PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Blake Fickett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arthur Abelyan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fickett comes to the cage accompanied by Yankee Rose. Arthur Abelyan will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Fickett
vs
Abelyan

182 cm
22
184 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

185 cm
21
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Blake Fickett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Arthur Abelyan!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Fickett feints and as Abelyan raises his hands in defense, Fickett changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Fickett sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Abelyan wants to stand up but Fickett is controlling him.

Fickett thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Abelyan wants to stand up but Fickett is controlling him.
Fickett looking to pass the guard.
Fickett stops Abelyan from standing up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Fickett is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Abelyan darts in and clinches Fickett up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fickett prevents Abelyan from breaking the clinch.
Fickett jumps guard but Abelyan stands there with Fickett around his waist. Fickett gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Fickett is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Abelyan pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Fickett has Abelyan pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Fickett pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Abelyan tumbling to the mat - Fickett dives into Abelyan's guard.
Fickett thows a big elbow that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fickett controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Abelyan keeping moving, preventing Fickett from controlling successfully.
Abelyan is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Fickett is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fickett stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Abelyan swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Abelyan is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Fickett is controlling him.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Fickett fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Blake Fickett. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Abelyan scores with a head kick.

Fickett scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Fickett with the ground and pound but Abelyan uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Fickett tries to free his leg and advance position but Abelyan is retaining full guard.
Fickett is breathing heavily.

Fickett is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Fickett trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fickett stops Abelyan from standing up.
Abelyan avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Fickett stops Abelyan from standing up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Fickett shoots for a takedown but Abelyan saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Abelyan connects with a high kick.
Horrible takedown by Fickett or perhaps it was just good defense by Abelyan which made him look bad.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Abelyan. Fickett shrugs it off though.
Abelyan throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
A slapping leg kick lands for Abelyan.
Fickett fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Abelyan lands a head kick. Fickett smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick from Abelyan lands but Fickett takes it in his stride.
Fickett fails in his attempt to clinch.
Abelyan connects with a high kick.
A head kick misses from Abelyan.
Abelyan throws a quick inside leg kick.
Fickett avoids the head kick by Abelyan.
Arthur Abelyan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Fickett shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Fickett prevents Abelyan from standing back up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Abelyan is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Abelyan is in trouble now - Fickett has advanced to mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Blake Fickett will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Fickett shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Fickett showed some decent athleticism there.
Abelyan is trying to stand.
Fickett missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Nice strikes from Fickett there.

Fickett seems to be working for a kimura but Abelyan defends the submission attempt.
Fickett stops Abelyan from getting back to his feet.
Abelyan tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Fickett manages to move to mount!

Fickett is working for a guillotine from mount but Abelyan frees his head quite easily.
Abelyan squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fickett is controlling this nicely and is looking to make no mistakes. Abelyan is trying to wiggle out of this horrible position. Abelyan flips to his side and attempts to get a leg in for half guard. Fickett anticipates the leg and manages to get behind Abelyan and secures both hooks! This could be bad! Fickett slips an arm under Abelyan chin and tries to position for a rear naked choke. Fickett has worked the choke in now and it looks tight. Fickett is squeezing on Abelyan like an anaconda would it's prey. Abelyan fails to tap and has fallen unconscious! We've got ourselves a winner by way of a rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:30 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Blake Fickett!