PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Carlos Arturo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vlad Stolbov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Arturo
vs
Stolbov

172 cm
20
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

192 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 2 - 2

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Carlos Arturo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Vlad Stolbov!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Edson Gomes and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Arturo rushes Stolbov and presses him up against the cage.
Stolbov misses with an elbow strike.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Arturo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Arturo tries to sprawl but Stolbov drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Arturo trying to control from the bottom.
Arturo is trying to get back to full guard.
Arturo is trying to control but can't.
Arturo on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Stolbov prevents Arturo from standing back up.
Arturo trying to control here.
Stolbov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Arturo's head.
Arturo might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Arturo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Arturo has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Stolbov is working away from the top position though.
Stolbov is looking to advance position but Arturo won't allow it.
Arturo keeping hold of Stolbov's head, controlling as best he can.
Stolbov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Arturo. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Stolbov is taking a breather. Arturo says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Arturo trying to control from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Carlos Arturo just wasn't active enough.
Arturo shoots and misses

and Stolbov counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Arturo is breathing heavily.
Arturo trying to control here.
Stolbov perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Stolbov looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Arturo is pressing down on Stolbov's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Arturo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Stolbov trying to stand up but can't free himself from Arturo's guard.

Arturo is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Stolbov defends well.
Arturo looking to control.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Stolbov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Stolbov's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Arturo really is a fat lump.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Vlad Stolbov has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Arturo shoots in for a takedown but Stolbov shows good takedown defense.

Stolbov rushes Arturo and presses him up against the cage.
Arturo tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carlos Arturo. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Stolbov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Stolbov darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Stolbov moves into range and clinches up with Arturo.
Stolbov makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Stolbov has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Arturo regains guard immediately.
Arturo controls Stolbov momentarily but Stolbov frees himself.
Arturo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Stolbov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Arturo controls Stolbov momentarily but Stolbov frees himself.
Arturo is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Stolbov is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stolbov is stalling in the full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Carlos Arturo wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Arturo moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Nice sprawl there from Arturo as Stolbov shoots in.
Arturo fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Stolbov stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Stolbov wants it to stay on the feet.
Stolbov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two 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.
Stolbov misses with a kick to the body.

Arturo throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Stolbov tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Arturo is in Stolbov's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Stolbov holds on and takes a little breather.
Arturo is pushing down on Stolbov's leg trying to pass to half guard. Stolbov is fighting to maintain full guard but Arturo has managed to sneak the leg through.

Stolbov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Stolbov is looking to control Arturo's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Stolbov avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arturo wants to stand but Stolbov has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Arturo prevents Stolbov from improving his position.
Arturo works his way into full mount!
Stolbov is looking to get to half guard.
Stolbov is squirming around, avoiding Arturo's attempts to control the action.

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.

Arturo looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Stolbov is working to get back to half guard.
Arturo can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Stolbov is looking to escape.
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 Carlos Arturo will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Arturo misses with a head kick.
Arturo closes the distance but Stolbov moves to the side

and Stolbov counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Stolbov.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Arturo working a defensive guard here.
Stolbov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Arturo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Vlad Stolbov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stolbov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Arturo lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Stolbov!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arturo looking to control but Stolbov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Stolbov can do anything to dispel that myth.
Stolbov is looking to get to half guard.
Arturo trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Stolbov swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Arturo trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Stolbov keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Arturo trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Stolbov defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Arturo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arturo prevents Stolbov from getting the reversal.
Stolbov wants to hold on but Arturo pushes him away.
Arturo tries to control but Stolbov wriggling away.
Arturo controlling from the full mount.
Arturo prevents Stolbov from getting the reversal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Arturo wants to control the pace but Stolbov is squirming around nicely.
Arturo looking to control and managing it successfully.
Stolbov is working to get back to half guard.
Stolbov is squirming around, avoiding Arturo's attempts to control the action.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Arturo scores with a couple of good head shots there.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Vlad Stolbov.
Well Stolbov 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Vlad Stolbov!