PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rasheed Hussein (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andre Arlovski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Arlovski has chosen Hunt You Down as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hussein
vs
Arlovski

195 cm
23
256 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

195 cm
23
265 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Made 4 The Cage
Alpha-Omega

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rasheed Hussein!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Andre Arlovski!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Reed Andrews and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hussein misses with an uppercut.
Arlovski shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hussein as he jumps to the side.
Hussein throws a front kick aimed at Arlovski's knee but Arlovski avoids it well.
A head kick misses from Hussein.

Hussein shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Hussein unloading with bombs!
Arlovski working to try and regain half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hussein with the ground and pound from mount.
Arlovski regains half guard.
Arlovski trying to control here.
Hussein has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Hussein wants to pass to mount but Arlovski is defending the position.
Hussein not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Hussein lands a nice short elbow.
Hussein throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hussein throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Arlovski tries to roll over but Hussein keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Arlovski has managed to clinch.

Hussein has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Arlovski uses from the top position.

Hussein throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hussein trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Arlovski wants to control from the top but Hussein keeps moving.

Arlovski drops back looking for a leg! Hussein is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hussein manages to kick Arlovski off! Arlovski jumps back into Hussein's guard.
Arlovski trying to control but Hussein is working from the bottom.
Hussein will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Arlovski stopping the sweep attempt from Hussein.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hussein is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hussein is breathing heavily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hussein lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Hussein avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Arlovski looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hussein jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Arlovski misses with a takedown attempt - Hussein sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rasheed Hussein has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andre Arlovski.
Arlovski misses with a takedown attempt - Hussein sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Arlovski darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Arlovski blocks the strikes from Hussein.

Arlovski is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hussein striking from half guard on the bottom.
Hussein striking from half guard on the bottom.
Arlovski thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hussein's head.
Arlovski not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Hussein looking for submissions off his back.
Arlovski seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hussein does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hussein is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Arlovski.

Arlovski shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Hussein regains half guard.
Arlovski frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Arlovski with the ground and pound from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arlovski scoring with strikes but Hussein is staying in there.
Hussein is in all sorts of trouble here.
Arlovski unloading with bombs!
Hussein is working to get back to half guard.
Arlovski can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hussein is looking to escape.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Arlovski scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Hussein?
Arlovski fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Hussein tries to reverse the position but Arlovski maintains control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hussein gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Hussein throws some shots to the body, keeping his opponent honest.
Arlovski postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Arlovski postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Hussein tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Arlovski landing with the ground and pound.
Arlovski is looking to work some ground and pound but Hussein has wrist control.
Arlovski looking to pass the guard.
Hussein 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.

Hussein is looking for a triangle but Arlovski pushes his legs off easily.
Arlovski cracks Hussein with a solid left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hussein 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.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Arlovski working some strikes from top position.
Hussein throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Hussein keeping full guard, as Arlovski tries to pass.
Arlovski is working Hussein over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Arlovski scoring with some ground and pound.
Arlovski chips away with some ground and pound.
Hussein working a defensive guard here.

Hussein is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Arlovski distracts Hussein with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Hussein can't keep his opponent in guard - Arlovski advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Hussein misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Arlovski is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Arlovski cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Hussein takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Arlovski postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Hussein looks a forlorn figure.
Hussein is bucking up trying to escape but Arlovski cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Arlovski takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Arlovski prevents Hussein from getting the reversal.
Arlovski in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Arlovski with shots to the head and body - Hussein looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hussein flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Hussein manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Arlovski wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hussein keeps working.
Arlovski blocks the strikes from Hussein.
Hussein tries to get to full guard but Arlovski has control of the leg.
Arlovski slips a nice elbow through Hussein's hands, connecting with Hussein's forehead.
Arlovski uses his free foot to push down on Hussein's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Hussein.
Arlovski lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Hussein hang on?
Arlovski landing strikes, looking to finish!
Hussein throwing hammer fists to the chest of Arlovski. What's that going to do exactly?
Arlovski lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Hussein hang on?
Arlovski fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arlovski postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Hussein looks a forlorn figure.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A nice elbow there by Arlovski.
Arlovski looking to control but Hussein is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Hussein is desperately trying to improve his position but Arlovski has a good base and remains in mount.
Hussein slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Arlovski works his foot free and advances to mount.
Hussein tries to hold on but Arlovski postures up.
Hussein tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Arlovski lands a heavy elbow.
Hussein keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andre Arlovski showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Arlovski looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Hussein is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Arlovski pulls his head out easily.
Arlovski looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Hussein tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Arlovski lands strikes from half guard.
Arlovski works his foot free and advances to mount.
Arlovski is landing with some decent strikes but Hussein is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Arlovski blocks Hussein's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Hussein is working to get back to half guard.
Andre Arlovski has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Arlovski can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hussein is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hussein is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Hussein swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Hussein is trying to escape the mount.
Hussein is squirming around, avoiding Arlovski's attempts to control the action.
Arlovski working the ground and pound effectively.
Arlovski punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Hussein taking shots to the head.

Arlovski working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Arlovski cracks Hussein with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Hussein is working to get back to half guard.
Arlovski lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Hussein throwing hammer fists to the chest of Arlovski. What's that going to do exactly?
Hussein tries to hold on but Arlovski postures up.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Arlovski cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Arlovski can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hussein is looking to escape.
Arlovski lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hussein working to try and regain half guard.
Hussein manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Arlovski moves into full mount! Hussein won't be happy about that!
Arlovski unloading with bombs!
Hussein swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Arlovski connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Hussein working to try and regain half guard.
Hussein is squirming around, avoiding Arlovski's attempts to control the action.
Hussein tries to reverse the position but Arlovski maintains control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Hussein wants to hold on but Arlovski pushes him away.
Arlovski lands a heavy elbow.
Arlovski pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Hussein sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Arlovski missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hussein is trying to stand back up but Arlovski is controlling him

Hussein is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Arlovski pulls his head out easily.
Arlovski drops an elbow to the side of Hussein's head.
Arlovski prevents Hussein from improving his position.
Arlovski is nestled in close to Hussein, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Arlovski trying to control the action but Hussein is working from the bottom.
Arlovski passes to full mount!

And that's the end of the fight!
Andre 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight for Andre Arlovski!
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight for Andre Arlovski!
Judge John Roberts scores the fight for Andre Arlovski!

Andre Arlovski wins by unanimous decision!