PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tim Askarian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Diego Russell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Askarian
vs
Russell

193 cm
23
209 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

186 cm
25
205 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Prefers standup

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Tim Askarian!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Diego Russell!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Micheangelo Fripello and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Askarian lands a nice hook to Russell's body. Russell takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Askarian, right into the meat.

Askarian closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Russell has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Askarian after a bit of a struggle.
Askarian struggles to land a body shot inside as Russell controls his hands.
Russell changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Askarian fights it off and pushes away nicely.
An inside leg kick lands from Askarian.

Askarian clinches up against the ropes.
A knee to the head by Askarian.
Russell wants a takedown.
Tim Askarian has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Diego Russell.
Askarian scores with a shoulder strike.
Askarian stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Askarian is trying to maintain a safe position but Russell gets an underhook and turns Askarian into the ropes.
Askarian comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Knees to the body from Askarian.
Askarian looking to slow down the pace here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russell is looking for a takedown up against the ropes. Askarian gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Askarian lands a damaging elbow.
Askarian content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Askarian gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Askarian lands an elbow that stopped Russell in his tracks for a moment.
Still in the clinch, Askarian scores with a nice short uppercut.
A knee to the head by Askarian.
Askarian is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Russell is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Askarian putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Russell in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Russell looks winded!
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!
Askarian lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Askarian connects with a nasty looking knee right to Russell's face.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Askarian scores with a knee to the head.
Askarian crunches a lovely knee into Russell's ribcage.
Askarian lands an uppercut.
Askarian connects with a nasty looking knee right to Russell's face.
Askarian softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Askarian lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Askarian lands an elbow inside that Russell shrugs off.
Askarian lands a left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askarian tries to throw a body punch but Russell avoids it by throwing Askarian back against the ropes.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Askarian.
Askarian lands a damaging elbow.
Askarian comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Russell takes an elbow to the forehead.
Askarian lands a damaging elbow.
Nice elbow from Askarian.
Askarian lands an elbow that stopped Russell in his tracks for a moment.
Askarian struggles to land a body shot inside as Russell controls his hands.
Knees to the body from Askarian.
Askarian connects with a nasty looking knee right to Russell's face.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Knees in the clinch landing for Askarian.
Askarian lands a damaging elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askarian taking a breather.
Askarian lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Askarian with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Askarian lands an elbow that stopped Russell in his tracks for a moment.
Askarian lands a good knee to the midsection. Russell won't want to take too many of those.
Askarian lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Askarian comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Askarian lands a shot to the body.
Askarian prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Askarian scores with a knee to the head.
Askarian lands a knee to the head.
Askarian scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Askarian lands a nice elbow.
Russell takes an elbow to the forehead.
Askarian is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Askarian lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
A nice glancing elbow lands by Askarian.
Askarian lands an elbow inside.
Askarian landing knees to the head.
Askarian stalling in the clinch.
Askarian lands a body shot in the clinch.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Askarian lands a knee to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Askarian is looking to control Russell's arms but Russell gets an underhook and turns him. Now Askarian has his back to the ropes.
Askarian lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Askarian looking to stall.
Askarian landing some nice looking knees to the body.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Askarian scores with a shot to the side of Russell's head.
Russell has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Askarian avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Askarian pushes Russell back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.
Askarian lands an elbow that stopped Russell in his tracks for a moment.
Russell takes an elbow to the temple.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Askarian scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Askarian lands an elbow inside.
Russell has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Askarian is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Askarian lands an elbow inside that Russell shrugs off.
Russell takes an elbow to the temple.
Askarian lands a damaging elbow.
Askarian lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Askarian with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Russell takes an elbow to the forehead.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Askarian.
Askarian unloads a knee to the mid-section. Russell lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Russell takes an elbow to the forehead.
Askarian with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Askarian lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Russell backwards.
Askarian with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Askarian connects with a knee to the head.
A short left from Askarian.
Askarian lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Knees to the body from Askarian.
Askarian landing knees to the head.

Russell is rocked!
Askarian lands a damaging elbow.
Russell is still on wobbly legs! Can Askarian finish him?
Askarian lands an elbow that stopped Russell in his tracks for a moment.
Askarian lands a hook that snaps the head of Russell backwards.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Askarian creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Askarian lands an elbow inside.
Askarian lands an elbow that stopped Russell in his tracks for a moment.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Askarian.
Askarian has Russell pressed up against the ropes in a tight Thai clinch. Russell is arching his back, trying to avoid the knees but a big one sneaks through from Askarian - that's hurt Russell badly! Oh, another knee lands and Russell is covering up! The referee steps in to save him - possibly a bit early but Russell doesn't seem to be complaining.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 9:12 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Knees). Tim Askarian!
A very excited looking Tim Askarian 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.