PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Earnest Zimmerman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hovannes Nazaryan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Zimmerman
vs
Nazaryan

196 cm
24
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Earnest Zimmerman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hovannes Nazaryan!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zimmerman slips under a jab from Nazaryan.
Zimmerman seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
A combination from Nazaryan does no damage.
Nazaryan misses with a two punch combination.
Zimmerman seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Nazaryan misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
As Nazaryan tries to get set, Zimmerman tries to push him back and clinch up but Nazaryan manages to avoid the attempt.
Nazaryan throws a leg kick that is checked

and Zimmerman counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Zimmerman has gone for a leg lock! Nazaryan slips out almost immediately though and dives into Zimmerman's guard.

Nazaryan trying to stand up but can't free himself from Zimmerman's guard.
Zimmerman looking for a sweep. Not yet Zimmerman, not yet.

Zimmerman is looking for a triangle but Nazaryan pushes his legs off easily.
Nazaryan wants to get up but he can't break Zimmerman's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nazaryan is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Zimmerman throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Nazaryan wants to stand but Zimmerman has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Zimmerman controlling the position.
Nazaryan wanted to stand there but Zimmerman had control of the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Zimmerman shoots for a takedown but Nazaryan saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nazaryan throws a head kick that misses.
Zimmerman is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Nazaryan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nazaryan throws a lazy head kick

and Zimmerman counters with a takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zimmerman prevents Nazaryan from escaping the position.

Zimmerman thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Zimmerman is trying to get an arm triangle but Nazaryan is defending well.
Zimmerman prevents Nazaryan from escaping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zimmerman landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Nazaryan really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Zimmerman. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Nazaryan pushes Zimmerman away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Zimmerman gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Zimmerman goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Nazaryan rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Zimmerman's guard! Nice work there by Nazaryan!
Nazaryan has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Zimmerman is proving hard to escape from.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Zimmerman avoids the head kick by Nazaryan.
Zimmerman is looking to counter the offense by Nazaryan and move into the clinch.
Nazaryan buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Nazaryan throws a series of punches but Zimmerman avoids them all with ease.
A head kick misses from Nazaryan.
Nazaryan swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Zimmerman seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Hovannes Nazaryan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nazaryan throws a sloppy head kick and Zimmerman moves out of range easily.
Nazaryan lands a jab-cross combination.
Nazaryan looks winded!
Zimmerman closes the distance and clinches up with Nazaryan, looking for a takedown. Zimmerman pushes Nazaryan against the cage but Nazaryan circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zimmerman looks to land a combination. Nazaryan sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hovannes Nazaryan dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Nazaryan will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hovannes Nazaryan seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nazaryan misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zimmerman seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Nazaryan misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zimmerman changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Zimmerman.
Nazaryan misses with a head kick.
Zimmerman blocks a head kick by Nazaryan.
Zimmerman wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nazaryan throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nazaryan throws a head kick that misses.
Nazaryan on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Nazaryan.
Nazaryan is breathing heavily.
Horrible takedown attempt by Zimmerman or perhaps it was just good defense by Nazaryan, which made it look bad.
Nazaryan fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Zimmerman throws a nice head kick!
Nazaryan throws a head kick but Zimmerman moves out of range.
Zimmerman blocks a head kick by Nazaryan.

Zimmerman shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Zimmerman was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Zimmerman fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nazaryan sneaks out the side door and pushes Zimmerman away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Earnest Zimmerman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nazaryan tries to bum rush Zimmerman with a series of wild strikes but Zimmerman uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A low kick from Nazaryan is predictable there

and Zimmerman counters with a nice double leg into side control. Nazaryan won't be happy with that.

Zimmerman is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Nazaryan is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Zimmerman prevents Nazaryan from escaping the position.

Zimmerman tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Zimmerman has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Nazaryan taking a bit of punishment here - Zimmerman scoring with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nazaryan is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Zimmerman asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Nazaryan explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Nazaryan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Zimmerman seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Nazaryan pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zimmerman avoids the head kick by Nazaryan.
Nazaryan misses with a wild combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nazaryan attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Zimmerman checks the leg kick.

Zimmerman shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Nazaryan's guard.

Zimmerman drops back looking for a leg! Nazaryan is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Nazaryan manages to kick Zimmerman off! Zimmerman jumps back into Nazaryan's guard.
Zimmerman prevents Nazaryan from getting back to his feet.

Zimmerman drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Nazaryan manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Zimmerman has Nazaryan in his guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hovannes Nazaryan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Zimmerman has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Nazaryan.
Nazaryan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Nazaryan lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Zimmerman has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Zimmerman and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Nazaryan pulls out of a head kick attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nazaryan fails to land with a series of punches.
Zimmerman is looking to clinch but Nazaryan is avoiding it.
Nazaryan tries to work over Zimmerman's front leg with a kick but Zimmerman checks it.
Nazaryan pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nazaryan pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zimmerman wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Nazaryan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nazaryan throws a left and a right that both miss
and Zimmerman counters with a left and a right that stings Nazaryan.
Zimmerman looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Nazaryan swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Zimmerman seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Nazaryan will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nazaryan throws a left and a right that both miss

and Zimmerman moves into the clinch.

Nazaryan's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nazaryan throws a low kick but it's checked well by Zimmerman.
Nazaryan throws a combination that misses

so Zimmerman counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Nazaryan is looking to stand back up but Zimmerman counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Nazaryan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

This has been an exciting period of action!
Nazaryan has hold of Zimmerman's hands but Zimmerman slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Zimmerman trying to control the pace.
Earnest Zimmerman overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Zimmerman lands a nice short elbow.

Zimmerman is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Nazaryan doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Zimmerman.

Zimmerman is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nazaryan taking some punishment here, with Zimmerman in his half guard.

Zimmerman is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Zimmerman is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Nazaryan is just riding it out for now. Zimmerman eventually gives up the hold.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Zimmerman uses his free foot to push down on Nazaryan's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Nazaryan.

Zimmerman is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Nazaryan has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Nazaryan!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zimmerman wants to sweep here but Nazaryan controlling him for the moment.
Earnest Zimmerman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hovannes Nazaryan is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Earnest Zimmerman.
I think Nazaryan has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hovannes Nazaryan!