PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between hovannes adibekyan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mano da Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think adibekyan might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to 50 cent. hovannes adibekyan has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

adibekyan
vs
da Rua

195 cm
21
245 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

196 cm
22
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, hovannes adibekyan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mano da Rua!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, George Francis and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
adibekyan keeps the fight on the outside.
adibekyan throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around da Rua's waist but da Rua gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing adibekyan off to one side.

da Rua feints and as adibekyan raises his hands in defense, da Rua changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

adibekyan is working an open guard so da Rua takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

adibekyan gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
adibekyan jumps guard but da Rua stands there with adibekyan around his waist. adibekyan gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Nice elbow from adibekyan.

It looks like Mano da Rua has been cut.

adibekyan has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics da Rua uses from the top position.
da Rua wants to control from the top but adibekyan keeps moving.
da Rua tries to stand but adibekyan is controlling from the bottom.
da Rua thows a big elbow that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
adibekyan working a defensive guard here.
da Rua in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

da Rua looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
adibekyan on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if adibekyan tries to get out of the position.
da Rua not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
da Rua stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. adibekyan swivels though and keeps the full guard.
adibekyan trying to control the position.
adibekyan is adopting a defensive guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
da Rua slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

da Rua stands up from guard. Let's bang!
da Rua has his takedown stuffed

and adibekyan counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's four 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.

adibekyan drags the fight down to the ground.
da Rua's corner is telling him to maintain position.
adibekyan is trying to keep da Rua in close.
da Rua is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mano da Rua dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mano da Rua's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

adibekyan keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
adibekyan throws a right and a left that da Rua avoids nicely.
adibekyan throws a nice outside leg kick.
da Rua closes the distance but adibekyan moves to the side
and adibekyan counters with a right hand to the body.
adibekyan pulls out of a head kick attempt.
da Rua fails with the takedown

and adibekyan counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for da Rua!
da Rua is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
da Rua is breathing heavily.
adibekyan wants to control the pace but da Rua is squirming around nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
adibekyan looking to control and managing it successfully.
da Rua tries to hold on but adibekyan pushes him away.
da Rua is looking to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
da Rua tries to hold on but adibekyan postures up.
da Rua is in all sorts of trouble here.
da Rua is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
adibekyan tries to control but da Rua wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
da Rua tries to hold on but adibekyan pushes him away.
adibekyan controlling from mount.
da Rua is working to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
da Rua wants to hold on but adibekyan pushes him away.
da Rua is in all sorts of trouble here.
da Rua is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
adibekyan wants to get back to his feet but da Rua is holding on tight.
da Rua slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

hovannes adibekyan dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Mano da Rua's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

da Rua shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with adibekyan but adibekyan pushes him off and we're back to square one.
adibekyan has his takedown stuffed

so da Rua counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
da Rua wants to pass the guard but adibekyan is keeping the position.

da Rua decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on adibekyan, up you get!
adibekyan swings and misses with a hook to the body.
da Rua has his takedown stuffed
and adibekyan counters with a leg kick.
da Rua takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
adibekyan misses with a takedown attempt

and da Rua counters with a takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
da Rua is staying tight to adibekyan's torso, preventing him from escaping.
da Rua misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

da Rua has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
hovannes adibekyan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

adibekyan moves into range and clinches up with da Rua.
adibekyan managing to block the knees to the body from da Rua.

adibekyan breaks from the clinch.
adibekyan fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for hovannes adibekyan. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
da Rua throws a body kick that misses.

da Rua shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
da Rua wants to pass the guard but adibekyan is defending well.
da Rua wants to take a breather but adibekyan is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
da Rua trying to mount his opponent but adibekyan defends it.
da Rua controlling the action here.
Mano da Rua has got the better of the ground game so far.
da Rua wants to control but adibekyan is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
da Rua thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
adibekyan won't allow da Rua to pass to mount.
adibekyan is looking to escape.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
adibekyan shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has da Rua pinned against the cage. da Rua gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
adibekyan slips a jab and a cross from da Rua.
da Rua moves out of range as adibekyan throws a body kick.

adibekyan closes the distance and pushes da Rua back into the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mano da Rua comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think da Rua 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mano da Rua!