PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ricardinho Vieira (ranked 743 p4p, 102 weight class) and Narek Sirakanian (ranked 1680 p4p, 215 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Vieira
vs
Sirakanian

177 cm
24
178 lbs
11 - 8 - 1

182 cm
23
175 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 11 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ricardinho Vieira!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Narek Sirakanian!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Summer Carpenter and Ben Watson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sirakanian defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Vieira.
Vieira fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nice shot by Sirakanian.
Ricardinho Vieira seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sirakanian scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
The fighters circling - Sirakanian throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Vieira has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Sirakanian darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Sirakanian fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Vieira looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Vieira misses with a takedown attempt
letting Sirakanian counter with a right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricardinho Vieira. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vieira misses with a hook to the body
and Sirakanian counters with a nice uppercut.
Vieira misses with a takedown
and Sirakanian counters with a lovely straight right hand!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sirakanian jabs at Vieira's body.
Vieira misses with a wild body shot.

Vieira changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Sirakanian looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Sirakanian is looking to reverse the position.
Sirakanian struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sirakanian avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Vieira.
Vieira working away.
Sirakanian on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

Vieira tries for a kimura but Sirakanian is defending well.

Vieira looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Sirakanian is trying to improve his position.

Vieira tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vieira working away.
Vieira lands a few punches from side control.
Sirakanian wants to control but Vieira postures up.

Vieira looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Sirakanian is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Vieira working the head with strikes.
Vieira lands a nice forearm strike.
Sirakanian is trying to get back to half guard.

Vieira tries for a kimura but Sirakanian is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vieira is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Sirakanian is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Vieira goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Sirakanian has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Vieira but great work by Sirakanian.
Vieira misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Sirakanian in side control, just content to control the action for now.

Sirakanian tries for a kimura but Vieira is defending well.

Sirakanian decides to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sirakanian throws a jab when Vieira was well out of range.
Sirakanian clobbers Vieira with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Sirakanian takes a swing at Vieira's ribcage but misses.
Sirakanian misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Vieira.
Sirakanian scores with a jab to the body.
Vieira gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Sirakanian counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Vieira takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Sirakanian throws a hook to the side of Vieira's head but Vieira sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Vieira feinted with a counter takedown.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vieira misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sirakanian misses the jab.
Vieira jabs Sirakanian to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Vieira avoids the body shot from Sirakanian.
Vieira misses with a takedown
and Sirakanian counters with a nice body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Narek Sirakanian dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Vieira throws a jab when Sirakanian was well out of range.
Sirakanian looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Sirakanian dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sirakanian misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Vieira.
Vieira fails with the takedown
letting Sirakanian counter with a right hand.

Vieira dives in and scores a takedown into Sirakanian's guard.
Vieira 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.
Sirakanian looking for a sweep. Not yet Sirakanian, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sirakanian working a defensive guard here.
Sirakanian manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Vieira manages to get himself to full guard.

Vieira is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Sirakanian trying to control but Vieira is working from the bottom.
Sirakanian is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sirakanian throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Vieira works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Vieira looking for a sweep. Not yet Vieira, not yet.
Sirakanian must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Vieira is looking for a triangle but Sirakanian pushes his legs off easily.
Vieira wants to sweep here but Sirakanian controlling him for the moment.

Sirakanian got a little sloppy there for a moment and Vieira has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sirakanian has managed to get both his arms back between Vieira's legs - danger averted.
Vieira is trying to control the position from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sirakanian accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Vieira is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Vieira prevents Sirakanian from improving his position.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sirakanian has his hands clasped together around Vieira's back. He's all about the action.
Sirakanian avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Vieira.
Ricardinho Vieira overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Vieira is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Sirakanian defends it well.
Sirakanian keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Sirakanian wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vieira landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Sirakanian regains full guard. Nicely done.
Sirakanian is pulling down on Vieira's head. It's preventing any offense from Vieira, at least for the moment.
Sirakanian can't keep his opponent in guard - Vieira advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Vieira is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Sirakanian as he works his way to full guard.
Sirakanian tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Vieira throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sirakanian works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sirakanian wants to stand but Vieira is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sirakanian is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Vieira forces his way into half guard.

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

Vieira is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Sirakanian has managed to free his arm - good work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vieira throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sirakanian moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardinho Vieira dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Vieira shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Vieira was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Vieira working away.
Sirakanian wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Sirakanian wants to control but Vieira postures up.
Vieira lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

Vieira looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Sirakanian is trying to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sirakanian is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Vieira off and has taken his back!
Vieira tries to escape but Sirakanian has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sirakanian slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Sirakanian keeps control of the position as Vieira tries to break free.
Will Sirakanian go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Sirakanian gets his hands free as Vieira looks to control.
I really don't envy Vieira right now.
Vieira looking very determined here, making life difficult for Sirakanian.
Sirakanian doesn't have the hooks in and Vieira manages to turn into his guard.

Vieira drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Vieira jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Vieira wants to control from the top but Sirakanian keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sirakanian trying to control the position.
Sirakanian wants to sweep here but Vieira controlling him for the moment.
Vieira cracks Sirakanian with a solid left hand.
Sirakanian trying to control the position.
Sirakanian utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Vieira 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.
Vieira preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vieira trying to control the position from guard on top but Sirakanian is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vieira throws a big right hand that misses.
Vieira looking to pass the guard.
Vieira wants to control from the top but Sirakanian keeps moving.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Sirakanian has momentary wrist control but Vieira slips an elbow through the middle.
Vieira distracts Sirakanian with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Vieira is looking to advance position but Sirakanian has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Vieira is squirming around, avoiding Sirakanian's attempts to control the action.
Sirakanian misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vieira is desperately trying to improve his position but Sirakanian has a good base and remains in mount.
Sirakanian tries to control but Vieira wriggling away.
Sirakanian sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Vieira is squirming around, avoiding Sirakanian's attempts to control the action.
Vieira can't escape the position.
Sirakanian controlling the position easily from mount.
Vieira is in all sorts of trouble here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vieira wants to control but Sirakanian is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Narek Sirakanian.
I think Sirakanian 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Watson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Narek Sirakanian!
An out of breath Narek Sirakanian thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.