PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rodrigo Palmares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vartan Mamikonyan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mamikonyan has chosen True Armenian Hero as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Palmares
vs
Mamikonyan

181 cm
23
218 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

179 cm
22
193 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
Great elbows
Good gas tank

Russian Top Magazin

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rodrigo Palmares!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Vartan Mamikonyan!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Aafke Stam and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mamikonyan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mamikonyan tries to clinch but Palmares is having none of it.
Mamikonyan tries to bum rush Palmares with a series of wild strikes but Palmares uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mamikonyan misses with a double jab.
Mamikonyan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mamikonyan throws a head kick but Palmares moves out of range.

Palmares shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Palmares with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mamikonyan wants to improve his position but Palmares is controlling well.

Mamikonyan actively working from the bottom here.
Palmares landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Palmares is looking for a kimura but Mamikonyan is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Palmares to get the leverage.
Palmares is taking a breather. Mamikonyan says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Palmares looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mamikonyan tries to get to full guard but Palmares has control of the leg.

Mamikonyan looking for submissions off his back.

Palmares is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Mamikonyan sees it coming and defends easily.
Palmares scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Palmares looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Mamikonyan with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Palmares is nestled in close to Mamikonyan, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Mamikonyan is looking to control Palmares's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Mamikonyan avoid being mounted?

Palmares is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Mamikonyan sees it coming and defends easily.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Mamikonyan looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Mamikonyan tries to roll over but Palmares keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mamikonyan actively working from the bottom here.
Palmares content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Palmares is nestled in close to Mamikonyan, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Palmares lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Palmares seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Palmares frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Palmares dominating with strikes here.

Palmares goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Mamikonyan is on top in guard.
Palmares wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palmares pulls Mamikonyan in close to his closed guard and prevents Mamikonyan from doing any damage or advancing position.

Palmares isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Mamikonyan stacks Palmares on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Mamikonyan!
Palmares is looking to regain half guard here but Mamikonyan keeps moving and retains side control.
Palmares is not content to let Mamikonyan control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palmares is looking for a sweep.
Palmares is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Mamikonyan off and has taken his back!
Mamikonyan wants to escape the position.

Mamikonyan is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

Palmares tightening his grip on Mamikonyan, looking for the choke.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Palmares is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Mamikonyan is defending well though. Palmares let's go of the attempt for now.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Palmares throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Mamikonyan!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Mamikonyan tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Palmares manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Mamikonyan fails with an attempt to clinch.
Mamikonyan tries to clinch but Palmares moves out of range.
Palmares swats away the attempt to clinch by Mamikonyan.
Mamikonyan lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

It looks like Rodrigo Palmares has been cut.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Palmares.
Mamikonyan struggling a bit here.
Mamikonyan tries to improve position but can't.
Mamikonyan manages to work his way to half guard, despite Palmares's best efforts.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Palmares looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Mamikonyan with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Palmares looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Palmares sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mamikonyan looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Palmares sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Palmares scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Mamikonyan actively working from the bottom here.
Palmares lands with a punch from half guard.
Palmares winds up and cracks Mamikonyan with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Palmares content to control rather than advance.
Mamikonyan makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Mamikonyan.

Mamikonyan is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palmares seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Palmares seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Mamikonyan for as long as he can get away with.
Palmares looking to pass the guard.
Rodrigo Palmares overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Mamikonyan looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Palmares pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mamikonyan is keeping the position for now.
Palmares not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Palmares working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Mamikonyan being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mamikonyan is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Palmares sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Mamikonyan's guard.

Palmares is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Mamikonyan sees it coming and defends easily.
Well, if Palmares is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Mamikonyan is looking to improve his position.
Palmares winds up and cracks Mamikonyan with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Palmares is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Mamikonyan is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Palmares's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Palmares's back!

Palmares showing good submission defense here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palmares is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
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!
Palmares staying busy and making it hard for Mamikonyan to control.
Palmares tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Palmares is looking to improve his position but Mamikonyan isn't that keen on the idea.
Palmares tries to lock up and control but Mamikonyan gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Palmares manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Palmares makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Palmares.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Mamikonyan postures up.
Palmares tries to strike from the bottom.
Palmares is adopting a defensive guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodrigo Palmares dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rodrigo Palmares's cut.
That's time! Palmares's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Mamikonyan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Palmares blocks a head kick by Mamikonyan.

Palmares decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Mamikonyan trying to control from the bottom.
Palmares scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Palmares content to control rather than advance.

Mamikonyan looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Palmares moves into full mount! Mamikonyan won't be happy about that!
Mamikonyan is trying to escape the mount.

Palmares is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Mamikonyan has managed to escape the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palmares fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

It looks like Vartan Mamikonyan has been cut.
Palmares lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Palmares controlling from the full mount.
Palmares landing strikes, looking to finish!

The cut above Vartan Mamikonyan's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Mamikonyan is working to get back to half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Palmares is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Mamikonyan can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Vartan Mamikonyan's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Rodrigo Palmares!
Rodrigo Palmares seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.