PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Arones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mr Joshua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Arones comes to the cage accompanied by Lonely is the night. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Arones
vs
Joshua

190 cm
20
265 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

193 cm
21
255 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Gabriel Arones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mr Joshua!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, John Mangel and Chris Dean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Joshua just misses with a punch to the body.
Arones tries for a takedown but Joshua circles away easily
and Arones takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Arones throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Joshua tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Arones is in Joshua's guard.
Joshua is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Arones trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Arones 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.
Arones pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Joshua is keeping the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arones is working hard here to advance position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Joshua can do anything to dispel that myth.
Joshua keeping moving, preventing Arones from controlling successfully.
Arones with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arones throwing strikes from guard but Joshua blocks nicely.
Arones pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Joshua is keeping the position for now.
Arones 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.

Arones drops back looking for a leg! Joshua is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Joshua manages to kick Arones off! Arones jumps back into Joshua's guard.
Arones slips nicely into half guard.
Arones tries to pass the half guard into mount. Joshua knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Arones missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Arones wants to work for an arm triangle but Joshua is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Arones passes to side control.

Arones tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Joshua is trying to control Arones's posture but Arones avoids it.
Arones looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Joshua is avoiding damage well.
Arones scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Joshua to see if he's OK.
Joshua gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

Arones looking to secure an arm triangle but Joshua defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joshua is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Arones fails to move to back control.

Arones looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Joshua avoids a series of strikes thrown by Arones.

Arones goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Joshua is on top in guard.

Arones looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Joshua passes into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arones is looking for a sweep.
Arones is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Joshua is trying to control the action in half guard but Arones is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Joshua prevents Arones from improving his position.

Arones looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Arones is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Joshua jumps into side control!
What's Arones going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Arones dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Arones shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Arones trying to mount his opponent but Joshua defends it.
Gabriel Arones overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Joshua is staying active underneath Arones, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Arones trying to mount his opponent but Joshua defends it.
Joshua keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Arones is looking for a kimura but Joshua is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Arones to get the leverage.
Arones wants to lay and pray for a moment but Joshua keeps working.

Arones is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Joshua doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Arones.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Arones connects with a nice short shot to Joshua's temple.
Arones wants to lay and pray for a moment but Joshua keeps working.
Arones is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Arones trying to advance position but Joshua counters by regaining guard.
Joshua can't keep his opponent in guard - Arones advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Arones passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Joshua!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Arones goes for an armbar but Joshua turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Joshua.

Arones is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Joshua defends well.
Arones is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Arones is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joshua wants to control but Arones is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Arones trying to pass the guard but Joshua defending well.
Joshua trying to hold on to Arones's head to control him but Arones postures up.

Arones is working for a submission of some sort.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Joshua is in trouble now - Arones has advanced to mount!

Arones goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Joshua turns into him and now he's in Arones's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Arones looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Joshua has picked Arones up and slammed him! Arones can't keep hold of the triangle and Joshua manages to pass to side control!
Arones is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Arones is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Petersen's Party Place, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Joshua moves into full mount!
Joshua prevents Arones from getting the reversal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Arones dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Arones fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Joshua leaves Arones with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Arones misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gabriel Arones. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Joshua lands a lovely overhand right.
Arones with a lazy takedown attempt
and Joshua counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Arones goes for a double leg but Joshua avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Joshua continues to drive forward.
Joshua scores with the left hand. Arones knows he should have avoided that one.

It looks like Gabriel Arones has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arones looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Arones fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Arones shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Joshua napping and manages to drive through into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arones has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Joshua!
Arones takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Joshua is in all sorts of trouble here.
Arones trying to control but Joshua is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Arones thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Arones controlling the position easily from mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Arones cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Arones goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Joshua is on top in guard.

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

Arones looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Joshua has picked Arones up and slammed him! Arones can't keep hold of the triangle and Joshua manages to pass to side control!
Joshua trying to control the position but Arones is working away.
Arones is trying to work for a sweep but Joshua has mounted him!
Joshua looking to control but Arones is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Arones wants to hold on but Joshua pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arones regains half guard.

Arones is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Joshua pulls his head out easily.
Arones wants to get back to full guard but Joshua has passed into side control.
Arones is looking for a sweep.
Arones wants to control but Joshua postures up.
Arones tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Joshua wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arones is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Joshua off and has taken his back!

Arones is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Joshua defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Arones is landing with strikes from the back.

Arones is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Joshua is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Gabriel Arones.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Arones, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gabriel Arones!