PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Action Bastard (ranked 650 p4p, 652 weight class) and Hratch Tzien (ranked 72 p4p, 74 weight class). Bastard kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Japanese And Lovely - Jucifer. Tzien comes into a darkened arena with his song building. R*ck It kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! 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.

Bastard
vs
Tzien

169 cm
38
150
29 - 16 - 4

170 cm
33
145
19 - 14 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition
Carnage Clothing

Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 29 - 16 - 4, fighting out of Los Angeles, Action Bastard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 14 - 1, fighting out of London, Hratch Tzien!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bastard misses the shot to the body.
A combination from Bastard does no damage.
Tzien looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Bastard has his takedown stuffed
and Tzien counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Tzien connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Bastard's hands.
Bastard throws a hook but Tzien blocks it.
Tzien slips under a jab from Bastard.
Tzien stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Bastard definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Bastard takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Tzien lands a nice looking body shot.
Tzien displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Bastard.
Tzien connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Bastard's hands.
Tzien with a nice calf kick.
Action Bastard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bastard shoots in for a double leg but Tzien sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Action Bastard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tzien tries to score with a low kick but Bastard moves his leg out of the way.
Bastard stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Tzien.
A head kick from Bastard lands but Tzien takes it in his stride.
A nice leg kick from Tzien, right into the meat of the thigh.
Tzien throws out a loose jab but Bastard uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tzien has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Tzien there as he acknowledges the shot.
Tzien paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tzien wants to land a leg kick but Bastard is out of range.

Bastard fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Tzien sprawls well initially but Bastard persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Bastard wants to control but Tzien is keeping him busy.
Bastard performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Tzien looking for submissions off his back.
Bastard not doing much here.
Bastard seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Tzien for as long as he can get away with.
Bastard continues to stall.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tzien trying to control but Bastard postures up.
Bastard is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Bastard has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Tzien is looking for a sweep. Bastard is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Bastard content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bastard shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Bastard sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Bastard got a little sloppy there for a moment and Tzien has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bastard has managed to get both his arms back between Tzien's legs - danger averted.
Tzien is controlling Bastard's posture.
Tzien working a defensive guard here.
Bastard not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Bastard wants to control from the top but Tzien keeps moving.

Bastard decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Tzien, up you get!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bastard misses with a straight right.

Tzien tries to sprawl but Bastard drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Bastard tries to pass to full mount but Tzien defends it.
Tzien is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Tzien trying to control from the bottom.
Tzien tries to get to full guard but Bastard has control of the leg.
Tzien is trying to maintain the position but Bastard is very close to passing his half guard.
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 Action Bastard will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nice sprawl there from Tzien as Bastard shoots in.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Bastard.
The referee asks Bastard politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Bastard prefers to stall for the moment though.
Tzien is looking to regain half guard here but Bastard keeps moving and retains side control.
Bastard trying to control the action but Tzien is working from the bottom.
Tzien sneaks back into half guard.

Tzien looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tzien gets full guard.
Bastard is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tzien is pulling down on Bastard's head to control his posture.
Bastard working some strikes from top position.

Tzien escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bastard gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Tzien is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Bastard engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Bastard looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Bastard in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Tzien escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bastard gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Tzien being controlled here, momentarily.
Bastard trying to control the position from guard on top but Tzien is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Bastard dives in and grabs Tzien's left leg, looking for a takedown. Tzien pushes down on Bastard's head and hops out.
Bastard tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Bastard throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Bastard looks to score with a jab to the body but Tzien is just out of range.
Tzien only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Tzien moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tzien moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Tzien has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Bastard fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Tzien looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Good work by Bastard as he checks the leg kick.
Bastard appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Hratch Tzien is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bastard shoots in and drives through. Tzien sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Action Bastard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bastard misses the jab.
Tzien with a nice calf kick.
Bastard lands a glancing blow to the side of Tzien's head.
Tzien scores with a sloppy right hand. Bastard should have avoided that one.

Bastard feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Bastard controls from within his opponent's guard.
Tzien working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bastard.
Bastard is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Bastard is looking to pass into half guard but Tzien pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Tzien is in guard.

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!
Bastard manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Tzien manages to get himself to full guard.

Bastard trying to control but Tzien is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bastard sitting in guard here, content to control.
Tzien not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Bastard preventing the sweep.
Tzien pulls Bastard in to control the position.

Tzien escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bastard gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bastard trying to control but Tzien is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bastard pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tzien is keeping the position for now.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Action Bastard dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Tzien gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Bastard.
Tzien jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Bastard fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Tzien connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Bastard scores with the left hand. Tzien knows he should have avoided that one.

Bastard closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Bastard lands in his opponent's guard.
Tzien seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tzien being controlled here, momentarily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bastard wants to control from the top but Tzien keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tzien trying to control the position here.
Bastard is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Bastard trying to control the position from guard on top but Tzien is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Tzien is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Tzien needs to keep his hands up - Bastard had a free shot at his head there.
Bastard defending well as Tzien loads up on a big left hand.
Bastard throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
A jab from Bastard finds it's way through Tzien's defenses.
Hratch Tzien has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bastard throws a head kick but Tzien moves out of range.
Bastard moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Bastard is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tzien can do to turn this around?
Good work by Bastard as he checks the leg kick.

Bastard shoots in and bounces Tzien off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Bastard stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tzien swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Bastard stands and throws Tzien's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Tzien can't do much from the bottom here.
Bastard slows the pace down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bastard cracks Tzien with a big elbow.
Bastard controlling from side mount.
Tzien is looking for a sweep.
Tzien keeps Bastard under control for a moment.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
You can see the frustration on Tzien's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Tzien is trying to get back to half guard.
Action Bastard is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four 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.
You can see the frustration on Tzien's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Bastard taking a breather here.

Bastard stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Tzien throws a leg kick but Bastard sees it coming and checks it nicely.
A big left from Bastard misses.
Tzien turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Bastard shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Bastard showed some decent athleticism there.
Bastard seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Tzien does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Action Bastard showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bastard, 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Action Bastard!
A very excited looking Action Bastard 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.