PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between David Araiza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Slider (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.

Araiza
vs
Slider

190 cm
18
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
21
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Malicious Intent Fight Gear
Malicious Intent Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, David Araiza!
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, Mark Slider!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Frank Dennis and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Slider drives through and clinches with Araiza against the cage.
Slider wants to break free but Araiza has control.

Araiza jumps guard.
Slider postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Araiza looking to hit a scissor sweep but Slider is one step ahead there.
Slider postures up.
Araiza looking to hit a scissor sweep but Slider is one step ahead there.
Slider trying to control but Araiza is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Slider postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Slider controlling from the top position.
Slider stops Araiza from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Araiza finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Slider keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
David Araiza seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Slider wants to clinch up but Araiza keeps it at a distance.
A solid body kick from Slider.
Slider is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Slider stuffs the takedown.
Araiza shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for David Araiza. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Araiza is breathing heavily.
Araiza tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Slider counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Slider.
Araiza being controlled here, momentarily.
Araiza looking to hit a scissor sweep but Slider is one step ahead there.
Slider is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Araiza looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Slider drops back looking for a leg! Araiza is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Araiza manages to kick Slider off! Slider jumps back into Araiza's guard.
Araiza wants to stand up but Slider is controlling him.

Slider stands up and waves to Araiza to follow him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Araiza throws a right and a left that Slider avoids nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Araiza takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Slider stuffs the takedown.

Slider shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Araiza wants to get back to his feet.
Araiza blocking the ground and pound attempt from Slider.
Araiza is pressing down on Slider's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Slider stops Araiza from standing up.
Araiza looking for a sweep. Not yet Araiza, not yet.
Araiza working a defensive guard here.
Slider trying to control but Araiza is working from the bottom.
Slider postures up in Araiza's guard and throws a big left but Araiza blocks it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Araiza shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Slider is refusing to be controlled, as Araiza sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Araiza tries to stand but can't do so whilst Slider controls his leg.
Araiza knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Slider on the ground.
Araiza wants to take a breather but Slider is having none of it.
Slider is trying to stand back up but Araiza is controlling him

Slider pushes Araiza off and gets back to his feet.
Slider looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Araiza is fending him off so far but Slider persists. Nope, Araiza circles away and we're back to standing.
Araiza darts in trying to clinch
and Slider finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Araiza lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Araiza.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Araiza closes the distance but Slider moves to the side

and Slider counters with a nice double leg into side control. Araiza won't be happy with that.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Araiza manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Slider makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Slider.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Slider dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Slider scores a takedown into full mount!
Slider can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Araiza is looking to escape.
Poor strikes thrown by Slider there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Araiza is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Araiza blocking the ground and pound.
Araiza tries to control Slider's head but Slider pushes him back down and moves quickly to lock up an arm here - he's swung around for an armbar! Will he get it??? Yes! Araiza is tapping out! Lovely Jiu Jitsu there!
Araiza working to try and regain half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Araiza wants to hold on but Slider pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Slider looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Slider sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Slider misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Araiza really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Araiza avoids a series of strikes thrown by Slider.

Slider has hold of Araiza's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Araiza manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Araiza throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Slider looking to control and managing it successfully.
Slider trying to control but Araiza is having none of it.

That's two 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.
Slider controlling his opponent.
Araiza holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Slider tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Araiza is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Slider controlling from the full mount.
Araiza is looking to improve his position but Slider isn't that keen on the idea.
Slider controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Araiza keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Slider throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Araiza because Slider loaded up on that one.
Araiza is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Araiza wants to control but Slider is having none of it.
Slider moves to the back position.
Slider biding his time, controlling Araiza.
Araiza rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Araiza is trying to stand back up but Slider is controlling him
Araiza is trying to maintain the position but Slider is very close to passing his half guard.
Araiza wants to get back to full guard.
Araiza controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Slider tries to pass to full mount but Araiza defends it.
Araiza is staying active underneath Slider, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Araiza pushes Slider off looking to stand but Slider dives back in and keeps control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Araiza shoots and misses
and Slider counters with a stiff right hand.
David Araiza is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Araiza has a takedown stuffed.
Araiza with a lazy takedown attempt

and Slider counters by moving into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for David Araiza. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Araiza is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Slider pulls him back up using the underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Slider showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Slider clinches with his opponent.
Araiza drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Slider prevents a takedown attempt there.
Araiza tries to land a knee to the head but Slider blocks with his arms.
Slider drops down looking for an ankle pick but Araiza pulls his leg out and moves away.
Araiza wants to clinch but Slider slips to the side

and Slider counters by clinching up.
Slider lands a nice knee to the body.
Slider is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Slider leaning his opponent against the cage.
Araiza can't break the clinch.
Slider lands an elbow just above Araiza 's eye.

Slider manages to pull guard.
Araiza trying to control but Slider is working from the bottom.
Araiza with a nice head shot there.
Slider takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Araiza is in close to Slider's body, working some short punches and elbows.

It looks like Mark Slider has been cut.

Araiza decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Slider, up you get!

Slider tries to keep at a distance but Araiza has taken the fight into the clinch.
Araiza lands a knee to the head.

Araiza breaks from the clinch.

Slider gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Araiza wants to stand but Slider has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Slider keeping moving, preventing Araiza from controlling successfully.
Araiza wants to pass the guard but Slider is keeping the position.
Araiza has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Araiza is fighting to break Slider's control of his arms but Slider is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Araiza makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slider has his hands on Araiza's head, controlling the position.
Slider bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Araiza's guard.
Araiza not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Slider passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Slider blocks the strikes from Araiza.
Araiza is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Slider taking a breather here.

Slider decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Slider scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Araiza tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Slider in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Araiza throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.

Slider tries for a kimura but Araiza is defending well.
Araiza is trying to buck Slider off.
Araiza trying to control but Slider flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Araiza can't escape the position.
Araiza is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Slider trying to control.
Araiza is trying to break free.
Araiza tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Araiza is looking to get to half guard.
Slider mounts Araiza! Really nice guard pass there!
Araiza holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Slider tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Mark Slider has got the better of the ground game so far.
Araiza sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
David Araiza has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Araiza pushes Slider off looking to stand but Slider dives back in and keeps control.
Araiza landing rabbit punches to the side of Slider's head. Not doing much damage but still scoring a few points.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mark Slider.
Well Slider has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Slider!