PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Brandon Roberts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paw Azirueq (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Azirueq comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Chop Suey kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Roberts
vs
Azirueq

185 cm
20
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

174 cm
23
179 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight 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, Brandon Roberts!
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, Paw Azirueq!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Dmitry Maklakov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Azirueq clinches up with Roberts and pushes him back against the cage.

Azirueq jumps into guard, dragging Roberts to the mat.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Roberts wants to stand but Azirueq is controlling his posture from full guard.
Roberts trying to control the position from guard on top but Azirueq is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Roberts is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Roberts will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Roberts slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
A control attempt from Azirueq but he's now mounted!
Roberts controlling his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azirueq regains half guard.
Azirueq is trying to stand up here but Roberts is controlling him well.
Azirueq punching from the bottom.
It looks like Roberts is going to stand back up.
Azirueq punching from the bottom.
Azirueq makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Azirueq.
Azirueq seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Azirueq can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roberts throws a big right hand that misses.
Azirueq wants to sweep here but Roberts controlling him for the moment.
Roberts trying to control but Azirueq is working from the bottom.

Roberts drops back, looking for a kneebar! Azirueq looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Azirueq looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Azirueq!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Azirueq lands a nice forearm strike.

Azirueq stands up and we're back to a striking 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!
Azirueq defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Roberts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azirueq misses with a two punch combination.
Azirueq dives in and grabs Roberts's left leg, looking for a takedown. Roberts pushes down on Azirueq's head and hops out.
Roberts has his takedown stuffed

and Azirueq moves into the clinch.
Roberts lands a knee to the body.

Azirueq's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Roberts wants to clinch.

Azirueq scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Azirueq wants to stand but Roberts has his arm trapped.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azirueq lands a few punches from side control.
Roberts is trying to work for a sweep but Azirueq has mounted him!
Roberts is trying desperately to improve position.
Roberts is breathing heavily.
Azirueq takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Roberts tries to hold on but Azirueq pushes him away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Azirueq landing strikes from the mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Roberts bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paw Azirueq dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Roberts tries to clinch up.
Roberts shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Azirueq defends it nicely.
Roberts is looking to slow Azirueq down with leg kicks.
Roberts shoots in but Azirueq avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Brandon Roberts is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Roberts wants to clinch but Azirueq slips to the side
and Azirueq counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Roberts is defended easily by Azirueq.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brandon Roberts. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Azirueq shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Roberts manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Azirueq stays in close to Roberts's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roberts throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Azirueq with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Roberts controls Azirueq momentarily but Azirueq frees himself.
Azirueq is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Roberts looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Azirueq tries to free his leg and advance position but Roberts is retaining full guard.
Paw Azirueq has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Roberts looking for subs off his back but Azirueq has passed one foot through into half guard.
Azirueq content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Azirueq uses his free foot to push down on Roberts's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Roberts.
Azirueq controlling his opponent.
Roberts squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azirueq with good strikes from the mount here!
Roberts wants to control but Azirueq is having none of it.
Azirueq content just to control the position here.
Azirueq unloading with bombs!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Azirueq looking for a guillotine from mount but Roberts is having none of it.
Azirueq tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Azirueq cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Azirueq connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Azirueq controlling the pace for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Azirueq working for a guillotine from mount but Roberts is in no mood to give up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paw Azirueq showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Azirueq misses with a head kick.
Roberts wants to clinch up but Azirueq keeps it at a distance.
Roberts looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Azirueq is fending him off so far but Roberts persists. Nope, Azirueq circles away and we're back to standing.
Roberts shoots in for a takedown but Azirueq shows good takedown defense.

Azirueq looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Roberts!
Roberts is looking to regain half guard here but Azirueq keeps moving and retains side control.
Azirueq working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Azirueq moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Azirueq has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azirueq tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Azirueq taking a breather here.
Roberts struggling a bit here.
Azirueq is working Roberts over with some ground and pound from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Azirueq tries for a kimura but Roberts is defending well.
Azirueq works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Roberts is trying to control Azirueq's posture but Azirueq avoids it.
Azirueq slows the pace down.
Azirueq tries to stand but Roberts is controlling his head.
Roberts tries to buck Azirueq off but Azirueq is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roberts can't do much from the bottom here.
Azirueq wants to stand but Roberts is controlling his arm.
You can see the frustration on Roberts's face as Azirueq controls the position.
Azirueq wants to stand but Roberts has his arm trapped.

Azirueq tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Azirueq has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Roberts is looking to reverse the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roberts struggling a bit here.
Azirueq taking a breather here.

Azirueq is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Roberts has escaped the position, nice work there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paw Azirueq comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Azirueq 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paw Azirueq!
Post fight, an emotional Paw Azirueq said 'CAN YOU DIG IT!!!!'.