PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between CTO XYEB (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrei Arlovski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

XYEB
vs
Arlovski

186 cm
18
224 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
22
230 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite 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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, CTO XYEB!
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, Andrei Arlovski!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
XYEB checks a low kick from Arlovski.
Arlovski changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. XYEB tries to avoid it but Arlovski manages to keep hold of a leg and drag XYEB to the ground. XYEB escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Arlovski closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming XYEB to the mat! XYEB manages to get full guard.
Arlovski trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Arlovski is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
XYEB wants to stand and escape but Arlovski is having none of it.
XYEB is trying to keep Arlovski in close.
Arlovski is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Arlovski must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Arlovski stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. XYEB swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
XYEB manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Arlovski manages to get himself to full guard.
XYEB trying to control but Arlovski is working from the bottom.
XYEB tries to free his leg and advance position but Arlovski is retaining full guard.
Arlovski has momentary wrist control but XYEB slips an elbow through the middle.
XYEB trying to stand up but can't free himself from Arlovski's guard.
XYEB wants to stand and escape but instead Arlovski has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
XYEB might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
XYEB keeping full guard, as Arlovski tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arlovski won't allow XYEB to get back to his feet.
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 and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. XYEB swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

XYEB looking for a guillotine here but Arlovski defends easily.
Arlovski with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arlovskiis looking to pass into half guard but XYEB pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now XYEB is in guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Arlovski can do anything to dispel that myth.
Arlovski will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
XYEB throws a big right hand that misses.
XYEB preventing the sweep.
Arlovski is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Arlovski circles away from the clinch attempt.
XYEB tries to close the distance and clinch up but Arlovski swats him away and circles back towards the center.

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.
XYEB shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Arlovski counters by clinching up.

XYEB manages to break the clinch.
Arlovski misses with a body kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Arlovski looks gassed!

Arlovski breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
XYEB swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Arlovski counters with a shoot takedown. XYEB fights it but they end up in guard.
XYEB looking to hit a scissor sweep but Arlovski is one step ahead there.
Arlovski tries to free his leg and advance position but XYEB is retaining full guard.
Arlovski trying to control the position from guard on top but XYEB is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrei Arlovski dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

XYEB throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Arlovski tries for a takedown but XYEB circles away easily

and XYEB counters with a single leg into guard. Arlovski didn't expect that.
XYEB is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
XYEB trying to control but Arlovski is working from the bottom.
Arlovski is breathing heavily.
Arlovski is trying to control the position from the bottom.
XYEB wants to control from the top but Arlovski keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
XYEB is stalling in the full guard.
XYEB wants to control from the top but Arlovski keeps moving.
XYEB trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Arlovski displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from XYEB.
XYEB clinches but Arlovski breaks the clinch

and Arlovski counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
XYEB controls Arlovski momentarily but Arlovski frees himself.
Arlovski trying to control but XYEB is working from the bottom.
Arlovski preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
XYEB is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
XYEB is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

XYEB gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

XYEB pulls guard effortlessly.
XYEB is looking to stand up but Arlovski isn't so interested in that idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
XYEB looking to hit a scissor sweep but Arlovski is one step ahead there.
Andrei Arlovski has got the better of the ground game so far.
XYEB wants to improve his position but instead Arlovski has moved into half guard.
XYEB is refusing to be controlled, as Arlovski sits in half guard.
XYEB is trying to control but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

CTO XYEB dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

XYEB shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. XYEB showed some decent athleticism there.
XYEB wants to lay and pray for a moment but Arlovski keeps working.
Arlovski gets back to full guard.
Arlovski manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. XYEB manages to get himself to full guard.
Arlovski postures up.
Arlovski takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
XYEB striking off his back but it's not causing Arlovski any problems.

XYEB looking for a guillotine here but Arlovski defends easily.
Arlovski tries to free his leg and advance position but XYEB is retaining full guard.
XYEB keeping moving, preventing Arlovski from controlling successfully.
Arlovski trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Arlovski got a little sloppy there for a moment and XYEB has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Arlovski has managed to get both his arms back between XYEB's legs - danger averted.
Arlovski tries to free his leg and advance position but XYEB is retaining full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
XYEB digs a good hook to Arlovski's body.

XYEB gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A frustrated look appears on XYEB's face as he tries to break the clinch.
XYEB is trying to break free.
A nice left hand lands by XYEB.
Arlovski managing to block the knees to the body from XYEB.

XYEB successfully pulls guard.
Arlovski wants to pass the guard but XYEB is keeping the position.

XYEB escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Arlovski gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arlovski throws and elbow that misses. XYEB uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Arlovski's guard. Nice move by XYEB!

XYEB decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
XYEB tries to clinch but Arlovski is having none of it.
Arlovski takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Arlovski clinches but XYEB breaks the clinch

and XYEB counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Arlovski's guard now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
XYEB looking to pass the guard.
Arlovski is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
XYEB works over Arlovski with some ground and pound from guard.
XYEB throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Arlovski works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
XYEB stands and throws Arlovski's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Arlovski is trying to work for a sweep but XYEB has mounted him!

And that's the end of the fight!
CTO XYEB showed his dominance in that final round.
Well XYEB has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... CTO XYEB!