PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Frank Mir (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrei Arlovski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Andrei Arlovski told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Mir
vs
Arlovski

190 cm
24
240 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

190 cm
24
220 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue 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 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Frank Mir!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Andrei Arlovski!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Gwen Towbar and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Arlovski is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Mir's half guard.
Jeez, both these guys look absolutely knackered already, that's not a good sign!
Arlovski tries to stand but can't do so whilst Mir controls his leg.
Mir trying to hold on to Arlovski's head to control him but Arlovski postures up.
Arlovski throwing shots but Mir is blocking nicely.
Mir manages to get to full guard.
Mir controlling Arlovski's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mir is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Arlovski trying to control the position from guard on top but Mir is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Mir has his foot on Arlovski's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Arlovski works his way back into a safe position though.
Arlovski pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mir is keeping the position for now.
Arlovski in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mir looking for a guillotine here but Arlovski defends easily.
Mir manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Arlovski squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Arlovski wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Arlovski wants to get back to his feet.

Mir has his opponent's back but Arlovski is looking to stand. He manages to get to his feet and shakes off Mir.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mir with a lazy takedown attempt

and Arlovski counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Arlovski is looking to stand up but Mir won't let him.

Mir is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Arlovski defends well.
Mir wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Arlovski looking to pass the guard.
Arlovski trying to control but Mir is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arlovski wanted to stand there but Mir had control of the position.
Mir is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Mir throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Mir is thwarting Arlovski's attempts to control the position.

Arlovski is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Mir pulls his head out easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Andrei Arlovski will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Mir keeps the fight on the outside.
Andrei Arlovski seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Arlovski misses with a takedown attempt

and Mir counters with a single leg into guard. Arlovski didn't expect that.
Mir postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mir accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Arlovski trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Arlovski looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Miris looking to pass into half guard but Arlovski pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Arlovski is in guard.
Mir keeping moving, preventing Arlovski from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Mir has his foot on Arlovski's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Arlovski works his way back into a safe position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mir trying to control the position here.
Arlovski wants to get up but he can't break Mir's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Arlovski gets to his feet - Mir follows without any prompting.
Arlovski with a poor takedown

and Mir counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Arlovski!
Arlovski sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Arlovski trying to control but Mir postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mir tries to pass to full mount but Arlovski defends it.
Still in half guard, Mir seems content to control.
Mir is looking to take a break and control but Arlovski is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Arlovski actively working from the bottom here.

Mir is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Mir missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arlovski tries to roll over but Mir keeps him under control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Arlovski fails with the takedown

and Mir counters with a takedown into side control.
Frank Mir has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andrei Arlovski.
Arlovski manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Arlovski wants to control but Mir is keeping him busy.

Arlovski is looking for a kimura here.
Arlovski throwing shots but Mir is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mir is looking for a sweep. Arlovski is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Arlovski stands up and beckons Mir to join him on the feet.
Arlovski tries for a takedown but Mir circles away easily

and Mir counters with a nice double leg into side control. Arlovski won't be happy with that.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mir tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Arlovski sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Mir dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Arlovski gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Mir counters with a nice uppercut.

Arlovski bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Arlovski wants to stand but Mir is controlling his arm.
Mir is trying to get back to half guard.
Arlovski is looking to take a break and control but Mir is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Arlovski scoring with punches from side control.
Arlovski working away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arlovski tries to stand but Mir is controlling his head.
Mir takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Mir tries to get back to half guard but can't.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Arlovski shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Mir counters with a shoot takedown. Arlovski fights it but they end up in guard.
Mir trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Mir 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.
Arlovski keeping full guard, as Mir tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arlovski is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Arlovski wants to stand up but Mir is controlling him.
Mir trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Arlovski throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Mir escapes and throws Arlovski's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Arlovski is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Mir thows a body shot but no joy.
Mir misses with a takedown

and Arlovski decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Mir's guard.
Mir keeping moving, preventing Arlovski from controlling successfully.
Mir keeping full guard, as Arlovski tries to pass.
Arlovski thows a big elbow that misses.
Arlovski must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Mir looking for a sweep. Not yet Mir, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arlovski postures up.

Mir is looking for a triangle but Arlovski pushes his legs off easily.

Arlovski stands and steps away. Mir gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Mir tries for a takedown but Arlovski circles away easily

and Arlovski counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Mir looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Arlovski has picked Mir up and slammed him! Mir can't keep hold of the triangle and Arlovski manages to pass to side control!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Arlovski trying to control the action but Mir is working from the bottom.
Mir struggling a bit here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andrei Arlovski comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 George Francis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andrei Arlovski!