PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between BJ Arnold (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Serge Ibaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Arnold
vs
Ibaka

154 cm
34
134 lbs
28 - 6 - 0

170 cm
34
143 lbs
27 - 8 - 0

Great wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Bullet Proof System

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 28 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, BJ Arnold!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Serge Ibaka!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Steven Brown and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ibaka throws a head kick that misses.
Nice defenses there by Ibaka.
Ibaka on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Nice body kick there by Arnold.
Arnold gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Arnold throws a body punch but Ibaka moves out of range.
Ibaka misses with a left hand
and Arnold counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Serge Ibaka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Arnold throws a head kick that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ibaka closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Ibaka throws a punch but it's blocked by Arnold.
Arnold avoiding damage as Ibaka throws knees to the body.
A short left from Arnold.
Ibaka throws a punch but it's blocked by Arnold.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ibaka lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Arnold.
Arnold throws a punch but it's blocked by Ibaka.
Good body shot from Ibaka.
Ibaka misses with the head strike.
Ibaka lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Arnold backwards.
Ibaka scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Arnold misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ibaka tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Arnold struggles to land a body shot inside as Ibaka controls his hands.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ibaka.
A body shot lands from Ibaka.
Ibaka misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Arnold lands a nice shot to the body.
Arnold blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ibaka misses with the head strike.
Ibaka blocks a body shot from Arnold.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arnold tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ibaka's elbow.
Arnold can't find room to land a body shot as Ibaka controls the action.
Arnold tries to work over Ibaka's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ibaka tries a body shot but Arnold blocks it.
Ibaka's coach down at England Fight Club MMA was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Ibaka's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Ibaka misses with some punches.
Ibaka tries to work over Arnold's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Arnold blocking some punches.
Ibaka avoiding damage as Arnold throws knees to the body.
A shot in the inside from Arnold.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ibaka tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Arnold blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Arnold is trying to force a seperation but Ibaka has the dominant position.
Arnold can't break the clinch.
Arnold misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ibaka misses with the head strike.
Arnold misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ibaka trying to land knees to the body.

Arnold breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ibaka loads up on a big right hand but Arnold slips the punch.
Arnold is looking to score with low kicks.
Arnold tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
As Arnold backs off Ibaka throws a huge counter combo but Arnold manages to avoid it all.
Ibaka fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Ibaka tries to close the distance and clinch up but Arnold swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ibaka misses with a straight left.
Arnold defending well as Ibaka loads up on a big left hand.
Arnold tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ibaka was well out of range. Poor timing from Arnold.
Arnold bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Arnold looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Arnold looks to land a combination but Ibaka avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arnold staying out of range there.
Ibaka checks a leg kick.
Arnold chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Ibaka throws a head kick but Arnold moves out of range.
Arnold ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Arnold needs to keep his hands up - Ibaka had a free shot at his head there.
Arnold throws a leg kick that is checked
enabling Ibaka to counter with a crisp jab.
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!
Arnold ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ibaka lands a really nice looking cross but Arnold seems unphased.
A bone on bone clash there as Ibaka blocks the leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Serge Ibaka dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ibaka connects with a body shot.
Ibaka stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Arnold.
Arnold throws a push kick but Ibaka slaps the foot to one side.
Ibaka throws a hook but Arnold blocks it.
That kick from Arnold tenderised Ibaka's leg. Ibaka is trying to keep his angry face on.
Ibaka uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Arnold.
Ibaka throws an off balance right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Arnold. Ibaka does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ibaka is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arnold's corner calls for a 1-2. Arnold obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Ibaka throws a right hand that misses
and Ibaka takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Arnold steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ibaka.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ibaka tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Jab from Ibaka.
Arnold uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ibaka.
It appears Arnold was looking to counter with a kick there.
Arnold is looking to wear down Ibaka with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Ibaka throws a combination that misses
and Arnold counters with a nice body kick.
Ibaka throws the left hand but Arnold avoids the punch easily.
Ibaka on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Arnold dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Ibaka. That did some damage!
A clash of legs there as Ibaka blocks the low kick.
Ibaka looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Arnold keeps the fight on the outside.
Ibaka paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Ibaka lands with a slapping head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arnold looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Ibaka throws out a leg kick but Arnold moves out of range and Ibaka only half commits.
As Ibaka backs away, Arnold returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Ibaka avoids the body shot from Arnold.
Ibaka throws a counter combo.
Ibaka throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Arnold counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Ibaka throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Arnold quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ibaka moves out of range of the leg kick from Arnold.
Arnold fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Ibaka has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Nice shot lands for Ibaka.
Ibaka swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Arnold closes the distance and pushes Ibaka back into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Arnold.
Arnold misses with a punch to the body.
Arnold works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Arnold doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Arnold misses with a body punch.
A hook to the body from Arnold.
Arnold prevents a body shot from Ibaka.
Arnold misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ibaka prevents a body shot from Arnold.
Ibaka goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Arnold takes an elbow to the forehead.
Ibaka prevents a body shot from Arnold.
Ibaka blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ibaka has a couple of punches blocked by Arnold.
Arnold managing to block the knees to the body from Ibaka.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ibaka misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ibaka trying to land knees to the body.
Ibaka throws a punch but it's blocked by Arnold.
Arnold misses with a hook from the clinch.

Arnold breaks the clinch.
Ibaka clobbers Arnold with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Arnold staying out of range there.
Arnold staying out of range there.
As Ibaka backs away, Arnold returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Arnold staying out of range there.
Ibaka keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A head kick misses from Ibaka.

Arnold tries to keep at a distance but Ibaka has taken the fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Serge Ibaka will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Arnold lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Ibaka has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Ibaka and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
The fighters circling - Ibaka throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Arnold slips a jab and a cross from Ibaka.
Ibaka throws a lazy right hand but Arnold sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Ibaka throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Arnold takes a jab right on the kisser.
Ibaka moves out of range of the leg kick from Arnold.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ibaka rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Arnold counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Ibaka throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Arnold tries to close the distance and clinch but Ibaka swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Arnold is looking to clinch but Ibaka is avoiding it.
Ibaka looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arnold is looking to land body kicks.
Ibaka doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Arnold bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A counter left hand to the body from Arnold misses its target.
Ibaka blocks a low kick nicely.
Ibaka takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Ibaka throws a hook but Arnold avoids it easily.
Arnold throws a half hearted mid kick.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Ibaka! But no joy.
Arnold fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Ibaka is out of range.
Arnold ducks right into an uppercut from Ibaka.
Arnold connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Ibaka lands with a hook. Arnold tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arnold lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Ibaka cracks Arnold with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Ibaka throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Arnold counters with a left to the body.
Good work by Ibaka as he checks the leg kick.
Ibaka is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

Ibaka rushes Arnold and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Arnold misses with a body punch.
Arnold doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Arnold tries a body shot but Ibaka blocks it.
Ibaka lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Arnold prevents a body shot from Ibaka.
Ibaka blocks an uppercut.
Arnold misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ibaka tries to land knees in the clinch but Arnold avoids the damage to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short body shot lands from Ibaka as the two fighters clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Ibaka.
Ibaka lands a hook to the side of the head.
Arnold can't find room to land a body shot as Ibaka controls the action.
Ibaka misses with a hook to the ribs.
Arnold doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A head punch on the inside from Ibaka fails to land.
Arnold swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Arnold goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ibaka prevents a body shot from Arnold.
A short left from Ibaka.

Ibaka breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Arnold throws a half hearted mid kick.
Ibaka throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ibaka swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Arnold shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Arnold punishes Ibaka's body with a nice straight punch.
Ibaka will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ibaka throws out a loose jab but Arnold uses good head movement to avoid it.
As Ibaka backs away, Arnold returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ibaka checks a low kick from Arnold.
Ibaka misses with a left hand
and Arnold counters with a lovely shot to the body.
A chopping leg kick lands by Arnold.
Ibaka scores with a nice strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Serge Ibaka really 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.

Ibaka blocks a leg kick.
Ibaka throws out a counter right but Arnold avoids it with no problem.
A head kick misses from Ibaka.
A quick step to the side and Arnold tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ibaka misses with a straight left.
Left hook, right uppercut from Ibaka.
Arnold tries a low kick but Ibaka avoids it.
A bone on bone clash there as Ibaka blocks the leg kick.
Arnold slips under a jab from Ibaka.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ibaka lands with a good body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Arnold. Ibaka does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ibaka throws the left hand but Arnold avoids the punch easily.
A punch lands to the side of Arnold 's head but he takes it in his stride.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ibaka throws a big shot that misses.
Ibaka misses with a hook.
Arnold with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Ibaka lands a jab.
Ibaka ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Arnold moves away.
Ibaka's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Arnold staying out of range there.
Arnold pivots, looking for a leg kick but Ibaka is out of range and Arnold settles back down.
Arnold throws a leg kick
and Ibaka counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Arnold looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Ibaka avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ibaka throws an off balance right hand
and Arnold counters with a low kick, right behind Ibaka 's knee.
Arnold avoids a punch combination nicely.
Arnold thinks about countering with a head kick.
Arnold feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Ibaka's calf.
Arnold swings for the body but Ibaka moves out of range.
Ibaka has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ibaka stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Arnold looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Ibaka throws a nice head kick!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A big left from Ibaka misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arnold fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Ibaka has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Ibaka pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A telegraphed right hand from Ibaka misses the target.
Arnold looks to score with a jab to the body but Ibaka is just out of range.
Serge Ibaka seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A looping hook to the body misses from Arnold. Ibaka does a little dance to reset his feet.
Arnold feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Ibaka's calf.
Arnold slips under a jab from Ibaka.
It looked like Arnold was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Arnold doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
A punch combination from Ibaka misses.
Arnold was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Ibaka lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Arnold has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Arnold and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arnold throws a leg kick but Ibaka moved away.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Ibaka! But no joy.
Arnold dodges the punch combination from Ibaka.
Arnold misses with a body shot.
Ibaka misses with a hook. Arnold ducked under it nicely.
Ibaka thows a left - swing and a miss!
Arnold swings for the body but Ibaka moves out of range.
Ibaka follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Ibaka swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Arnold ducks under a wild hook from Ibaka.
Ibaka throws the left hand but Arnold avoids the punch easily.
Arnold looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Serge Ibaka dominated that fourth round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Ibaka pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ibaka takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Arnold just misses with a punch to the body.

Arnold clinches.
Arnold throws a punch but it's blocked by Ibaka.
Ibaka lands with a light punch inside.
Arnold prevents Ibaka from breaking the clinch.
Arnold is working Ibaka over against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arnold misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Arnold blocking some punches.
Ibaka gets through Arnold's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Ibaka lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ibaka.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arnold can't find room to land a body shot as Ibaka controls the action.

Arnold breaks the clinch.
Arnold showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ibaka.
A leg kick checked by Ibaka.
Arnold misses with a body kick.
Arnold uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ibaka.
Ibaka throws a jab but it's blocked by Arnold.
A leg kick checked by Ibaka.
Ibaka misses with a head kick.
Arnold misses with a low kick as Ibaka jumps back.
BJ Arnold has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ibaka missing with a left hand there. Arnold was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
As Ibaka backs away, Arnold returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Ibaka looks to score with a jab to the body but Arnold is just out of range.
Ibaka scores with a jab to the body.
Arnold scores with a kick to the midsection.
Arnold throws a low kick but Ibaka moves out of range easily.
It seemed like Ibaka was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
An inside leg kick from Arnold misses.
Ibaka looks to score with a jab to the body but Arnold is just out of range.
Ibaka works the jab nicely.
Arnold takes one to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arnold avoids the body shot from Ibaka.
Ibaka checks a leg kick.
Ibaka misses with a head kick.
Serge Ibaka is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Ibaka misses with a body shot.
Ibaka smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Ibaka tries to clinch up.
Ibaka scores with a nice strike.
An inside leg kick from Arnold misses.
Arnold wants to slow Ibaka down by chopping away at his legs.
A looping hook to the body misses from Arnold. Ibaka does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arnold misses with a shot to the body
and Ibaka counters with a straight right hand.
Arnold needs to keep his hands up - Ibaka had a free shot at his head there.
Ibaka throws a shot to the body.
A head kick misses from Ibaka.
Ibaka throws a shot from downtown. Arnold moves away and avoids it.
Ibaka fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Ibaka lands a head kick!
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!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Ibaka.
Ibaka misses with an uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Serge Ibaka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ibaka 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 45:50
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 46:49
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Serge Ibaka!
A pretty intense looking Serge Ibaka took the opportunity post-fight to ask for a shot at the title.