PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Rafael Mendes (ranked 4362 p4p, 97 weight class) and Andrey Arlovski (ranked 24495 p4p, 230 weight class). Andrey Arlovski will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Mendes
vs
Arlovski

175 cm
27
143 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

218 cm
26
300 lbs
11 - 2 - 0

Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rafael Mendes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Andrey Arlovski!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Tiny Johnson and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Arlovski misses with a body kick.
An attempted straight right counter from Mendes misses the target.
Arlovski tries to clinch up.
An attempted straight right counter from Mendes misses the target.
Arlovski tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Mendes rushes Arlovski and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Arlovski misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Arlovski throws a head punch that misses.
Mendes trying to land knees to the body.
Arlovski tries to break the clinch but Mendes is controlling the position.
Mendes tries to land knees in the clinch but Arlovski avoids the damage to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendes misses with a body punch.
Arlovski wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Mendes has him pressed against the ropes.
Arlovski trying to stall but Mendes improves his position.
Arlovski managing to block the knees to the body from Mendes.
Arlovski is looking to control Mendes's arms but Mendes gets an underhook and turns him. Now Arlovski has his back to the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes has Arlovski pressed against the ropes, preventing Arlovski from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Mendes blocks a body shot from Arlovski.
Mendes trying to land knees to the body.
Mendes tries to throw a body punch but Arlovski avoids it by throwing Mendes back against the ropes.
Arlovski looking to slow down the pace here.
Mendes using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Arlovski has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Mendes has Arlovski pressed against the ropes, preventing Arlovski from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Arlovski displaying some good clinch control by pressing Mendes up against the ropes.
Knees in the clinch landing for Arlovski.
Arlovski swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendes misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Mendes.
Arlovski looks to throw an elbow but misses.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Arlovski tries to circle away but Mendes has him pinned against the ropes.
Arlovski wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Mendes tries to land knees in the clinch but Arlovski avoids the damage to the body.
Arlovski blocks a body shot from Mendes.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Mendes as Arlovski tries to tie him up.

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

Mendes tries to keep at a distance but Arlovski has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arlovski tries to land a knee to the head but Mendes blocks with his arms.
Arlovski is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Mendes trying to land knees to the body.
Arlovski is looking to control Mendes's arms but Mendes gets an underhook and turns him. Now Arlovski has his back to the ropes.
Arlovski doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Mendes blocks a body shot from Arlovski.
Arlovski will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Mendes up against the ropes.
Mendes lands an elbow inside that Arlovski shrugs off.
Arlovski has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Arlovski has had enough of the clinch but Mendes keeps him there for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arlovski tries to break free but Mendes pushes him back against the ropes.
Mendes tries a body shot but Arlovski blocks it.
Mendes keeps control of Arlovski as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Mendes tries to land knees in the clinch but Arlovski avoids the damage to the body.
Arlovski is trying to force a seperation but Mendes has the dominant position.
Arlovski prevents a body shot from Mendes.
Arlovski scores a nice knee to the body.
Mendes is working Arlovski over against the ropes.
Arlovski avoiding damage as Mendes throws knees to the body.
Arlovski misses with some punches.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Arlovski misses with a hook from the clinch.
Arlovski working hard to break the clinch.
Arlovski is trying to break the clinch but Mendes has him pressed against the ropes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Andrey Arlovski will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Arlovski tries a head kick but it misses.
Arlovski misses with a head kick.
Arlovski tries a head kick but it misses.

Mendes has Arlovski up against the ropes in a clinch.
Arlovski looking to throw knees to the head but Mendes is blocking nicely.
Mendes trying to land knees to the body.
Arlovski wants to get back to striking at distance but Mendes won't allow it.
Arlovski tries to break the clinch but Mendes is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice body punch from Mendes - that landed with a thud.
Mendes throws a punch but it's blocked by Arlovski.
Arlovski tries to land knees in the clinch but Mendes avoids the damage to the body.
Nice body punch from Mendes - that landed with a thud.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes tries a body shot but Arlovski blocks it.
Mendes tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Mendes doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Arlovski can't break the clinch.
Mendes throws a punch but it's blocked by Arlovski.
Arlovski is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Mendes is defending well for now.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Mendes just misses with a elbow thrown towards Arlovski's brow.
Mendes makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Mendes misses with a knee strike.
Arlovski is trying to push Mendes away but Mendes has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Mendes tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Mendes tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Arlovski prevents a body shot from Mendes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arlovski blocking some punches.
Arlovski tries to stall but Mendes uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Arlovski breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Arlovski misses with a jab, cross combination.
Andrey Arlovski seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Arlovski throws a push kick but Mendes slaps the foot to one side.
Arlovski ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mendes moves away.
An attempted straight right counter from Mendes misses the target.

Mendes pushes Arlovski up against the ropes in a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Arlovski's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Arlovski has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Mendes tries to work over Arlovski's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Mendes using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Arlovski has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Arlovski looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Arlovski wants to get back to striking at distance but Mendes won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Mendes.
Arlovski tries to break free but Mendes pushes him back against the ropes.
Arlovski is trying to maintain a safe position but Mendes gets an underhook and turns Arlovski into the ropes.
Mendes tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Arlovski avoids it.
Arlovski avoids the elbow strike from Mendes, against the ropes.
Rafael Mendes has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Mendes can't find room to land a body shot as Arlovski controls the action.
Arlovski is trying to maintain a safe position but Mendes gets an underhook and turns Arlovski into the ropes.
Arlovski is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Mendes is defending well for now.
Mendes can't find room to land a body shot as Arlovski controls the action.
Mendes has Arlovski pressed against the ropes, preventing Arlovski from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Arlovski wants to break free but Mendes has control.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Mendes using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Arlovski has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

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.
Mendes is working Arlovski over against the ropes.
Mendes using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Arlovski has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Arlovski's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Arlovski fails in his attempt to clinch.

Mendes clinches.
Arlovski is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Mendes misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Arlovski.
Mendes throws a punch but it's blocked by Arlovski.
Mendes struggles to land a body shot inside as Arlovski controls his hands.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Arlovski is trying to force a seperation but Mendes has the dominant position.
Arlovski wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Mendes has him pressed against the ropes.
Mendes misses with a hook from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Mendes dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Arlovski tries a low kick but Mendes avoids it.
Arlovski lands a head kick!

It looks like Rafael Mendes has been cut.
Mendes checks a low kick from Arlovski.
Arlovski wants to clinch.
Arlovski misses with a low kick.
Mendes was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

Mendes gets a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arlovski wants to break the clinch but can't.
Arlovski has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Mendes putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Arlovski in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Mendes tries a knee to the head but Arlovski blocks it.
Arlovski stalling in the clinch but Mendes improves position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arlovski is trying to break the clinch but Mendes has him pressed against the ropes.

Arlovski escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nice defenses there by Mendes.
It looked like Mendes wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Mendes avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Mendes was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

Mendes instigates a clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Mendes.
Mendes keeps control of Arlovski as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Mendes throws a punch but it's blocked by Arlovski.
Mendes misses with an elbow strike.
Mendes misses with a short punch on the inside.
Arlovski blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Arlovski tries a knee to the head but Mendes blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendes throws a knee to the head but misses.
Mendes tries a body shot but Arlovski blocks it.
Arlovski tries to work over Mendes's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Mendes throws an elbow but it misses.
Mendes is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Arlovski is defending well for now.
Mendes tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Arlovski avoids it.
A frustrated look appears on Arlovski's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Mendes keeps control of Arlovski as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Mendes tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Arlovski wants to break free but Mendes has control.
Mendes tries to land knees in the clinch but Arlovski avoids the damage to the body.
Mendes throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Arlovski blocks it with crossed arms.
Mendes throws an elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arlovski is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Mendes tries a knee to the head but Arlovski blocks it.
Arlovski is trying to push Mendes away but Mendes has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Mendes prevents Arlovski from breaking the clinch.
Arlovski blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Mendes tries to land knees in the clinch but Arlovski avoids the damage to the body.
Arlovski working hard to break the clinch.
Mendes struggles to land a body shot inside as Arlovski controls his hands.
Arlovski blocking some punches.

Arlovski pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Arlovski is looking to clinch.

Mendes clinches up with Arlovski and pushes him back against the ropes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arlovski is trying to stall.
Mendes tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Mendes tries to throw a body punch but Arlovski avoids it by throwing Mendes back against the ropes.
Arlovski taking a breather.
Mendes keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Arlovski's efforts to push away.
Mendes tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Arlovski avoids it.
Arlovski is looking to break free of the clinch but Mendes has double underhooks.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Mendes as Arlovski tries to tie him up.
Mendes is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Arlovski can do to turn this around?
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Arlovski is trying to push Mendes away but Mendes has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
A left hand lands to the body for Mendes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rafael Mendes showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mendes has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Mendes!
A relieved looking Rafael Mendes thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.