feet but Azaryan drags him back down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Locke is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Azaryan has knee on belly momentarily but Locke bucks him off and regains half guard.
Azaryan wants to pass the guard but Locke is defending well.
Locke is in trouble now - Azaryan has advanced to mount!

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.
Locke really wants to buck Azaryan off and get back to his feet.
Locke is controlling an arm, preventing Azaryan from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Locke is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Azaryan fails to advance to Locke's back.
Locke is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Azaryan is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Locke has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Locke!

Azaryan is looking for a triangle here but Locke uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Azaryan is trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azaryan looks to move to half guard but instead Locke has passed into mount! Damn!

Locke is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Locke scoring well with a low kick there.
Azaryan has been working on his balance at Helsinki private Gym, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Locke.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Locke swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Locke stuffs the takedown.
Locke leaves Azaryan with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Artur Azaryan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Azaryan takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Locke dominated that 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.

Azaryan closes the distance and clinches up with Locke, looking for a takedown. Azaryan pushes Locke against the cage but Locke circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Azaryan shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Locke but Locke pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Azaryan tries to score a power double leg takedown but Locke sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Azaryan somewhat.
Locke is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Artur Azaryan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Azaryan closes this distance looking for a takedown but Locke circles away.

Locke rushes Azaryan and presses him up against the cage.
Locke is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Locke prevents the takedown attempt.

Locke breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A big right from Locke misses.
Azaryan shoots in for a takedown but Locke shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Locke lands a head shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Azaryan tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Locke swivels and escapes.
Locke throws out a counter right but Azaryan avoids it with no problem.
Locke getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Azaryan tries to score a power double leg takedown but Locke sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Azaryan somewhat.
Locke uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Azaryan has time to react.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Locke stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Locke wants it to stay on the feet.
Locke throws a shot from downtown. Azaryan moves away and avoids it.
Azaryan darts in looking for a takedown but Locke gets double underhooks and turns Azaryan into the cage.
John Locke seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Azaryan uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Locke.
Azaryan tries to counter with a takedown but Locke is quick to defend against it.
A telegraphed right hand from Locke misses the target.
Locke misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Azaryan shoots in looking for a takedown but Locke manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Azaryan's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Locke plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
John Locke is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Locke misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Locke has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Locke defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Azaryan.
Locke swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Azaryan closes the distance and clinches up with Locke, looking for a takedown. Azaryan pushes Locke against the cage but Locke circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Azaryan shoots in but Locke avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Azaryan blocks a head kick by Locke.
Locke lands a glancing blow to the side of Azaryan's head.
Azaryan closes this distance looking for a takedown but Locke circles away.
Locke looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Locke lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Azaryan at a distance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Locke lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Locke throws a nice head kick!
No luck for Azaryan with that takedown attempt.
Locke looks like he wants to counter punch here.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Azaryan.
Locke will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Azaryan tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Locke defends well and Azaryan ends up having to push Locke into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Azaryan shoots in for a takedown but Locke shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Locke connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Nice takedown defense from Locke. No joy for Azaryan on that attempt.
Locke lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Azaryan on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Azaryan dives in for a single leg takedown but Locke sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
A head kick misses from Locke.
Azaryan changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Azaryan shoots in but Locke avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Azaryan slips a jab and a cross from Locke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azaryan misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Locke swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Locke connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Azaryan shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Locke sprawls well. Locke wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Azaryan gets slowly back to his feet.
Azaryan misses with a takedown attempt
and Locke counters with a head kick. That will keep Azaryan thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
The fighters circling - Locke throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Azaryan shoots for a double leg takedown but Locke sprawls well. He's pushed Azaryan's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Azaryan is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
No luck for Azaryan with that takedown attempt.
Azaryan gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Locke cracks Azaryan with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Artur Azaryan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Azaryan shoots for a takedown but Locke saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Locke looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
A jab lands there for Locke.
Locke lands with an uppercut that bounces Azaryan off the cage and back into range.

Azaryan is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A slapping body kick lands there for Locke.
Oh Azaryan is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Locke misses with a head kick.
Azaryan changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Azaryan with a lazy takedown attempt
and Locke counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Azaryan has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Locke finds it's way round the side to connect with Azaryan's head.

Locke clinches with his opponent.
Locke is pressed up against the cage. Azaryan has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Locke down to the mat. Locke avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Locke lands with a shot to the body.
Locke lands a nice leg kick that just misses Azaryan's sensitive parts.
Azaryan goes for a double leg but Locke avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Locke continues to drive forward.
A head kick from Locke lands but Azaryan takes it in his stride.
Ohhhhh! A huge head kick from Locke! Azaryan is out on his feet! Locke rushes in and throws more strikes. The ref is looking closely - Azaryan is covering up but the punishment is just too much and the ref steps in to stop the fight! Azaryan is staring into space, just thankful that the beatdown has ended. Brutal finish.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:31 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). John Locke!
John Locke is the new welterweight champion!
An out of breath John Locke thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.