PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hiroki Tomori (ranked 632 p4p, 3145 weight class) and Edgar Avetisyan (ranked 38 p4p, 187 weight class). 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.

Tomori
vs
Avetisyan

171 cm
34
142
24 - 14 - 1

182 cm
32
107
22 - 22 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Vegan Gains
Altitude Clothing

Altitude Clothing

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 24 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hiroki Tomori!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 22 - 1, fighting out of London, Edgar Avetisyan!
The judges for this bout are Ben Hemmingworth, Winston Howard and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tomori takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Avetisyan misses with a hook

and Tomori counters by clinching up.
Avetisyan has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Tomori scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Tomori swings wildly with an uppercut but Avetisyan uses good head movement to avoid it.
Avetisyan is trying to force a seperation but Tomori has the dominant position.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Tomori.

Avetisyan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Tomori closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Tomori scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Avetisyan is rocked!
Avetisyan wants to get back to striking at distance but Tomori won't allow it.
Avetisyan is still on wobbly legs! Can Tomori finish him?
Tomori tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Avetisyan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tomori misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Avetisyan unleashes a big counter combination but Tomori bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Tomori fails with an attempt to clinch.
Avetisyan is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Tomori tries to clinch up
and Avetisyan counters with a head kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Avetisyan thows a leg kick but Tomori checks it

and Tomori counters with a takedown into side control.
Avetisyan is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Tomori asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tomori content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Avetisyan is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Tomori asserts his dominance and retains side control.
The strikes coming from Tomori are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Tomori controls the position from side control.
Avetisyan seems to have recovered his senses.

Avetisyan throws Tomori to one side and escapes!
Tomori tries to clinch but Avetisyan moves away
and Avetisyan counters with a head kick. That will keep Tomori thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Avetisyan throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Tomori closes the distance but Avetisyan moves to the side
and Avetisyan counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A big left from Avetisyan misses.
Tomori tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Avetisyan manages to circle out of the way.
Edgar Avetisyan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Avetisyan bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Tomori has Avetisyan up against the cage in a clinch.
Avetisyan tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Tomori throws a head punch that misses.
Tomori has Avetisyan pressed against the cage, preventing Avetisyan from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Tomori swings wildly with an uppercut but Avetisyan uses good head movement to avoid it.
Avetisyan is trying to push Tomori away but Tomori has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
A hook to the body from Tomori.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tomori lands a nice uppercut.
Avetisyan avoiding damage as Tomori throws knees to the body.
Tomori throws an elbow but it misses.
Avetisyan managing to block the knees to the body from Tomori.
Tomori has Avetisyan pressed against the cage, preventing Avetisyan from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A right handed body shot lands from Tomori.
A nice right hand lands inside from Tomori.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Avetisyan wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Tomori fails to land.
Avetisyan wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Avetisyan tries to break free but Tomori pushes him back against the cage.
A short left from Tomori.
I was talking to Tomori's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Tomori has Avetisyan pressed against the cage, preventing Avetisyan from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Avetisyan on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Avetisyan wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Tomori has him pressed against the cage.

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

Tomori closes the distance and clinches.
Tomori can't find room to land a body shot as Avetisyan controls the action.
Tomori creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Avetisyan jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Tomori walks away with a smile on his face. Avetisyan gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Avetisyan lands a jab.

Tomori gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Avetisyan breaks from the clinch.
Tomori ducks under a wild hook from Avetisyan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tomori tries to clinch there but Avetisyan circles away.
Avetisyan looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Tomori tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Avetisyan counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Tomori looks to clinch
and Avetisyan counters with an outside leg kick.
Tomori looks to clinch
enabling Avetisyan to counter with a crisp jab.
Hiroki Tomori seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
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!
Nice cross by Avetisyan.
Tomori wants to clinch
and Avetisyan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Tomori wants to clinch up but Avetisyan keeps it at a distance.
Tomori wants to clinch
and Avetisyan connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Avetisyan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tomori.
Avetisyan swats away the attempt to clinch by Tomori.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Hiroki Tomori will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Avetisyan circles away from the clinch attempt.
Avetisyan throws out a counter right but Tomori avoids it with no problem.
Tomori wants to clinch up but Avetisyan keeps it at a distance.
Avetisyan connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Tomori's hands.
Tomori wants to clinch up but Avetisyan keeps it at a distance.
Avetisyan fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Tomori on the side of the head.
Tomori misses with a combination
and Avetisyan counters with a nice uppercut.
Avetisyan misses with a body shot.
As Avetisyan tries to get set, Tomori tries to push him back and clinch up but Avetisyan manages to avoid the attempt.
Tomori tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Avetisyan counters with a nice uppercut.
Tomori tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Avetisyan! But no joy.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tomori looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big left from Tomori misses.
It seemed like Avetisyan was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

Tomori takes the fight into the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Avetisyan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Avetisyan wants to get back to striking at distance but Tomori won't allow it.
Tomori lands a left hand.
Tomori controlling the action here for a moment.
A head punch on the inside from Tomori fails to land.
Avetisyan wants to break free but Tomori has control.

Avetisyan breaks the clinch.
A big left from Avetisyan misses.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Avetisyan.
Avetisyan slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Tomori slips under a jab from Avetisyan.
Tomori tries to clinch but Avetisyan is having none of it.
Edgar Avetisyan seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Tomori staying out of range there.
Tomori is looking to clinch but Avetisyan is avoiding it.
Avetisyan connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tomori tries to close the distance and clinch but Avetisyan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tomori swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Avetisyan counters with a straight right hand.
Avetisyan circles away from the clinch attempt.
A little jabbing left from Avetisyan on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Tomori gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Avetisyan blocks an uppercut.
Hiroki Tomori has scored more points in the clinch so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tomori leaning his opponent against the cage.
Avetisyan has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Avetisyan blocking some punches.
Tomori doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Tomori has Avetisyan pressed against the cage, preventing Avetisyan from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Avetisyan is looking to break free of the clinch but Tomori has double underhooks.
Tomori lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A shot in the inside from Tomori.
Tomori working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Avetisyan is trying to break free.
Tomori tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Avetisyan avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tomori is stalling here.
Tomori working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Avetisyan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tomori tries to clinch up but Avetisyan circles away and keeps his distance.
Tomori uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Avetisyan.
Avetisyan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tomori moves away.
Tomori tries to close the distance and clinch up but Avetisyan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Tomori tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Avetisyan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Tomori closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Avetisyan looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Avetisyan is trying to break free.
Tomori stalling in the clinch but Avetisyan improves position.
Avetisyan has had enough of the clinch but Tomori keeps him there for the moment.
Avetisyan tries to pull guard but Tomori forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Avetisyan manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tomori tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Avetisyan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tomori takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Tomori gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Tomori breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tomori tries to close the distance and clinch up but Avetisyan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Tomori is looking to clinch.
Avetisyan throws a big counter head kick but Tomori avoids it with no problem.

Tomori closes the distance and clinches.

Avetisyan breaks the clinch.
Avetisyan is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Avetisyan avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A little jabbing left from Avetisyan on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Tomori is looking to clinch.
Tomori doesn't manage to clinch there - Avetisyan circles away.
Tomori darts in trying to clinch
and Avetisyan counters with a leg kick.
Tomori fails with an attempt to clinch.
Avetisyan unleashes a big counter combination but Tomori bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Edgar Avetisyan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Avetisyan fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Tomori tries to clinch but fails miserably
enabling Avetisyan to counter with a crisp jab.
Avetisyan circles away from the clinch attempt.
Tomori closes the distance but Avetisyan moves to the side
and Avetisyan counters with a nice uppercut.
Tomori tries to clinch but Avetisyan is having none of it.
Avetisyan swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
As Avetisyan tries to get set, Tomori tries to push him back and clinch up but Avetisyan manages to avoid the attempt.

Tomori closes the distance and pushes Avetisyan back into the cage.

Avetisyan's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Tomori misses with a double jab
and Avetisyan counters with a straight right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tomori tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Avetisyan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tomori takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Tomori doesn't manage to clinch there - Avetisyan circles away.
Tomori tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Avetisyan manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Avetisyan.
Tomori is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Avetisyan.
Good standup being displayed there by Avetisyan as he connects with a hook.
Tomori throws a front kick aimed at Avetisyan's knee but Avetisyan avoids it well.
A little jabbing left from Avetisyan on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Tomori tries to clinch but Avetisyan moves out of range.
Tomori fails with the takedown.
Avetisyan lands a lovely overhand right.
Tomori tries to clinch up
and Avetisyan counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Some bone on bone action there as Tomori checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Tomori looks to clinch
and Avetisyan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Tomori tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Avetisyan was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tomori drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

Tomori is rocked!
The fight stays on the outside here - Tomori looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Tomori tries to close the distance and clinch up but Avetisyan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Avetisyan has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Avetisyan scores with a hook to the body. Tomori takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Avetisyan feints and then cracks Tomori's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Tomori down.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tomori works the jab nicely.
Avetisyan ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Avetisyan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
It seemed like Avetisyan was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Tomori takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Oh Tomori is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Avetisyan lands with an overhand left.
Avetisyan throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Tomori closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Avetisyan pulls guard effortlessly.
Avetisyan is looking to stand up but Tomori isn't so interested in that idea.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tomori engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Tomori might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Tomori trying to control the position from guard on top but Avetisyan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tomori stays in close to Avetisyan's body and controls the position.

Avetisyan has his feet on Tomori's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Tomori fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tomori wants to clinch
and Avetisyan counters with a good, hard body kick but Tomori shrugs it off.
Tomori tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Avetisyan counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Avetisyan. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Tomori looks to land a combination but Avetisyan avoids it well.
Tomori shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Avetisyan defends it nicely.
Avetisyan circles away from the clinch attempt.
Tomori falls off balance throwing a combination
and Avetisyan counters with a straight right hand.
Tomori on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Tomori closes the distance looking to clinch
and Avetisyan counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Tomori is sent reeling backwards by a solid uppercut. He barely regains his balance and Avetisyan moves in for the kill throwing a continuous barrage of punches that force the ref to step in.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Edgar Avetisyan!
A very excited looking Edgar Avetisyan made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.