PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Abdula Mesopyan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Auqui Budstre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

Mesopyan
vs
Budstre

190 cm
25
207 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

190 cm
25
210 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Abdula Mesopyan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Auqui Budstre!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Matheus Silva and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mesopyan shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Budstre sprawls well. Budstre wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Mesopyan gets slowly back to his feet.
Budstre throws an overhand right that lands on Mesopyan's shoulder, as Mesopyan tries to avoid the shot.
Mesopyan shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Budstre sprawls well. Budstre wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Mesopyan gets slowly back to his feet.
Budstre tries to clinch but Mesopyan moves away
and Mesopyan counters with a right hand to the body.
Mesopyan tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Budstre manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Budstre connects with a body shot that sends Mesopyan's belly button to the back.
Budstre shoots in for a double leg but Mesopyan sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Budstre closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mesopyan circles away.
Mesopyan keeps the fight on the outside.
Mesopyan will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abdula Mesopyan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Budstre darts in trying to clinch
and Mesopyan counters with a three punch combo that has Budstre backing up. Budstre nods at Mesopyan to acknowledge the strikes.
Budstre lands with a nice combination. Mesopyan backs away looking to recover.

It looks like Abdula Mesopyan has been cut.
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 sprawl there from Budstre as Mesopyan shoots in.
Budstre fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Horrible takedown by Mesopyan or perhaps it was just good defense by Budstre which made him look bad.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck for Budstre with that takedown attempt.
Budstre tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Budstre will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Budstre tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Mesopyan holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Budstre drags the fight down to the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Budstre working for a triangle but Mesopyan defends it easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Budstre looks gassed!

Budstre has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mesopyan can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Budstre can do anything to dispel that myth.

Budstre is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Mesopyan is aware though and is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mesopyan postures up.
Mesopyan wants to control from the top but Budstre keeps moving.
Mesopyan stays in close to Budstre's body and controls the position.
Mesopyan has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Budstre is proving hard to escape from.
Mesopyan is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Abdula Mesopyan just wasn't active enough.
Mesopyan keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Mesopyan tries a head kick but it misses.
Budstre tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mesopyan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Budstre tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mesopyan swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mesopyan throws a sloppy head kick and Budstre moves out of range easily.
Nice takedown defense from Mesopyan. No joy for Budstre on that attempt.
A leg kick checked by Budstre.
Mesopyan shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Budstre as he avoids it easily.
Mesopyan closes this distance looking for a takedown but Budstre circles away.
Budstre looks for the body kick but Mesopyan saw that one coming.
Mesopyan shoots in but no luck this time.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Budstre.

Mesopyan fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Budstre, pushing him back against the cage.

Mesopyan breaks the clinch.

Mesopyan has closed the distance and engaged Budstre in a clinch.
Budstre is trying to drag Mesopyan to the mat but Mesopyan just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Budstre just misses with a elbow thrown towards Mesopyan's brow.
The referee calls for Mesopyan to work.
Mesopyan is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Mesopyan jumps guard but Budstre stands there with Mesopyan around his waist. Mesopyan gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Budstre successfully pulls guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mesopyan wants to control from the top but Budstre keeps moving.
Mesopyan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Budstre is keeping the position for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mesopyan passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Mesopyan tries for a kimura but Budstre is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Auqui Budstre will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Abdula Mesopyan's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Mesopyan clinches.
Budstre is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Mesopyan gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Budstre tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mesopyan smiles and moves away.
Mesopyan will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Mesopyan fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Mesopyan takes the fight into the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Budstre.

Mesopyan drags the fight down to the ground.
Budstre pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mesopyan is keeping the position for now.
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!
Budstre lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Budstre throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Budstre advances to half guard.
Budstre missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Budstre missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Budstre throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Budstre is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Mesopyan tries to hold on but Budstre pushes him away.
Budstre working Mesopyan over with strikes here.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Budstre jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Mesopyan manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Mesopyan knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Budstre on the ground.
Budstre is breathing heavily.
Budstre lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mesopyan is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Mesopyan has one of Budstre's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
Mesopyan takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
The ground and pound from Budstre seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
An elbow from Budstre crashes against the mat.
Mesopyan defending against the ground and pound.
Mesopyan is trying to control Budstre's posture but Budstre avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mesopyan tries to improve position but can't.
Budstre in side control, throwing shots but Mesopyan defends.
Auqui Budstre has got the better of the ground game so far.
Budstre lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Mesopyan down.
Budstre throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Budstre sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Mesopyan is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Mesopyan is trying to get back to half guard.
Mesopyan parries the strikes from Budstre easily there. Budstre is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Mesopyan to escape.
Budstre throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Budstre misses with the ground and pound.
Mesopyan is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Budstre asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Budstre misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Mesopyan tries to buck Budstre off but Budstre is having none of it.

Budstre tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Mesopyan is looking to reverse the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mesopyan wants to control but Budstre postures up.
Budstre tries to score with some ground and pound. Mesopyan controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mesopyan can't do much from the bottom here.
Budstre lands a nice forearm strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Auqui Budstre showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Abdula Mesopyan's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Budstre defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Mesopyan.
Auqui Budstre seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Budstre gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Mesopyan is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Mesopyan fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abdula Mesopyan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Budstre lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Mesopyan backwards.

Budstre breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Budstre tries to clinch but Mesopyan moves out of range.
Mesopyan defending well as Budstre loads up on a big left hand.
Mesopyan shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Budstre as he jumps to the side.
Budstre shoots in looking for a takedown but Mesopyan manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Budstre's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Mesopyan tries to keep at a distance but Budstre has taken the fight into the clinch.
Budstre is looking to take this one to the mat.
Budstre is trying to break the clinch but Mesopyan has him pressed against the cage.
Budstre takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mesopyan misses with a punch on the inside.
Budstre tries for a takedown. No joy.
Budstre looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Budstre's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Budstre misses with the combination.
Budstre takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Budstre stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Budstre wants it to stay on the feet.
Budstre tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mesopyan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mesopyan shoots in looking for a takedown but Budstre manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Mesopyan's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Budstre looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mesopyan looking to land some kicks to the body here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Budstre looks for a takedown but Mesopyan sprawls well.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mesopyan is defended easily by Budstre.
Abdula Mesopyan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Budstre shoots in looking for a takedown but Mesopyan manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Budstre's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Budstre blocks a head kick by Mesopyan.
Auqui Budstre is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Nice takedown defense from Mesopyan. No joy for Budstre on that attempt.

Mesopyan clinches up against the cage.
Mesopyan jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Budstre walks away with a smile on his face. Mesopyan gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Mesopyan moves into the clinch successfully.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mesopyan wants a takedown.
Budstre prevents the takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mesopyan wants to break the clinch but can't.
Budstre stops a takedown attempt from Mesopyan.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Mesopyan.

Mesopyan manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Mesopyan looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Mesopyan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Mesopyan can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Budstre controls the pace.
Budstre is pushing down on Mesopyan's leg trying to pass to half guard. Mesopyan is fighting to maintain full guard but Budstre has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mesopyan wants to get back to full guard.
Budstre lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Mesopyan wants to control but Budstre is keeping busy.
Budstre scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Budstre controlling the pace.
Budstre's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Budstre thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Abdula Mesopyan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Budstre wants to take a breather but Mesopyan is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Auqui Budstre comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Budstre 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Auqui Budstre!