PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Hin Areni (ranked 1301 p4p, 158 weight class) and Mate Orsic (ranked 2554 p4p, 281 weight class). Areni comes to the cage accompanied by Mosaique. The key to victory for Hin Areni has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Areni
vs
Orsic

169 cm
21
147 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

185 cm
21
162 lbs
4 - 0 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Hin Areni!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mate Orsic!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Daniel Bishop and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Areni slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Areni pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Orsic doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Orsic uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Areni.
Areni punishes Orsic's body with a nice straight punch.
Orsic uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Areni.
Orsic throws a jab but it's blocked by Areni.
Orsic cracks Areni with a right hand to the side of the head.
Areni displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Orsic throws out the jab.
Areni jabs at Orsic's body.
Areni throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Areni throws an overhand right that lands on Orsic's shoulder, as Orsic tries to avoid the shot.
Orsic throws an overhand right that lands on Areni's shoulder, as Areni tries to avoid the shot.
Areni scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Areni fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Orsic manages to avoid it.
Orsic throws a jab when Areni was well out of range.
Orsic shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Orsic has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A jab from Orsic misses.
Areni pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Orsic ducks under a wild hook from Areni.
Orsic bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A jab from Areni misses.
Areni scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Orsic throws a jab but it's blocked by Areni.
A swing and a miss from Areni.
Orsic moves out of range as Areni strikes.
Orsic ducks under a wild hook from Areni.
Orsic raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Orsic jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A looping hook to the body misses from Orsic. Areni does a little dance to reset his feet.
Areni's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Orsic connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Areni scrambles back to his feet.
Areni cracks a nice hook into Orsic's ribs.
Areni cracks Orsic with an open hand slap.
Areni rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Orsic moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Orsic misses with a body shot.
Areni connects with a body shot.
Mate Orsic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Orsic throws out a powerful jab.
Areni throws a body shot but no joy.
Orsic slips under a jab.
Orsic waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Areni.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Areni bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Orsic's head backwards.
Areni misses the shot to the body.
Orsic closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Orsic looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nice shot lands for Areni.
Orsic just misses with a punch to the body.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Areni makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Orsic goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Orsic fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Areni misses with a hook from the clinch.

Areni breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Areni scores with a nice head shot.
Orsic pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
It looked like Areni was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Orsic.
Nice defenses there by Areni.
Areni lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
A telegraphed right hand from Orsic misses the target.
Orsic throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Areni throws a lazy uppercut
and Areni takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Orsic takes one to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Orsic misses with a lunging right hand
and Areni counters with a left to the body.
Areni smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Orsic connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Areni's hands.
Areni connects with a jab.
Orsic fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Orsic might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Orsic misses with a body shot.
Orsic swings for the body but Areni moves out of range.
Areni misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Orsic.
Areni lands a jab to Orsic's midsection.
Orsic lands the left hand.
A telegraphed right hand from Areni misses the target.
A looping hook to the body misses from Areni. Orsic does a little dance to reset his feet.
Orsic looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Areni lands with a good body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Areni keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Areni scores with a jab.
Areni wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Nice body punch from Areni.
Orsic takes a swing at Areni's ribcage but misses.
Areni misses the shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Orsic jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Areni lands a jab to the head.
Areni misses with a looping left.
Orsic keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Orsic throws out a counter right but Areni avoids it with no problem.
Areni blocks a jab.
Orsic is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Areni.
Areni connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Orsic's hands.
Orsic keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Areni.
Orsic scores with a jab to the head.
Orsic throws a shot to the body.
Areni connects with a looping right hand.
Areni comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Orsic looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Areni uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Orsic.
Areni misses with a body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Orsic. Areni does a little dance to reset his feet.
Orsic swinging wildly here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hin Areni dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Areni lands a jab.
Areni swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Orsic fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Areni looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Areni is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Orsic can do to turn this around?
Areni throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Orsic misses with a body shot.
Areni throws a leg kick but Orsic sees it coming and moves out of range.
Areni throws a lazy right hand but Orsic sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Orsic drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Areni defends it well.
Orsic moves away from the strike by Areni.
Areni swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Orsic.
Areni pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Orsic wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Areni throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Orsic stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Orsic throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Areni swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Areni throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Orsic throws a jab when Areni was well out of range.
Areni misses the shot to the body.
Orsic uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Areni.
Orsic looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Areni jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Orsic has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Areni cracks a nice hook into Orsic's ribs.
Orsic looks to land a left hand but Areni moved out of range nicely.
Orsic lands a jab-cross combination.
Areni throws out a powerful jab.
Areni takes a swing at Orsic's ribcage but misses.
Orsic missing with a left hand there. Areni was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Areni swinging wildly here.
Areni digs a good hook to Orsic's body.
Areni lands a jab to the head.
Areni throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Areni throws a body shot but no joy.
Areni lands a jab to the nose.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Areni jabs Orsic to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Areni takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Orsic lands a lovely overhand right.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
A cross from Areni lands.
The fighters circling - Areni throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hin Areni is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Areni throws a body punch but Orsic moves out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Areni misses the target.
Orsic throws a big shot that misses.
Orsic on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Areni ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Orsic lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Areni at a distance.
A cross from Areni lands.
A looping hook to the body misses from Areni. Orsic does a little dance to reset his feet.
Areni swings for the body but Orsic moves out of range.
Orsic blocks a jab.
Orsic missing with a left hand there. Areni was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Areni bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Orsic's head backwards.
Orsic avoids the body shot from Areni.
Areni throws a jab when Orsic was well out of range.
Orsic looks like he wants to counter punch here.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Areni here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Orsic takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A looping hook to the body misses from Orsic. Areni does a little dance to reset his feet.
Good shot there by Orsic.
A swing and a miss from Areni.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Orsic throws the left hand but Areni avoids the punch easily.
Orsic is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Orsic staying out of range there.
Areni misses with a straight right.
Areni scores with a sloppy right hand. Orsic should have avoided that one.
Areni misses with a hook. Orsic ducked under it nicely.
Areni misses with an uppercut. Orsic saw that one coming.
Areni jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Orsic connects with a body shot that sends Areni's belly button to the back.
Areni looks to throw the jab but Orsic is out of range.

Orsic has taken the fight to the clinch.
Orsic blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Orsic misses with the head strike.
A shot in the inside from Areni.
Areni working aggressively here.
Orsic misses with a hook from the clinch.
Orsic blocks an uppercut.
Areni tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Areni's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Areni takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Areni misses with a series of wild punches.
Orsic takes a swing at Areni's ribcage but misses.
Orsic thows a left - swing and a miss!
Orsic throws a looping overhand right but Areni ducks down to avoid it.
Orsic ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Areni moves away.
Areni cracks Orsic with a good jab.
Orsic throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Areni takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Nice shot lands for Areni.
Orsic gets cracked there but stands up to it.
A jab from Areni misses.
Orsic is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Areni with a body shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Orsic throws a lazy right hand but Areni sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Areni throws a hook to the side of Orsic's head but Orsic sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Orsic jabs at Areni's body.
Orsic misses with an uppercut
and Areni counters with a left to the body.
Areni just misses with a punch to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hin Areni dominated that second round.
That's time! Areni's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

A slow jab from Orsic misses its intended target.
Areni needs to keep his hands up - Orsic had a free shot at his head there.
Orsic misses with a wild body shot.
Areni's jab looks to have found its range, popping Orsic under the eye.
Nice uppercut lands for Areni. That snapped Orsic's head back.
Orsic slips under a jab from Areni.
Areni looks to score with a jab to the body but Orsic is just out of range.
Areni swinging wildly here.
It seemed like Orsic was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Orsic will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Areni is looking to counter punch.
Orsic throws a body shot but no joy.
Orsic scores with a hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Orsic ducks under a wild hook from Areni.
Orsic tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Areni was well out of range. Poor timing from Orsic.
Areni staying out of range there.
Areni misses with a looping left.
Orsic fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Areni manages to avoid it.
Areni thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Orsic lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Areni circles away quickly and effectively.
Areni scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Areni blocks a jab.
A little feinted left hand from Areni on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Orsic takes a swing at Areni's ribcage but misses.
It looked like Areni wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Orsic scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Areni throws an overhand right that lands on Orsic's shoulder, as Orsic tries to avoid the shot.
Orsic scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Orsic missing with a left hand there. Areni was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Orsic avoids the body shot from Areni.
Orsic comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Orsic misses with a wild body shot.
Areni lands a really nice looking cross but Orsic seems unphased.
Orsic lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
A looping hook to the body misses from Areni. Orsic does a little dance to reset his feet.
Areni throws out a loose jab but Orsic uses good head movement to avoid it.
Areni looks to land a right hand but Orsic moved out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Orsic shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
letting Areni counter with a right hand.
Mate Orsic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Areni uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Orsic.
Orsic uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Areni.
Orsic pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Areni throws a good cross that connects.
Areni fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Orsic manages to avoid it.
A big left from Orsic misses.
Areni connects with a right hand. Orsic shakes it off.
Areni throws a body punch but Orsic moves out of range.
Areni misses the shot to the body.
Orsic throws a body shot but no joy.
Orsic blocks a jab.
Orsic is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Areni.
Areni throws a hook but Orsic avoids it easily.
Orsic misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Areni connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Areni checks a low kick from Orsic.
Areni swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Orsic throws a jab but it's blocked by Areni.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Orsic fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Areni manages to avoid it.
Nice defenses there by Areni.
Areni lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Areni uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Orsic.
Orsic takes a jab right on the kisser.
Orsic misses with a body shot.
Orsic wants to clinch up but Areni keeps it at a distance.
Nice shot lands for Areni.
Orsic with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Areni to score with a decent uppercut.
Areni throws a body shot but no joy.
Orsic bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Orsic swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Areni moves forwards but Orsic connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Areni throws out a loose jab but Orsic uses good head movement to avoid it.
Orsic appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Areni ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Areni takes a swing at Orsic's ribcage but misses.
Areni keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Areni with a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Jab, jab by Areni - just one landing.
Orsic takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Orsic ducks under a wild hook from Areni.
Orsic misses the jab.
Areni throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Areni showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Orsic.
Areni connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Areni cracks a nice hook into Orsic's ribs.
Orsic looks to clinch
and Areni counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Orsic looks to land a right hand but Areni moved out of range.
Orsic takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Areni scores with a jab to the head.
Areni lands a nice hook to Orsic's body. Orsic takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Areni scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Orsic misses with a hook. Areni ducked under it nicely.
Orsic misses with a looping left.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hin Areni showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Areni 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hin Areni!
A very excited looking Hin Areni made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.