PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Alik Grigoryan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zakai Turner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Grigoryan
vs
Turner

210 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

190 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alik Grigoryan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Zakai Turner!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grigoryan looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Jeez, both these guys look absolutely knackered already, that's not a good sign!
Grigoryan moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Grigoryan shoots in but Turner avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Nice takedown defense from Turner. No joy for Grigoryan on that attempt.
Turner keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alik Grigoryan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Grigoryan shoots for a takedown but Turner saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Grigoryan scores a takedown into full mount!
Turner is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Grigoryan trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Turner tries to lock up and control but Grigoryan gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Grigoryan throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Turner is wriggling around trying to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Grigoryan scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Grigoryan has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Turner is desperately trying to improve his position but Grigoryan has a good base and remains in mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Grigoryan there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Turner really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Grigoryan. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Turner is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Grigoryan will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Turner regains half guard.
Grigoryan thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Turner's head.
Grigoryan lands strikes from half guard.
Turner desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Grigoryan prevents Turner from improving his position.
Grigoryan prevents Turner from standing back up.
Turner has his hands clasped together around Grigoryan's back. He's all about the action.
Turner taking some punishment here, with Grigoryan in his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Turner tries to get to full guard but Grigoryan has control of the leg.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Grigoryan shoots in but Turner avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Grigoryan displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Grigoryan fails with the takedown.
Turner moves in looking to clinch but Grigoryan pushes him off.

Turner closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Turner wants to lay and pray for a moment but Grigoryan keeps working.
Turner is working Grigoryan over with some ground and pound from side control.
Turner happy to just control the position for now.
Grigoryan is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Turner has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Turner wants to control but Grigoryan is keeping him busy.
Turner connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Grigoryan some visible discomfort.

Grigoryan explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

Turner drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Grigoryan has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Turner off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Turner tries to clinch up.
Grigoryan with a poor takedown

and Turner counters by moving into the clinch.

Turner breaks from the clinch.

Turner shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Turner showed some decent athleticism there.
Turner trying to control the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Grigoryan kicks off Turner and gets to his feet.
Turner changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Grigoryan tries to avoid it but Turner manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Grigoryan to the ground. Grigoryan escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Turner darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Grigoryan kicks off Turner and gets to his feet.

Grigoryan gets a takedown into half guard.
Turner is looking for a sweep. Grigoryan is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Turner is staying active underneath Grigoryan, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Turner manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zakai Turner dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Turner swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Grigoryan counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Grigoryan is thwarting Turner's attempts to control the position.
Grigoryan working over Turner with some ground and pound. Turner looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Grigoryan scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Turner keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Turner is looking to control Grigoryan's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Turner avoid being mounted?
Grigoryan is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Turner keeping control of the position.

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

and Turner counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Grigoryan wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grigoryan is working for takedown but Turner is calmly controlling the position for now.

Grigoryan manages to break the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Grigoryan slips under a jab from Turner.
Nice sprawl there from Grigoryan as Turner shoots in.
Grigoryan misses with a takedown

and Turner counters by moving into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alik Grigoryan. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Turner escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Alik Grigoryan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Turner swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

so Grigoryan counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Turner is pulling down on Grigoryan's head. It's preventing any offense from Grigoryan, at least for the moment.
Grigoryan trying to control the position from guard on top but Turner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Turner is trying to keep Grigoryan in close.
Turner looking for a sweep. Not yet Turner, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grigoryan would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Turner is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Alik Grigoryan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Grigoryan with a flurry of punches that miss.
Turner preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Turner looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Grigoryan is looking to escape.

Turner decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Turner fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Grigoryan sprawls well initially but Turner persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Grigoryan looks like he's trying to stand up.

Grigoryan kicks Turner off and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Turner shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Turner stands up and waves to Grigoryan to follow him.
Turner avoids a punch combination nicely.
Turner takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Grigoryan tries for a takedown but Turner circles away easily
and Turner counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Turner is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Grigoryan's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Turner with a poor takedown

and Grigoryan counters with a single leg into guard. Turner didn't expect that.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Grigoryan wants to stand but Turner has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Turner has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Grigoryan off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grigoryan doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Turner moves into the clinch.
Turner tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Grigoryan smiles and moves away.
Turner doesn't manage to clinch there - Grigoryan circles away.
Grigoryan with a poor takedown

and Turner counters with a takedown into side control.
Grigoryan is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Turner has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Grigoryan is not content to let Turner control the position.
Turner working away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Grigoryan explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Grigoryan takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Zakai Turner will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Grigoryan lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Grigoryan misses with a takedown attempt

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

Grigoryan scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Grigoryan rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Turner moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Turner misses the jab.

Grigoryan feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Grigoryan wants to get up but he can't break Turner's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Grigoryan really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Turner is looking to stand up but Grigoryan isn't so interested in that idea.
Turner keeping moving, preventing Grigoryan from controlling successfully.
Grigoryan throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Turner wriggles free and stands up.
Grigoryan takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Turner misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Grigoryan throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Grigoryan has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Grigoryan with a lazy takedown attempt

and Turner counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Turner.
Turner trying to control but Grigoryan is working from the bottom.
Turner controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Grigoryan keeping moving, preventing Turner from controlling successfully.

Turner 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.
Turner won't allow Grigoryan to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grigoryan trying to strike off his back.
Grigoryan is looking to stand up but Turner isn't so interested in that idea.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Turner wants to clinch but Grigoryan slips to the side

and Grigoryan counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Grigoryan is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Grigoryan throws a strike but Turner rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
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!
Grigoryan striking off his back but it's not causing Turner any problems.
Turner prevents Grigoryan from getting back to his feet.
Grigoryan throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Grigoryan bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Turner's guard.

Turner has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Grigoryan off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Turner closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Grigoryan to the mat! Grigoryan manages to get full guard.
Turner is stalling in the full guard.
Turner is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Turner accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Grigoryan wants to stand and escape but Turner is having none of it.
Turner throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grigoryan throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Turner scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Grigoryan connects with a high kick.
No joy there for Turner, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Grigoryan fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Grigoryan with a lazy takedown attempt
and Turner counters with a lovely straight right hand!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alik Grigoryan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Grigoryan shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Turner counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Turner won't allow Grigoryan to get back to his feet.
Turner's corner is telling him to maintain position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Turner won't allow Grigoryan to get back to his feet.
Alik Grigoryan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Grigoryan can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Turner controls the pace.
Zakai Turner is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zakai Turner comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Turner 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zakai Turner!