PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tigran Minasian (ranked 2165 p4p, 258 weight class) and Cal Robbins (ranked 2728 p4p, 311 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Minasian
vs
Robbins

181 cm
24
183 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

185 cm
25
181 lbs
5 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Powerful

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tigran Minasian!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Cal Robbins!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Ben Zyskovitsi and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown attempt by Robbins or perhaps it was just good defense by Minasian, which made it look bad.
Minasian keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Robbins shoots in for a takedown but Minasian shows good takedown defense.
Tigran Minasian has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cal Robbins.
Minasian lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

It looks like Cal Robbins has been cut.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Minasian.
Robbins stops Minasian from passing to mount.

Minasian is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Robbins knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Robbins tries to improve position but can't.
Minasian wants to control but Robbins is keeping him busy.
Robbins is trying to get back to half guard.
Minasian wants to lay and pray for a moment but Robbins keeps working.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Minasian tries to advance to mount but Robbins denies him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Minasian working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Minasian trying to control the action but Robbins is working from the bottom.
Minasian advances nicely into full mount.
Robbins told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Minasian wants to control the pace but Robbins is squirming around nicely.
Robbins is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Minasian working for a guillotine from mount but Robbins is in no mood to give up.
Robbins keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Minasian wants to control the pace but Robbins is squirming around nicely.
Minasian fails to move to back control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Minasian works his way to his opponent's back.
Robbins is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.

Robbins is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Minasian gets his way!

Minasian is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Minasian is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Robbins is defending well though. Minasian let's go of the attempt for now.
Minasian is looking to control Robbins but Robbins is wriggling around and keeping busy.

Minasian is persistently looking for the submission but Robbins is defending it well.

Minasian is looking for the choke from the back position but Robbins is controlling his hands well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Robbins wants to escape the position.
A lull in the action here.
You can see the frustration on Robbins's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Robbins trying to control the hands but Minasian won't let him.

Robbins fending off the submission attempt from Minasian.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Minasian keeps control of the position as Robbins tries to break free.

Minasian is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Minasian is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Robbins defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Minasian doesn't have the hooks in and Robbins manages to turn into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Minasian bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Robbins's guard.

Minasian 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.
Minasian has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Robbins is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Minasian defends well.
Robbins keeping full guard, as Minasian tries to pass.
Minasian passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Robbins is looking to regain half guard here but Minasian keeps moving and retains side control.
Robbins manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Minasian wants to take a breather but Robbins is having none of it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Minasian is controlling the pace.
Robbins is looking for a sweep. Minasian is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tigran Minasian dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Cal Robbins's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Minasian looks to score with a jab to the body but Robbins is just out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Robbins is defended easily by Minasian.
Minasian is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Robbins can do to turn this around?

Robbins shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Robbins seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Minasian does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Minasian tries to get to full guard but Robbins has control of the leg.
Robbins wants to take a breather but Minasian is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Minasian tries to get to full guard but Robbins has control of the leg.
Robbins is thwarting Minasian's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Minasian looking for submissions off his back.

Robbins is working for a submission of some sort.
Robbins looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

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

Minasian looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Robbins is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Minasian wants to control but Robbins is keeping busy.
Minasian is not content to let Robbins control the position.

Robbins is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Minasian tries to roll over but Robbins keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Minasian wants to get back to his feet.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Minasian lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Robbins at a distance.
Robbins will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Minasian went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

Oh, that's a big right hand from Minasian and Robbins goes tumbling to the canvas! Minasian follows him to the ground and looks to finish from half guard.

Robbins is rocked!
Robbins is breathing heavily.
Minasian passes the guard and advances to mount!
Robbins is still in real trouble! Can Minasian finish him?
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Minasian fails to move to back control.
Minasian moves to the back.
Minasian has the hooks in. Robbins is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Tigran Minasian overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Robbins is still trying to improve position.
Good control from Minasian.
Robbins is in bad spot here.

Minasian is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Robbins defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Minasian looking for the choke but no joy.

Minasian working for a choke but Robbins is defending well.
Robbins seems to have recovered his senses.

Minasian patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Minasian is not going to allow Robbins to sit and survive in this position.
Robbins tries to roll but Minasian sticks to his back.

Minasian looking for the choke but no joy.

Minasian is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Robbins is defending well though. Minasian let's go of the attempt for now.

Robbins fending off the submission attempt from Minasian.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tigran Minasian dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Cal Robbins's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Robbins has a takedown stuffed.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Minasian throws a right hand that Robbins ducks under and follows up with a left that Robbins also avoids with ease.
Despite the aggression on Robbins's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Robbins looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Minasian is fending him off so far but Robbins persists. Nope, Minasian circles away and we're back to standing.
A quick step to the side and Minasian tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.

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

Minasian bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Robbins walks into a picture perfect straight right hand from Minasian! He's gone down face first to the canvas, unconscious before he even hit the floor! Ohhhh. My. Goodness! That boys and girls was a beautiful knockout! Give that man a biscuit!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:30 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Tigran Minasian!