PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rex Water (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tim Askarian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Water
vs
Askarian

198 cm
23
208 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

193 cm
21
209 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Lethal high kicks
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Inexperienced

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rex Water!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Tim Askarian!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Chris Saunders and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Askarian tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Water paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Water thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Askarian if he has to take too many more of those.
Water lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Water shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Water fails with the takedown.
A slapping leg kick lands for Askarian.
Askarian tries to clinch up.
Water takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

Water shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Water performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Water is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Askarian is trying to stand up here but Water is controlling him well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Water keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Askarian wants to get back to his feet.
Water tries to stand but can't do so whilst Askarian controls his leg.
Askarian tries to kick Water off but Water keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
It looks like Water is going to stand back up.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Water in particular looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Rex Water just wasn't active enough.
Askarian keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rex Water. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Askarian is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Askarian tries to clinch there but Water circles away.
Askarian fails with an attempt to clinch.
Water misses the shot to the body.
Askarian fails with an attempt to clinch.
Water throws a right and a left that both miss.
Askarian doesn't manage to clinch there - Water circles away.

Water moves into the clinch.
Askarian doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Askarian just misses with a elbow thrown towards Water's brow.
Askarian comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askarian is pushing Water up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Water blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Water is trying to pull guard but Askarian turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Askarian throws an elbow that misses.
Askarian crunches a lovely knee into Water's ribcage.
Water wants to get back to striking at distance but Askarian won't allow it.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Askarian keeps control of Water as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Askarian is pressed up against the cage. Water has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Askarian down to the mat. Askarian avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Water shoots for a double leg takedown but Askarian sprawls well. He's pushed Water's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Water takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Askarian tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Water paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Water closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Water wants a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askarian throws a knee to the head but misses.
Water tries to pull guard but Askarian forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Water tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Askarian avoids it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Water wants to break the clinch but can't.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Askarian using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Askarian throws an elbow that misses.
Water avoids a wild elbow strike from Askarian.
Water goes for a takedown in the clinch but Askarian prevents it.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Askarian lands an elbow inside.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Askarian lands a knee to the head.
Water is looking for a takedown.
Water fails to pull guard.
Askarian trying to stall but Water improves his position.
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 Rex Water will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Askarian tries to close the distance and clinch but Water swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Askarian tries to clinch up.
Askarian throws the kick towards the body but Water avoids it.

Water shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Water showed some decent athleticism there.
Water wants to take a breather but Askarian is having none of it.
Water sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Askarian defending well though.
Water stops Askarian from getting back to his feet.
Water trying to control from half guard but Askarian is working away.

Askarian has one foot on Water's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Askarian tries to clinch up but Water circles away and keeps his distance.
Water shoots in for a takedown but Askarian shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Askarian is looking to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askarian walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Water checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Water shoots for a takedown but Askarian saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Askarian fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Water is out of range.
Askarian is looking to chop away at Water's legs.
Water swats away the attempt to clinch by Askarian.
Askarian is looking to clinch.
Water shoots in but Askarian avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rex Water. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Water avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Askarian tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Water manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Askarian tries to clinch but Water moves out of range.
Askarian is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Askarian blocks a head kick by Water.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Askarian fails in his attempt to clinch.
Askarian tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Water paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Askarian tries to close the distance and clinch up but Water swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Askarian walks into a jab.
Askarian is looking to clinch.
Tim Askarian is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Askarian gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Askarian pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Askarian pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Askarian looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Water tries to break the clinch but Askarian is controlling the position.
Askarian tries a knee to the head but Water blocks it.
Askarian lands an elbow inside.

It looks like Rex Water has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Askarian just leaning against Water, taking a breather.
Askarian looking to throw knees to the head but Water is blocking nicely.
Water looking for a takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askarian throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Water wants to take the fight to the mat but Askarian manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Water avoids the elbow strike from Askarian, against the cage.
Askarian creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Askarian fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Askarian looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Water jumps guard but Askarian stands there with Water around his waist. Water gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Askarian missing with knees to the body.
Askarian is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Askarian lands an elbow that stopped Water in his tracks for a moment.
Askarian stalling in the clinch but Water improves position.
Water tries to throw a body punch but Askarian avoids it by throwing Water back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askarian lands a knee to the body.
Water tries to throw a body punch but Askarian avoids it by throwing Water back against the cage.
Askarian trying to stall but Water improves his position.
Askarian misses with an elbow strike.
Askarian throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Askarian stalling in the clinch but Water improves position.
Water avoids a wild elbow strike from Askarian.
Water throws a head punch that misses.
Water has had enough of the clinch but Askarian keeps him there for the moment.
Askarian gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Askarian creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Water avoids the elbow strike from Askarian, against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Askarian wants to break the clinch but can't.
Water dodges an elbow strike from Askarian.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tim Askarian showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rex Water's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Askarian misses with a low kick as Water jumps back.
Water fails with the takedown.

Askarian rushes Water and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Water blocks an elbow strike.
Askarian utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Askarian trying to control the position but instead, Water has worked for underhooks and has pushed Askarian into the cage.
Askarian is stalling here.
Askarian stalling in the clinch but Water improves position.
Askarian working aggressively here.
Water is trying to pull guard but Askarian has him pressed against the cage.
Water is trying to force a seperation but Askarian has the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askarian misses with an elbow over the top.
Water drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rex Water. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice elbow from Askarian.
Askarian taking a breather.
Water tries to break free but Askarian pushes him back against the cage.
Water blocks an elbow strike.
Water blocks an elbow strike from Askarian.
Askarian throws an elbow but it misses.
Water drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Askarian gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Water is trying to pull guard but Askarian turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Water tries for a takedown but Askarian manages to get underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Askarian.
Water misses with a body punch.
Askarian throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Askarian tries a knee to the head but Water blocks it.
Askarian lands an elbow inside.
Askarian misses with an elbow over the top.
Askarian is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Water is trying to drag Askarian to the mat but Askarian just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Askarian misses with some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Water tries for a takedown. No joy.
A short uppercut from Askarian.
Askarian stops a takedown attempt from Water.
Water is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Askarian escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Askarian thuds his right hand into Water's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Water fails to land the takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Askarian moves in looking to clinch but Water pushes him off.
Askarian tries to clinch but Water is having none of it.
Askarian feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Water's calf.
Askarian wants to clinch.

Askarian takes the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Water fails to pull guard.
Water tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Askarian just stands there and leans against the cage.
Water blocks an elbow strike.
Askarian comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Water wants a takedown but no success here.
Askarian tries to stall but Water uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Askarian comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Water tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Askarian smiles and moves away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Water checks the leg kick nicely there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Water moves into the clinch successfully.
Water dodges an elbow strike from Askarian.
Tim Askarian seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Askarian lands an elbow inside that Water shrugs off.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tim Askarian comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Askarian 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tim Askarian!
Our winner, Tim Askarian, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.