PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Igor Kasparov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and fedor arlovski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Kasparov
vs
arlovski

178 cm
18
225 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

200 cm
18
255 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Igor Kasparov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, fedor arlovski!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Valeri Chadov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
arlovski fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kasparov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
arlovski closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kasparov circles away.
Kasparov throws a sloppy head kick and arlovski moves out of range easily.

Kasparov gets caught flat footed, as arlovski shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

arlovski decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Kasparov, up you get!
arlovski shoots in and drives through. Kasparov sprawls well.
Kasparov with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Kasparov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kasparov with a lazy takedown attempt

and arlovski counters with a takedown into side control.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

arlovski goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Kasparov rolls with the submission and now he's on top in arlovski's guard! Nice work there by Kasparov!
arlovski looks gassed!
Kasparov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kasparov landing with the ground and pound.

Kasparov postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! arlovski is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Kasparov, into his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
arlovski showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kasparov throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
arlovski not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

arlovski stands up from guard. Let's bang!
arlovski looks frusrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Igor Kasparov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of fedor arlovski.
Kasparov swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and arlovski counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kasparov's guard now.
Kasparov wants to get back to his feet but arlovski is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Kasparov will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kasparov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kasparov really is a fat lump.
Kasparov will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Kasparov striking from his own guard.
arlovski wants to control from the top but Kasparov keeps moving.

Kasparov scrambles and gets back to his feet.
A head kick by Kasparov misses

and arlovski counters with a shoot takedown. Kasparov fights it but they end up in guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
arlovski won't allow Kasparov to sweep him here.

arlovski gets to his feet - Kasparov follows without any prompting.
Kasparov shoots in but no luck this time.
Igor Kasparov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kasparov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but arlovski swivels and escapes.
Kasparov shoots in but arlovski avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
arlovski looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kasparov is fending him off so far but arlovski persists. Nope, Kasparov circles away and we're back to standing.
arlovski shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Kasparov moves into the clinch.
Kasparov wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kasparov wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

arlovski manages to break the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - arlovski looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kasparov misses with a takedown

so arlovski counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Kasparov controls arlovski momentarily but arlovski frees himself.
arlovski is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
arlovski trying to control but Kasparov is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

arlovski gets to his feet - Kasparov follows without any prompting.
Kasparov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
arlovski shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kasparov but Kasparov pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kasparov checks the leg kick nicely there.
arlovski is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

arlovski forces Kasparov back against the cage and clinches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
arlovski prevents Kasparov from breaking the clinch.
Kasparov can't break the clinch.
arlovski tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kasparov just stands there and leans against the cage.
arlovski wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Kasparov pulls guard successfully.
arlovski wants to pass the guard but Kasparov is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kasparov throws a head kick but arlovski moves out of range.
arlovski misses with an attempted mid kick.
Kasparov misses with a left hand

and arlovski counters with a shoot takedown. Kasparov fights it but they end up in guard.
arlovski postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
arlovski trying to control the position from guard on top but Kasparov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kasparov controls arlovski momentarily but arlovski frees himself.
arlovski wants to control from the top but Kasparov keeps moving.
Kasparov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from arlovski.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kasparov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

arlovski stands and steps away. Kasparov gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Kasparov throws a combination that misses
and arlovski counters with a nice body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

arlovski drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kasparov wants to get back to his feet but arlovski is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Kasparov manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Kasparov throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and arlovski counters with a body kick that stops Kasparov in his tracks momentarily.
Kasparov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
arlovski fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kasparov shoots in and drives through. arlovski sprawls well.
Kasparov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
arlovski lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by arlovski.

It looks like Igor Kasparov has been cut.
arlovski circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kasparov missing with a left hand there. arlovski was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
arlovski swats away the attempt to clinch by Kasparov.

arlovski fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Kasparov sprawls well initially but arlovski persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
arlovski is keen to just control but Kasparov is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
arlovski works his foot free and advances to mount.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
arlovski looking to control and managing it successfully.
Kasparov 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.
arlovski can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kasparov is looking to escape.
Kasparov is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
arlovski avoids the attempt from Kasparov to control.
arlovski controlling the pace for now.
Kasparov is working to get back to half guard.
arlovski controlling the position easily from mount.
Kasparov tries to lock up and control but arlovski gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four 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.
Kasparov is squirming around, avoiding arlovski's attempts to control the action.
arlovski raining down shots from the mount!
Kasparov is squirming around, avoiding arlovski's attempts to control the action.
arlovski controlling the position easily from mount.

Despite being in the dominant position, fedor arlovski just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kasparov misses with a double jab

and arlovski counters with a takedown into side control.
Kasparov looking for a sweep but arlovski has passed into full mount! Oh no!
arlovski with the ground and pound from mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kasparov takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Kasparov is working to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

fedor arlovski showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Igor Kasparov's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Kasparov slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
arlovski fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Kasparov shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in arlovski's guard.

Kasparov stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Kasparov has a takedown stuffed.
Kasparov connects with a crisp jab.
Kasparov tries to clinch
and arlovski counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A punch combination from Kasparov misses.
Kasparov tries to clinch up.
Kasparov jabs arlovski right on the nose. arlovski blinks but takes it well.

arlovski closes the distance and clinches.

Kasparov breaks the clinch.
Kasparov throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by arlovski.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
arlovski throws a right hand that Kasparov ducks under and follows up with a left that Kasparov also avoids with ease.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kasparov misses with the combination.
arlovski moves out of range of the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
arlovski with a lazy takedown attempt

and Kasparov counters by clinching up.

Kasparov successfully pulls guard.
Kasparov is trying to control the position but arlovski postures up.
Kasparov is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst arlovski is controlling him.
arlovski trying to control the position from guard on top but Kasparov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
arlovski wants to stand but Kasparov has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Kasparov wants to stand up but arlovski is controlling him.
fedor arlovski has got the better of the ground game so far.
arlovski trying to control but Kasparov is working from the bottom.
Kasparov is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst arlovski is controlling him.

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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kasparov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nice sprawl there from arlovski as Kasparov shoots in.

arlovski closes the distance and clinches.
arlovski wants a takedown.
Igor Kasparov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of fedor arlovski.
Kasparov prevents a body shot from arlovski.
Kasparov drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kasparov wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from arlovski.
arlovski prevents Kasparov from breaking the clinch.

arlovski gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
arlovski chips away with some ground and pound.
arlovski controls from within his opponent's guard.
arlovski slips nicely into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with arlovski in particular looking to stall.
Igor Kasparov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kasparov keeping control of the position.
Kasparov is trying to get back to full guard.

Kasparov kicks off arlovski and gets to his feet.
Kasparov misses with an uppercut.

Kasparov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Kasparov pushing down on arlovski's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Ground and pound from Kasparov.
arlovski trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
arlovski is trying to stand.
arlovski is trying to control but can't.
Kasparov stops arlovski from getting back to his feet.
Kasparov works his way into full mount!
arlovski is looking to improve his position but Kasparov isn't that keen on the idea.
arlovski regains half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kasparov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Kasparov seems to be working for a kimura but arlovski defends the submission attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Igor Kasparov showed his dominance in that final round.
I think arlovski 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... fedor arlovski!