PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Frank Mir (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrei Arlovskii (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Mir
vs
Arlovskii

191 cm
21
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

220 cm
27
270 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
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, Frank Mir!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Andrei Arlovskii!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Fedor Mirinova and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Arlovskii tries for a takedown but Mir circles away easily
and Mir counters with a straight right hand.
Mir misses with a combination

and Arlovskii holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Mir tries to pull guard but Arlovskii won't allow it.
Arlovskii blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Arlovskii blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Arlovskii goes for a takedown in the clinch but Mir prevents it.

Arlovskii manages to break the clinch.

Arlovskii shoots in and bounces Mir off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Mir keeping moving, preventing Arlovskii from controlling successfully.
Mir is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arlovskii preventing the sweep.
Mir trying to keep a closed guard but Arlovskii is proving a slippery customer.

Mir throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Arlovskii escapes and throws Mir's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Arlovskii wants to control but Mir is keeping him busy.
Mir has one of Arlovskii's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Mir regains half guard.
Arlovskii tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Mir.
Arlovskii prevents Mir from improving his position.

Mir is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Arlovskii pulls his head out easily.
Mir avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Arlovskii.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arlovskii trying to control the action but Mir is working from the bottom.
Mir punching from the bottom.
Mir is breathing heavily.
Mir is looking to escape.
Arlovskii is trying to control the action in half guard but Mir is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Arlovskii working over Mir with some ground and pound. Mir looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Arlovskii wants to control but Mir is keeping him busy.
Arlovskii tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Arlovskii wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mir keeps working.
Mir might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's four 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.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Mir misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Arlovskii wants to free his trapped foot but Mir is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Mir has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Arlovskii is working away from the top position though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Arlovskii is defended easily by Mir.
Frank Mir has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andrei Arlovskii.

Arlovskii changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Mir looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrei Arlovskii dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Arlovskii with a lazy takedown attempt

and Mir decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Arlovskii's guard.

Mir gets to his feet. Arlovskii looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Arlovskii has managed to clinch.
Mir has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Arlovskii avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Arlovskii has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Mir regains guard immediately.
Arlovskii really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mir. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Arlovskii 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.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mir is on top in guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Arlovskii trying to keep a closed guard but Mir is proving a slippery customer.
Mir wants to control from the top but Arlovskii keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arlovskii is pulling down on Mir's head to control his posture.
Mir pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Arlovskii is keeping the position for now.
Mir throws a strike but Arlovskii rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Mir looking to hit a scissor sweep but Arlovskii is one step ahead there.

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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Arlovskii trying to control the position from guard on top but Mir is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mir controls Arlovskii momentarily but Arlovskii frees himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mir pulls Arlovskii in close to prevent any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Frank Mir wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Arlovskii lands a head kick!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arlovskii gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Mir counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Mir.
Mir controlling from the top position.

Mir stands and steps away. Arlovskii gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Mir throws a sloppy head kick

and Arlovskii counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Arlovskii wants to free his trapped foot but Mir is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mir trying to control here.
Arlovskii slows the pace down in half guard.
Arlovskii tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Arlovskii postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Mir to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Frank Mir will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Mir tries to clinch but Arlovskii moves away

and Arlovskii counters by clinching up.
Mir prevents a takedown attempt there.
Mir has Arlovskii pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Arlovskii manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Mir takes an elbow to the temple.

Arlovskii breaks the clinch.

Arlovskii darts in and clinches Mir up against the cage.
Arlovskii tries to pull guard but Mir holds him up against the cage and eventually Arlovskii drops back down to his feet.
Mir tries to break the clinch but Arlovskii is controlling the position.
Mir has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Arlovskii avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mir is trying to stall.

Arlovskii manages to break the clinch.

Mir closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Mir is looking to take a break and control but Arlovskii is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arlovskii wants to control but Mir is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Mir has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Arlovskii defend it? Mir steps over the head and cranks it - Arlovskii is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Mir!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:37 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Frank Mir!