PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Wendall Arnold (ranked 3023 p4p, 3034 weight class) and Lance Avery (ranked 354 p4p, 359 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Arnold
vs
Avery

180 cm
25
197
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Likes comics

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Wendall Arnold!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lance Avery!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Felipe Paraventi and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Arnold tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Avery was well out of range. Poor timing from Arnold.
Avery shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Arnold but Arnold pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Avery throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Arnold's waist but Arnold gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Avery off to one side.

Avery fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Arnold, pushing him back against the cage.
Avery prevents the takedown attempt.

Avery pulls guard successfully.
Arnold not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Arnold's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arnold pushes down on Avery's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Avery is trying to maintain the position but Arnold is very close to passing his half guard.
Still in half guard, Arnold seems content to control.
Avery is trying to maintain the position but Arnold is very close to passing his half guard.

Arnold is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Avery sees it coming and defends easily.
Avery blocking the ground and pound attempt from Arnold.
Avery trying to hold on to Arnold's head to control him but Arnold postures up.

That's two 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.
Avery might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Arnold haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Avery is pressing down on Arnold's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Arnold with a flurry of punches that miss.
Avery keeping moving, preventing Arnold from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Arnold misses with the combination.

Avery looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Arnold!

Arnold throws Avery to one side and escapes!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Avery dives in and grabs Arnold's left leg, looking for a takedown. Arnold pushes down on Avery's head and hops out.
Wendall Arnold has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lance Avery.
Arnold throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Avery rushes Arnold and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Arnold has Avery pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Avery manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Arnold is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Avery to keep the fight standing.
Arnold tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Avery avoids it.
Avery gets underhooks to prevent Arnold's takedown attempt.
Arnold tries to pull guard but Avery forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Avery has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Arnold after a bit of a struggle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arnold tries to pull guard but Avery won't allow it.
Arnold fails to pull guard.

Avery pulls guard effortlessly.
Arnold wanted to stand there but Avery had control of the position.
Arnold won't allow Avery to sweep him here.
Arnold won't allow Avery to get back to his feet.
Arnold trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Avery is trying to control the position but Arnold postures up.
Avery seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Wendall Arnold dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Avery with a lazy takedown attempt
and Arnold counters with a three punch combo that has Avery backing up. Avery nods at Arnold to acknowledge the strikes.
Avery misses with a takedown attempt - Arnold sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Arnold tries to clinch up.
Arnold scores with a punch to the head.
Arnold tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Avery defends well and Arnold ends up having to push Avery into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Arnold tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Avery prevents Arnold from breaking the clinch.
Avery keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Arnold's efforts to push away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Avery stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Avery breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arnold shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Avery sprawls well. Avery wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Arnold gets slowly back to his feet.
Avery throws out a counter right but Arnold avoids it with no problem.

Arnold drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Arnold is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Avery can do to turn this around?
Arnold looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Avery trying to keep a closed guard but Arnold is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arnold lands a couple of elbows.
Arnold slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Avery is trying to control Arnold's posture but Arnold avoids it.
Arnold wants to control but Avery is keeping him busy.
Avery pushes Arnold away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Arnold gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Avery takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Arnold moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Arnold wants to lay and pray for a moment but Avery keeps working.
Arnold working the ground and pound from side control.
Avery is looking to reverse the position.

That's four 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.

Arnold stands up.

Avery clinches.
Avery jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Arnold walks away with a smile on his face. Avery gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Wendall Arnold has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lance Avery.
Avery tries a head kick but it misses.
A quick step to the side and Arnold tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.

Arnold looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Avery!
Avery is breathing heavily.

Arnold decides to stand back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Arnold is looking to clinch.

Arnold drives through with a takedown into guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Wendall Arnold dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Arnold fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Avery avoids it really well and circles away.
Avery dives in for a single leg takedown but Arnold sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Arnold clinches up with Avery and pushes him back against the cage.
Avery misses with a body punch.

Avery pulls guard.
Avery not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arnold pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Avery is keeping the position for now.

Avery working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Arnold has passed into half guard!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arnold keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Avery takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Avery manages to get to full guard.

Avery escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Arnold gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Avery is trying to hold Arnold in close to prevent damage but Arnold has managed to pass into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Avery avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Arnold.

Arnold stands up and beckons Avery to join him on the feet.
Arnold circles away from the clinch attempt.
As Avery tries to get set, Arnold tries to push him back and clinch up but Avery manages to avoid the attempt.

Arnold scores with a takedown into Avery's guard.
Arnold controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Avery controlling Arnold's posture.

Arnold stands and steps away. Avery gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Arnold looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Arnold fails in his attempt to clinch.

Avery tries to sprawl but Arnold drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Avery is not content to let Arnold control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arnold trying to mount his opponent but Avery defends it.
Avery has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Arnold is working away from the top position though.
Avery is looking for a sweep. Arnold is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Avery has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Arnold is on him like a limpet, forcing Avery back against the cage.
Avery just leaning against Arnold, taking a breather.
Lance Avery has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wendall Arnold is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Avery throws an elbow that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Wendall Arnold.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Arnold, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wendall Arnold!