PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Andrei Arshavin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Crocker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Arshavin comes to the cage accompanied by The Arsenal Mastermind. Crocker has chosen Britney Spears - Gimme More as his entrance music. Andrei Arshavin has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Arshavin
vs
Crocker

175 cm
22
185 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

188 cm
21
190 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 7 - 4 - 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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chris Crocker!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Robert Twigg and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Crocker clinches up against the cage.
Crocker blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Arshavin is pressed up against the cage. Crocker has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Arshavin down to the mat. Arshavin avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Arshavin clinches with his opponent.
Crocker has Arshavin pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Arshavin manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Crocker with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Arshavin goes for a takedown attempt but Crocker pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Arshavin changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Crocker tries to avoid it but Arshavin manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Crocker to the ground. Crocker escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crocker shoots and misses

and Arshavin counters with a nice double leg into side control. Crocker won't be happy with that.
Andrei Arshavin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chris Crocker.
Arshavin wants to take a breather but Crocker manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Arshavin.

Arshavin drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Crocker dives on top into guard.

Arshavin looking for subs off his back but Crocker has passed one foot through into half guard.
Crocker slips a nice elbow through Arshavin's hands, connecting with Arshavin's forehead.
Crocker keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crocker is nestled in close to Arshavin, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Crocker scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Arshavin flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
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. Crocker connects with a nice short shot to Arshavin's temple.
Crocker controlling the action here.

Arshavin is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Crocker pulls his head out easily.
Ground and pound from Crocker.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Still in half guard, Crocker seems content to control.
Arshavin trying to control here.
Arshavin is trying to get back to full guard.
Crocker drops an elbow to the side of Arshavin's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crocker controlling the action here.
Crocker drops an elbow to the side of Arshavin's head.
Crocker moves nicely into side control.
Crocker content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Arshavin takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Arshavin is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Crocker off and has taken his back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Crocker is having to fend off submission attempts from Arshavin, who is looking to sink in the choke. Arshavin doesn't have the hooks in though and Crocker manages to reverse position! He's now on top, in his opponent's guard.
Crocker has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Crocker pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Arshavin is keeping the position for now.
Arshavin wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Crocker is now in half guard.
Crocker drops an elbow to the side of Arshavin's head.
Well, if Crocker is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Arshavin looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Arshavin is breathing heavily.

Crocker stands up and beckons Arshavin to join him on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Crocker dominated that round.
That's time! Arshavin's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Arshavin fails with the takedown

and Crocker counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Arshavin tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Crocker is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Arshavin can't escape the position.
Crocker scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Arshavin?
Crocker punishing his opponent with strikes.
Crocker tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The referee warns Arshavin that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crocker lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Arshavin hang on?
Arshavin is desperately trying to improve his position but Crocker has a good base and remains in mount.
Crocker controlling from mount.
Crocker scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Arshavin?
Arshavin might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Arshavin is wriggling around trying to escape.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Crocker tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Arshavin tries to lock up and control but Crocker gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Crocker with good strikes from the mount here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crocker working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Arshavin is looking to get to half guard.
Crocker lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

It looks like Andrei Arshavin has been cut.
Crocker lands a heavy elbow.
Crocker pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

Arshavin is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Arshavin throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Crocker lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Oh Arshavin is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Crocker looking to control but Arshavin is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Arshavin seems to have got his legs back now.
Crocker controlling the pace for now.
Arshavin wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crocker content just to control the position here.
Arshavin is looking to improve his position but Crocker isn't that keen on the idea.
Arshavin is working hard here to advance position.
Arshavin regains half guard.

Crocker is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Crocker is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's four 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.

Arshavin looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Crocker looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Arshavin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Crocker is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Arshavin sees it coming and defends easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Arshavin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
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. Crocker connects with a nice short shot to Arshavin's temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Crocker showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Andrei Arshavin's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Arshavin fails with the takedown

and Crocker counters by moving into the clinch.
Crocker tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Arshavin tries for a takedown. No joy.
Arshavin throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Arshavin fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andrei Arshavin. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Crocker works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Arshavin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Crocker works over Arshavin with some ground and pound from guard.
Crocker landing with the ground and pound.
Crocker trying to control but Arshavin is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arshavin is trying to hold Crocker in close to prevent damage but Crocker has managed to pass into half guard.
Crocker working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Crocker is working for a submission of some sort.

Arshavin looking for submissions off his back.
Crocker takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Chris Crocker has got the better of the ground game so far.
Arshavin is looking to improve his position.
Arshavin on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crocker tries to stand and escape but Arshavin is controlling the position.
Arshavin misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Arshavin tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Arshavin has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Crocker is working away from the top position though.

Arshavin actively working from the bottom here.

Crocker decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

Crocker darts in and clinches Arshavin up against the cage.
Chris Crocker is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crocker stalling against the cage.
Crocker drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Arshavin gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Arshavin fails to pull guard.
Crocker with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Arshavin has Crocker pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Crocker manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Crocker breaks the clinch.
Arshavin tries for a takedown but Crocker circles away easily
and Crocker counters with a two punch combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arshavin displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Crocker.
Arshavin slaps away a takedown attempt from Crocker, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Andrei Arshavin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Crocker is looking to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris Crocker comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Crocker has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris Crocker!