PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Samvel Kiragosyan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xavier Bastarrachea (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kiragosyan
vs
Bastarrachea

179 cm
22
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
18
216 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Death Ring Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Samvel Kiragosyan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Xavier Bastarrachea!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Illya Tyunina and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bastarrachea slaps away a takedown attempt from Kiragosyan, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Kiragosyan drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Kiragosyan trying to control but Bastarrachea is working from the bottom.
Kiragosyan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bastarrachea swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kiragosyan is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Bastarrachea is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kiragosyan working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kiragosyan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bastarrachea is keeping the position for now.
Kiragosyan trying to control but Bastarrachea is working from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kiragosyan looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Kiragosyan shoots for a double leg takedown but Bastarrachea sprawls well. He's pushed Kiragosyan's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Samvel Kiragosyan. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kiragosyan shoots in and bounces Bastarrachea off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Kiragosyan stops Bastarrachea from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bastarrachea can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kiragosyan controls the pace.
Kiragosyan's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Bastarrachea utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kiragosyan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bastarrachea is keeping the position for now.
Kiragosyan sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Bastarrachea's guard.
Kiragosyan wants to take a breather but Bastarrachea is having none of it.
Kiragosyan missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kiragosyan prevents Bastarrachea from standing back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kiragosyan drops an elbow to the side of Bastarrachea's head.
Bastarrachea is refusing to be controlled, as Kiragosyan sits in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Samvel Kiragosyan dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Bastarrachea plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Kiragosyan scores a takedown into full mount!
Kiragosyan controlling from the full mount.
Kiragosyan throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Bastarrachea because Kiragosyan loaded up on that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bastarrachea is squirming around, avoiding Kiragosyan's attempts to control the action.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Samvel Kiragosyan just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Bastarrachea throws a body kick that misses.
Bastarrachea throws a front kick that sends Kiragosyan stumbling back into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Bastarrachea lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Kiragosyan blocks a head kick by Bastarrachea.
Samvel Kiragosyan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kiragosyan takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
A chopping leg kick lands by Bastarrachea.
Xavier Bastarrachea is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bastarrachea scores with a push kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kiragosyan misses with a takedown attempt - Bastarrachea sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Samvel Kiragosyan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bastarrachea goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Bastarrachea throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Kiragosyan's head.
Kiragosyan fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Bastarrachea avoids it really well and circles away.
Kiragosyan on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bastarrachea lands a front kick.
Bastarrachea explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kiragosyan walks forward, straight into a front kick from Bastarrachea.
Bastarrachea plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xavier Bastarrachea 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! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Kiragosyan takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Xavier Bastarrachea seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kiragosyan steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Bastarrachea. That one must have hurt.
Bastarrachea lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Bastarrachea throws a front kick that sends Kiragosyan stumbling back into the cage.
Kiragosyan steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Bastarrachea. That one must have hurt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kiragosyan takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bastarrachea throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bastarrachea throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Bastarrachea throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
A head kick from Bastarrachea lands but Kiragosyan takes it in his stride.
Kiragosyan shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Bastarrachea as he jumps to the side.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Bastarrachea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bastarrachea thows a body kick. Kiragosyan tries to catch it but that hurt him.
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!
Kiragosyan sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Bastarrachea plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Kiragosyan on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Bastarrachea lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Bastarrachea.
Bastarrachea throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Bastarrachea throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Bastarrachea lands a head kick. Kiragosyan smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Kiragosyan takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Bastarrachea scores with a kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bastarrachea lands a nice looking kick to the body. Kiragosyan takes a step back to recover.
Bastarrachea has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bastarrachea chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Bastarrachea thows a body kick. Kiragosyan tries to catch it but that hurt him.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kiragosyan takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Xavier Bastarrachea comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Bastarrachea has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Xavier Bastarrachea!