PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Charles Garnier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aslan Bagrian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aslan Bagrian will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Garnier
vs
Bagrian

180 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

215 cm
19
197 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

Valhalla War Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Charles Garnier !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Aslan Bagrian!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Johanna Lukiainen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Garnier moves away from the strike by Bagrian.
Bagrian circles away from the clinch attempt.
Garnier fails in his attempt to clinch.
Garnier tries to clinch there but Bagrian circles away.

Bagrian closes the distance and pushes Garnier back into the cage.

Bagrian manages to break the clinch.

Garnier gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Garnier looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Garnier has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bagrian can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

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

Garnier working for a triangle but Bagrian defends it easily.
Garnier keeping moving, preventing Bagrian from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bagrian slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
I looks like Bagrian might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

Bagrian drops back looking for a leg! Garnier is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Garnier manages to kick Bagrian off! Bagrian jumps back into Garnier 's guard.
Garnier keeping moving, preventing Bagrian from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bagrian accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Garnier wants to clinch but Bagrian slips to the side

and Bagrian decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Garnier 's guard.
Garnier has momentary wrist control but Bagrian slips an elbow through the middle.

Bagrian is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bagrian avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Bagrian thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Bagrian looks gassed!

Garnier had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Bagrian is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Garnier Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Bagrian's back instead.

Garnier is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Bagrian has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

Garnier working for the choke.
Bagrian turns into Garnier and is now in his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bagrian chips away with some ground and pound.

Bagrian drops back looking for a leg! Garnier is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Garnier manages to kick Bagrian off! Bagrian jumps back into Garnier 's guard.
Bagrian wants to control from the top but Garnier keeps moving.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Bagrian chips away with some ground and pound.

Garnier escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bagrian gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bagrian trying to control the position from guard on top but Garnier is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bagrian is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Garnier escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bagrian gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bagrian scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Garnier throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Bagrian loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Bagrian loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Bagrian drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Bagrian jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Garnier tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Bagrian counters with a straight right hand.

It looks like Charles Garnier has been cut.

Bagrian shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Bagrian showed some decent athleticism there.
Garnier blocking the ground and pound attempt from Bagrian.
Bagrian works his way into full mount!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Garnier tries to reverse the position but Bagrian maintains control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aslan Bagrian dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Charles Garnier 's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Garnier closes the distance but Bagrian moves to the side

and Bagrian counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Garnier 's guard now.

Bagrian avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Garnier throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Bagrian slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Garnier working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bagrian.
Bagrian has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Garnier keeping moving, preventing Bagrian from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bagrian in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bagrian loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Garnier wants to sweep but no luck.
Bagrian keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Garnier 's head.

Garnier is looking for a triangle but Bagrian pushes his legs off easily.
Garnier keeping moving, preventing Bagrian from controlling successfully.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Jab by Bagrian.
Garnier tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Bagrian counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Garnier 's guard now.
Garnier throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Garnier is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Garnier being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bagrian wants to control from the top but Garnier keeps moving.
Bagrian content to stall in guard here.
Bagrian thows a big elbow that misses.

Bagrian drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Bagrian jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Bagrian thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Garnier might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Bagrian circles away from the clinch attempt

and Bagrian counters with a nice double leg into side control. Garnier won't be happy with that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garnier is trying to control Bagrian's posture but Bagrian avoids it.

Bagrian working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Bagrian looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Aslan Bagrian has got the better of the ground game so far.

Bagrian wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Garnier , who protects the arm well.
Garnier regains half guard.

Garnier is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Bagrian pulls his head out easily.

Bagrian is working for a kimura but Garnier is defending it quite comfortably.

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.
Bagrian wants to pass to mount but Garnier is defending the position.

Bagrian is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Garnier sees it coming and defends easily.
Bagrian not landing any meaningful shots this time.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Bagrian slips a jab and a cross from Garnier .

Bagrian scores a takedown into full mount!
Bagrian with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Bagrian looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Garnier keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aslan Bagrian showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Charles Garnier 's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Nice sprawl there from Bagrian as Garnier shoots in.
Garnier moves forwards but Bagrian connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Bagrian swats away the attempt to clinch by Garnier .
Bagrian misses with an uppercut. Garnier saw that one coming.
Garnier tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bagrian swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Charles Garnier seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Bagrian closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
You can see the frustration on Garnier 's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Bagrian is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Garnier is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Garnier is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Garnier wants to control but Bagrian postures up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bagrian working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Bagrian wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Garnier , who protects the arm well.
Garnier tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Bagrian tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Bagrian is looking to take a break and control but Garnier is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Garnier prevents Bagrian from moving into mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Garnier tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Bagrian working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Garnier manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Garnier trying to control from the bottom.
Garnier blocking the ground and pound attempt from Bagrian.
Garnier regains full guard. Nicely done.

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

Garnier is looking for a triangle but Bagrian pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bagrian lands a couple of elbows.
Garnier trying to keep a closed guard but Bagrian is proving a slippery customer.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Bagrian's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Bagrian postures up in Garnier 's guard and throws a big left but Garnier blocks it.

Garnier working for a triangle but Bagrian defends it easily.
Bagrian postures up and lands a big shot to Garnier 's brow.

Garnier is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Bagrian scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Charles Garnier has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Bagrian lands a couple of elbows.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Bagrian drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Bagrian jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Garnier has his foot on Bagrian's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bagrian works his way back into a safe position though.
Bagrian working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Garnier 's head.
Bagrian has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Bagrian is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Garnier is on top in guard.
Garnier loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Aslan Bagrian is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Bagrian working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Garnier doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Garnier manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Garnier with a flurry of punches that miss.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aslan Bagrian comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Bagrian has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aslan Bagrian!