PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Phil Arcuri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikolai Dzhumagaliev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Arcuri
vs
Dzhumagaliev

176 cm
27
168 lbs
12 - 2 - 0

185 cm
35
184 lbs
33 - 19 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Phil Arcuri!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 33 - 19 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Nikolai Dzhumagaliev!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Sam Margolis and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Arcuri throws the left hand but Dzhumagaliev avoids the punch easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Dzhumagaliev.
Arcuri slips a jab and a cross from Dzhumagaliev.
Arcuri misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Arcuri looks to land a right hand but Dzhumagaliev moved out of range.
The fighters circling - Arcuri throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Arcuri misses with a straight left.
Arcuri circles away from the clinch attempt.
A jab from Arcuri finds it's way through Dzhumagaliev's defenses.
Arcuri circles away from the clinch attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Dzhumagaliev closes the distance and pushes Arcuri back into the cage.
Arcuri makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Arcuri stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

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

Dzhumagaliev pushes Arcuri up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Arcuri is trying to trip Dzhumagaliev. He has hold of a leg but Dzhumagaliev is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Arcuri persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Dzhumagaliev pushes Arcuri off and scrambles back to his feet.

Dzhumagaliev instigates a clinch.

Dzhumagaliev's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Dzhumagaliev throws a lazy head kick
and Arcuri counters with a stiff right hand.

Dzhumagaliev clinches up against the cage.
Arcuri tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Dzhumagaliev breaks the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dzhumagaliev misses with a takedown attempt
and Arcuri counters with a right hand to the body.
Arcuri thows a left - swing and a miss!
Arcuri connects with a single shot there.
Arcuri paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

Dzhumagaliev clinches.
Arcuri blocking some punches.
Arcuri will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Dzhumagaliev up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arcuri tries to work over Dzhumagaliev's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Arcuri misses with the head strike.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Arcuri.

Dzhumagaliev manages to break the clinch.
Dzhumagaliev shoots and misses
and Arcuri counters with a stiff right hand.
Phil Arcuri has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nikolai Dzhumagaliev.
Arcuri misses with an uppercut. Dzhumagaliev saw that one coming.

Dzhumagaliev clinches up against the cage.

Dzhumagaliev breaks the clinch.

Dzhumagaliev clinches up against the cage.
Arcuri stalling in the clinch.
Arcuri doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Arcuri misses with some punches.
Dzhumagaliev makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Arcuri manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A bit of stalling here from Arcuri.
Dzhumagaliev lands a body punch in the clinch.

Dzhumagaliev's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Arcuri throws a big shot that misses.
Dzhumagaliev shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Arcuri but Arcuri pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Dzhumagaliev wants to clinch but Arcuri slips to the side
and Dzhumagaliev takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Arcuri misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Dzhumagaliev shoots and misses
and Arcuri counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Arcuri pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Dzhumagaliev moves into the clinch successfully.
Arcuri fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Dzhumagaliev being controlled against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dzhumagaliev being controlled against the cage.
Arcuri gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Arcuri gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Dzhumagaliev.
Arcuri swings wildly with an uppercut but Dzhumagaliev uses good head movement to avoid it.

Arcuri pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nikolai Dzhumagaliev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Arcuri misses with a double jab.
Dzhumagaliev moves to clinch but Arcuri breaks away
and Arcuri connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The fighters circling - Arcuri throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phil Arcuri dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Dzhumagaliev throws a head kick that lands with a deafening thwack! The crowd roars as Arcuri stumbles backwards and falls to the mat. Dzhumagaliev follows into mount!

Arcuri is still looking wobbly from the end of the last round!

It looks like Phil Arcuri has been cut.

Dzhumagaliev is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Arcuri to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Arcuri shrugs it off.
Oh Arcuri is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Arcuri is wriggling around trying to escape.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Arcuri seems to have got his legs back now.

Dzhumagaliev jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Arcuri is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Arcuri and Dzhumagaliev has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Dzhumagaliev goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Arcuri rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Dzhumagaliev's guard! Nice work there by Arcuri!
Dzhumagaliev has control of Arcuri's left arm, preventing Arcuri from doing any damage.
Dzhumagaliev keeping moving, preventing Arcuri from controlling successfully.

Dzhumagaliev had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Arcuri defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dzhumagaliev avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Dzhumagaliev has momentary wrist control but Arcuri slips an elbow through the middle.
Arcuri lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Arcuri distracts Dzhumagaliev with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Arcuri tries to free his leg and advance position but Dzhumagaliev is retaining full guard.

Dzhumagaliev had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Arcuri defends it easily.
Arcuri wants to pass the guard but Dzhumagaliev is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arcuri trying to control the position from guard on top but Dzhumagaliev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Arcuri stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dzhumagaliev swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Arcuri throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Arcuri controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Arcuri throwing strikes from guard but Dzhumagaliev blocks nicely.
Arcuri tries to free his leg and advance position but Dzhumagaliev is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arcuri postures up in Dzhumagaliev's guard and throws a big left but Dzhumagaliev blocks it.
Arcuri connects with a couple of short punches.
Dzhumagaliev looking to control.
Arcuri postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Arcuri wants to control from the top but Dzhumagaliev keeps moving.
Arcuri postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Arcuri pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dzhumagaliev is keeping the position for now.
Arcuri chips away with some ground and pound.
Arcuri slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Arcuri wants to control from the top but Dzhumagaliev keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Dzhumagaliev wants to sweep here but Arcuri controlling him for the moment.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Arcuri accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Arcuri throwing strikes but missing.
Arcuri trying to control the position from guard on top but Dzhumagaliev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Phil Arcuri is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Arcuri gets tackled into the cage by Dzhumagaliev. Dzhumagaliev maintains the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dzhumagaliev with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Arcuri taking a breather.
Arcuri controlling the action here for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Dzhumagaliev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Phil Arcuri's cut.
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.

Dzhumagaliev rushes Arcuri and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Dzhumagaliev fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Arcuri is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Arcuri working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Arcuri dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Dzhumagaliev tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Arcuri smiles and moves away.
Dzhumagaliev goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Arcuri is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dzhumagaliev darts in trying to clinch
enabling Arcuri to counter with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dzhumagaliev gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Arcuri.
Arcuri jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Arcuri circles away from the clinch attempt
and Arcuri counters with a straight right hand.
Dzhumagaliev throws a head kick but Arcuri moves out of range.
Arcuri with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Dzhumagaliev tries to close the distance and clinch up but Arcuri swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Dzhumagaliev doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Arcuri connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Dzhumagaliev fails with an attempt to clinch.
Arcuri swinging wildly here.
Nikolai Dzhumagaliev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Arcuri misses with a straight right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arcuri misses with an uppercut. Dzhumagaliev saw that one coming.
Dzhumagaliev shoots in for a takedown but Arcuri shows good takedown defense.
Phil Arcuri has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nikolai Dzhumagaliev.
Arcuri throws a body kick that misses.
Dzhumagaliev wants to clinch
letting Arcuri counter with a right hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dzhumagaliev tries to clinch
and Arcuri counters with a straight right hand.
Arcuri has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Arcuri throws a series of punches but Dzhumagaliev avoids them all with ease.
Dzhumagaliev tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Arcuri counters with a straight right hand.
Dzhumagaliev wants to clinch but Arcuri slips to the side
enabling Arcuri to counter with a crisp jab.

Arcuri gets tackled into the cage by Dzhumagaliev. Dzhumagaliev maintains the clinch.
Dzhumagaliev blocking some punches.
Arcuri wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Arcuri breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dzhumagaliev wants to clinch up but Arcuri keeps it at a distance.
Arcuri misses with a body shot.
Dzhumagaliev tries to clinch up but Arcuri circles away and keeps his distance.
Arcuri misses with a straight left.

Dzhumagaliev gets a clinch.

Dzhumagaliev breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Dzhumagaliev moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Phil Arcuri is winning the standup battle so far.
Arcuri loads up on a big right hand but Dzhumagaliev slips the punch.
Dzhumagaliev tries to clinch but Arcuri moves out of range.
Dzhumagaliev ducks under a wild hook from Arcuri.
Dzhumagaliev doesn't manage to clinch there - Arcuri circles away.
Dzhumagaliev takes one to the chin there.

Dzhumagaliev is rocked!
Arcuri waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Dzhumagaliev.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dzhumagaliev clinches with his opponent.
Dzhumagaliev is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Arcuri is defending well for now.
Arcuri lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Dzhumagaliev breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Arcuri throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Dzhumagaliev on the side of the head.
Dzhumagaliev is still on wobbly legs! Can Arcuri finish him?
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Dzhumagaliev darts in and clinches Arcuri up against the cage.

Dzhumagaliev manages to break the clinch.
Dzhumagaliev tries to clinch but Arcuri moves out of range.
Arcuri is looking to counter punch.
Dzhumagaliev throws a sloppy head kick
and Arcuri counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Dzhumagaliev throws a lazy body kick
and Arcuri comes in over the top with a devastating right hand! Dzhumagaliev stumbles back against the cage, looking to regain his senses but Arcuri is on him like rabid pit bull! Dzhumagaliev slumps to the ground under a storm of punches and this fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:43 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Phil Arcuri!
A less than humble Phil Arcuri misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.