PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Andrei Arshavin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vitor Vilas Novas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Arshavin might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to The Arsenal Mastermind. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Arshavin
vs
Vilas Novas

175 cm
20
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
19
187 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight 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, Andrei Arshavin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vitor Vilas Novas!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Daniel Franklin and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Arshavin rushes Vilas Novas and presses him up against the cage.

Arshavin breaks from the clinch.
Vilas Novas wants to clinch but Arshavin slips to the side
and Arshavin counters with a head kick. That will keep Vilas Novas thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Arshavin lands a nice hook to Vilas Novas's body. Vilas Novas takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Arshavin uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Arshavin throws a series of strikes that have Vilas Novas backpedaling.

Arshavin closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Arshavin's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Vilas Novas stalling in the clinch but Arshavin improves position.
Arshavin stalls.

Arshavin breaks the clinch.

Arshavin rushes Vilas Novas and presses him up against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Arshavin crunches a lovely knee into Vilas Novas's ribcage.

Arshavin manages to break the clinch.

Arshavin moves into range and clinches up with Vilas Novas.

Arshavin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Arshavin scores with a one two! Vilas Novas had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vilas Novas tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Arshavin counters with a one-two to the body.
Andrei Arshavin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Arshavin avoids the head kick by Vilas Novas.
Arshavin circles away from the clinch attempt
and Arshavin counters with a good low kick that Vilas Novas was not able to check.
Vilas Novas tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Arshavin counters with a big head kick but Vilas Novas shrugs it off.
Vilas Novas closes the distance but Arshavin moves to the side
and Arshavin counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Vilas Novas thinking.
Arshavin works Vilas Novas's body with a nice hook.
Vilas Novas looks gassed!
Arshavin dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Vilas Novas. That did some damage!

Arshavin has taken the fight to the clinch.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arshavin throws a quick inside leg kick.
Arshavin lets loose with a powerful body kick. Vilas Novas will feel that in the morning.

Arshavin rushes Vilas Novas and presses him up against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Arshavin leaning his opponent against the cage.
Arshavin lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
A short body shot lands from Arshavin as the two fighters clinch.
Arshavin stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Arshavin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Arshavin scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Arshavin thows a body kick. Vilas Novas tries to catch it but that hurt him.

Arshavin clinches up with Vilas Novas and pushes him back against the cage.

Arshavin breaks the clinch.

Arshavin moves into range and clinches up with Vilas Novas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arshavin works on Vilas Novas's body with a couple of short punches.

Arshavin breaks the clinch.
Vilas Novas takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Arshavin drives through and clinches with Vilas Novas against the cage.
Arshavin slows down the pace here.

Arshavin manages to break the clinch.
Arshavin circles away from the clinch attempt
and Arshavin makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

Arshavin closes the distance and clinches.

Arshavin manages to break the clinch.
Arshavin lands with a straight right. Vilas Novas didn't see that one coming.

Arshavin has Vilas Novas up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Arshavin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Arshavin throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Vilas Novas.
Vilas Novas has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Arshavin finds it's way round the side to connect with Vilas Novas's head.

Arshavin instigates a clinch.
Arshavin managing to block the knees to the body from Vilas Novas.

Arshavin breaks from the clinch.
Arshavin lands with a slapping head kick.

Arshavin instigates a clinch.

Arshavin pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Arshavin connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Arshavin throws a shot to the body.

Vilas Novas tries to keep at a distance but Arshavin has taken the fight into the clinch.
Vilas Novas is trying to break the clinch but Arshavin has him pressed against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrei Arshavin dominated that round.
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.

Vilas Novas misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Arshavin ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

Arshavin moves into the clinch.
A short left from Arshavin.

Arshavin manages to break the clinch.
Vilas Novas swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Arshavin counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Arshavin has managed to clinch.

Arshavin pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Arshavin lands with a shot to the body.

Arshavin fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Vilas Novas, pushing him back against the cage.
Good body shot from Arshavin.
Arshavin throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Arshavin scores with a knee to the head.

Arshavin pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Vilas Novas is breathing heavily.

Arshavin clinches up with Vilas Novas and pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arshavin content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Arshavin breaks from the clinch.
Arshavin lands a high kick!

Arshavin forces Vilas Novas back against the cage and clinches.

Arshavin pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Arshavin lands a glancing blow to the side of Vilas Novas's head.

Arshavin has Vilas Novas up against the cage in a clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Arshavin is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Arshavin breaks the clinch.
Arshavin scores with a nice head shot.
Andrei Arshavin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Arshavin takes the fight into the clinch.
Arshavin avoiding damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Arshavin breaks from the clinch.
Arshavin takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Vilas Novas takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Arshavin moves into the clinch.

Arshavin manages to break the clinch.

Arshavin moves into range and clinches up with Vilas Novas.

Arshavin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Vilas Novas wants to clinch but Arshavin slips to the side

and Arshavin counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Arshavin.
Arshavin is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Vilas Novas can do to turn this around?

Arshavin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Arshavin displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Arshavin stalks Vilas Novas and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Vilas Novas's face. Vilas Novas staggers backwards, shaken.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vilas Novas tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Arshavin counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arshavin prevents Vilas Novas from breaking the clinch.
Arshavin just leaning against Vilas Novas, taking a breather.

Arshavin breaks from the clinch.
Vilas Novas on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Andrei Arshavin is winning the standup battle so far.
Vilas Novas moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Arshavin works over Vilas Novas's head and body with a nice combination.
Arshavin scores with the left hand. Vilas Novas knows he should have avoided that one.

Arshavin moves into range and clinches up with Vilas Novas.

Arshavin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Vilas Novas tries to clinch up
and Arshavin counters with a stiff right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arshavin lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Arshavin is working the combinations to good effect here.

Arshavin clinches.
A knee to the head by Arshavin.
Arshavin scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Arshavin breaks from the clinch.
Arshavin circles away from the clinch attempt

and Arshavin moves into the clinch.
Vilas Novas being controlled against the cage.

Arshavin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Arshavin has managed to clinch.
Arshavin stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrei Arshavin dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Arshavin plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Vilas Novas shoots and misses
and Arshavin counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Vilas Novas misses with a takedown attempt - Arshavin sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Arshavin clinches.
Arshavin stalling the fight.
Andrei Arshavin has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Arshavin scores with a shot to the side of Vilas Novas's head.

Arshavin breaks from the clinch.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Arshavin!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Arshavin lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Vilas Novas takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Arshavin thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Vilas Novas if he has to take too many more of those.
Arshavin throws a head kick that half lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vilas Novas wants to clinch

and Arshavin counters by moving into the clinch.
Arshavin has Vilas Novas pushed against the cage.
Vilas Novas is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Andrei Arshavin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vitor Vilas Novas.
Arshavin lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Arshavin avoiding damage.
Arshavin scores with a shot to the side of Vilas Novas's head.
Arshavin will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Vilas Novas up against the cage.
Arshavin avoids the elbow strike from Vilas Novas, against the cage.
Arshavin stalling against the cage.
Arshavin using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Vitor Vilas Novas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vilas Novas has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knees to the body from Arshavin.

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

Vilas Novas tries to keep at a distance but Arshavin has taken the fight into the clinch.
Vilas Novas letting Arshavin take a breather here.

Arshavin manages to break the clinch.

Arshavin has taken the fight to the clinch.
Good body shot from Arshavin.
Vilas Novas trying to stall but Arshavin improves his position.

Arshavin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Arshavin landing knees to the body.
Arshavin displaying some good clinch control by pressing Vilas Novas up against the cage.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arshavin lands with a slapping head kick.

Arshavin gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Arshavin breaks the clinch.
Vilas Novas takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Vilas Novas tries to clinch up

and Arshavin counters by moving into the clinch.
The referee calls for Arshavin to work.
Arshavin scores a nice knee to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Arshavin.
Arshavin pushes Vilas Novas back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Arshavin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arshavin moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Vilas Novas closes the distance but Arshavin moves to the side
and Arshavin counters with a head kick. That will keep Vilas Novas thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Vilas Novas wants to clinch but Arshavin slips to the side

and Arshavin counters by moving into the clinch.

Arshavin breaks the clinch.
Vilas Novas throws a hook but Arshavin blocks it.
Arshavin with a hook.

Arshavin forces Vilas Novas back against the cage and clinches.
Arshavin stalling in the clinch.

Arshavin breaks the clinch.
Arshavin chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Vilas Novas fails to land with a series of punches.
Andrei Arshavin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Arshavin lands with a nice body punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andrei Arshavin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Arshavin has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 30:24
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:24
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:24

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andrei Arshavin!