PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vartan Mamikonyan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aleksander Babeshin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mamikonyan's entrance music is True Armenian Hero. A fine choice. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Mamikonyan
vs
Babeshin

179 cm
21
193 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

194 cm
21
210 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Great elbows
Insanely flexible

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Granite 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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Vartan Mamikonyan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Aleksander Babeshin!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Saam Ante and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mamikonyan moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

Mamikonyan closes the distance and clinches.
Babeshin misses with an elbow strike.
Mamikonyan tries a body shot but Babeshin blocks it.
Babeshin tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A short body shot lands from Mamikonyan as the two fighters clinch.
Mamikonyan misses with the head strike.
Babeshin misses with a knee strike.
Mamikonyan looking to stall.
Babeshin with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Mamikonyan misses with some punches.
Babeshin with a knee to the head.

It looks like Vartan Mamikonyan has been cut.
Mamikonyan tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Babeshin misses with the head strike.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Babeshin.
Mamikonyan lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Babeshin tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Babeshin with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Mamikonyan is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Babeshin misses with an elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babeshin controlling the action here for a moment.
Babeshin comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Mamikonyan lands an elbow inside that Babeshin shrugs off.
Mamikonyan lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Babeshin tries to land a knee to the head but Mamikonyan blocks with his arms.
Mamikonyan blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Babeshin with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Babeshin wants to stall.
Babeshin misses with an elbow strike.
Mamikonyan lands with a light punch inside.
Mamikonyan throws a head punch that misses.
Nice elbow from Babeshin.
Babeshin controlling the action here for a moment.
Babeshin misses with an elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short body shot lands from Mamikonyan as the two fighters clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Babeshin struggles to land a body shot inside as Mamikonyan controls his hands.
Mamikonyan managing to block the knees to the body from Babeshin.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Babeshin just misses with a elbow thrown towards Mamikonyan's brow.
Babeshin using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mamikonyan has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A short right from Mamikonyan.
Babeshin throws a knee to the head but misses.
Mamikonyan lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Mamikonyan fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Babeshin blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Mamikonyan lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Babeshin has Mamikonyan pushed against the cage.
Mamikonyan lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Mamikonyan is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Babeshin is keeping busy.
Babeshin with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Mamikonyan stalling in the clinch but Babeshin improves position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babeshin looking to throw knees to the head but Mamikonyan is blocking nicely.
Mamikonyan blocks the elbow strike.
Mamikonyan goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Babeshin misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Mamikonyan.
With the fighters up against the cage, Babeshin throws an elbow but misses.
Mamikonyan has a couple of punches blocked by Babeshin.
Mamikonyan pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Babeshin using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Babeshin pressing his opponent against the cage.
Mamikonyan trying to control the position but instead, Babeshin has worked for underhooks and has pushed Mamikonyan into the cage.
Babeshin tries a knee to the head but Mamikonyan blocks it.
Babeshin lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Vartan Mamikonyan's cut is getting worse.
Babeshin looking to throw knees to the head but Mamikonyan is blocking nicely.
Mamikonyan lands with a light punch inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Babeshin tries to land a knee to the head but Mamikonyan blocks with his arms.
Mamikonyan misses with a shot to the kidneys.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mamikonyan working aggressively here.
Babeshin tries to land a knee to the head but Mamikonyan blocks with his arms.
Mamikonyan using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Babeshin has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Babeshin pushes off an throws an elbow but Mamikonyan leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Mamikonyan lands an elbow that stopped Babeshin in his tracks for a moment.
Babeshin dodges an elbow strike from Mamikonyan.
Mamikonyan fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Babeshin tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Mamikonyan throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Babeshins head.
Babeshin is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Mamikonyan is defending well for now.
Babeshin utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Mamikonyan lands with a short punch from the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Babeshin throws a knee to the head but misses.
Babeshin tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Mamikonyan avoids it.
Babeshin with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Mamikonyan dodges an elbow strike from Babeshin.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Aleksander Babeshin will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Vartan Mamikonyan's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Mamikonyan closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Mamikonyan lands an elbow inside.
Babeshin working Mamikonyan over with knees to the body.
Mamikonyan swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Mamikonyan throws a knee to the head but misses.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Babeshin with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Babeshin with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Babeshin.
Mamikonyan throws a punch but it's blocked by Babeshin.
Mamikonyan managing to block the knees to the body from Babeshin.
Babeshin is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Mamikonyan is defending well for now.
Mamikonyan misses with a knee to the head.
Mamikonyan tries to land a knee to the head but Babeshin blocks with his arms.
Mamikonyan throws an elbow but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Mamikonyan.
Mamikonyan working aggressively here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mamikonyan lands a knee to the head.
Mamikonyan tries to stall but Babeshin uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Mamikonyan is leaning against Babeshin and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Mamikonyan pressing his opponent against the cage.
Mamikonyan tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Babeshin with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Mamikonyan creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Babeshin tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Mamikonyan lands a hook to the side of the head.
Babeshin looking to throw knees to the head but Mamikonyan is blocking nicely.
Babeshin's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Vartan Mamikonyan has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Babeshin gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Babeshin pressing his opponent against the cage.
Mamikonyan with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Babeshin lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mamikonyan blocks the elbow strike.
Mamikonyan makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Babeshin comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Babeshin blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Babeshin being controlled against the cage.
Mamikonyan is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Babeshin is keeping busy.
Babeshin tries a knee to the head but Mamikonyan blocks it.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Babeshin dodges an elbow strike from Mamikonyan.
Babeshin scores with a knee to the head.
Mamikonyan gets through Babeshin's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Mamikonyan lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Mamikonyan doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babeshin tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Mamikonyan misses with a short punch on the inside.
Mamikonyan tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Babeshin throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Babeshin with a knee to the head.

Vartan Mamikonyan's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Mamikonyan with an attempt at a knee that misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Babeshin just misses with a elbow thrown towards Mamikonyan's brow.
Babeshin taking a breather.
Babeshin tries a knee to the head but Mamikonyan blocks it.
Babeshin is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Mamikonyan is defending well for now.
Babeshin with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Mamikonyan with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Babeshin lands a knee to the head.
Mamikonyan throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Babeshins head.
Mamikonyan throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Babeshin is breathing heavily.
Mamikonyan tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Babeshin wants to stall.
Babeshin blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Babeshin takes a shot to the head.
Mamikonyan working aggressively here.
Mamikonyan is looking to control Babeshin's arms but Babeshin gets an underhook and turns him. Now Mamikonyan has his back to the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mamikonyan tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Babeshin throws a knee to the head but misses.
Babeshin misses with a punch on the inside.
Babeshin lands a nice elbow.
Babeshin looking to throw knees to the head but Mamikonyan is blocking nicely.
Mamikonyan avoids a wild elbow strike from Babeshin.
Babeshin tries to land a knee to the head but Mamikonyan blocks with his arms.
Mamikonyan lands a nice knee to the body.
Babeshin tries to land a knee to the head but Mamikonyan blocks with his arms.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Babeshin pushes off an throws an elbow but Mamikonyan leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Babeshin using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mamikonyan has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Babeshin trying to land knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Vartan Mamikonyan will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Vartan Mamikonyan's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Mamikonyan misses with a body shot.

Mamikonyan clinches with his opponent.
Babeshin missing with knees to the body.
Mamikonyan on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Mamikonyan is trying to maintain a safe position but Babeshin gets an underhook and turns Mamikonyan into the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Mamikonyan throws an elbow but misses.
Mamikonyan is looking to control Babeshin's arms but Babeshin gets an underhook and turns him. Now Mamikonyan has his back to the cage.
Mamikonyan misses with a punch to the body.
Babeshin tries to land a knee to the head but Mamikonyan blocks with his arms.
Babeshin unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Babeshin wants to stall.
Mamikonyan misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Babeshin obliges.
Babeshin lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mamikonyan gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Babeshin pushes off an throws an elbow but Mamikonyan leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mamikonyan doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Mamikonyan tries a body shot but Babeshin blocks it.
Mamikonyan lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Mamikonyan swings wildly with an uppercut but Babeshin uses good head movement to avoid it.
A shot in the inside from Mamikonyan.
Mamikonyan throws a head punch that misses.
Mamikonyan blocks an elbow strike from Babeshin.
Babeshin tries to land a knee to the head but Mamikonyan blocks with his arms.
Babeshin with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Jeez, Vartan Mamikonyan's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Babeshin misses with a knee strike.
Babeshin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mamikonyan tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Babeshin avoids it.
Mamikonyan tries a body shot but Babeshin blocks it.
Babeshin blocks the elbow strike.
Mamikonyan working aggressively here.
Babeshin is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Mamikonyan is defending well for now.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Babeshin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Mamikonyan lands an elbow just above Babeshin 's eye.
Mamikonyan throws a punch but it's blocked by Babeshin.
Mamikonyan misses with the head strike.
Babeshin tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Babeshin blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Mamikonyan is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Babeshin tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Mamikonyan swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Babeshin dodges an elbow strike from Mamikonyan.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Mamikonyan.
Babeshin throws an elbow that misses.
Babeshin is trying to stall.
Babeshin prevents a body shot from Mamikonyan.
A short right from Mamikonyan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Mamikonyan fails to land.
Mamikonyan taking a breather.
Babeshin connects with a nasty looking knee right to Mamikonyan's face.
Babeshin tries to land knees in the clinch but Mamikonyan avoids the damage to the body.
Babeshin comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Vartan Mamikonyan's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:29 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Aleksander Babeshin!
A relieved looking Aleksander Babeshin thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.