PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Andrei Arshavin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James The Filipino Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Arshavin comes into the arena with The Arsenal Mastermind blaring out of the sound system. James The Filipino Gracie has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Arshavin
vs
The Filipino Gracie

175 cm
20
185 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
185 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Determined

MMA's Best Nutrition The PIT INC

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 2 - 0 - 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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, James The Filipino Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, George Francis and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The Filipino Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Arshavin as he jumps to the side.
Arshavin is looking to clinch but The Filipino Gracie is avoiding it.
Arshavin throws a combination but it was largely blocked by The Filipino Gracie.
Arshavin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but The Filipino Gracie paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The Filipino Gracie avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Arshavin tries to clinch up.
Arshavin tries to clinch but The Filipino Gracie is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arshavin misses with a low kick.
Arshavin tries to close the distance and clinch up but The Filipino Gracie swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The Filipino Gracie will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Filipino Gracie bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Arshavin tries to close the distance and clinch but The Filipino Gracie swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Arshavin lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
The Filipino Gracie avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The Filipino Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Arshavin as he jumps to the side.
Andrei Arshavin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James The Filipino Gracie.
The Filipino Gracie shoots in and drives through. Arshavin sprawls well.
Arshavin fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The Filipino Gracie feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Arshavin is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The Filipino Gracie drops back looking for a leg! Arshavin is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Arshavin manages to kick The Filipino Gracie off! The Filipino Gracie jumps back into Arshavin's guard.

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

The Filipino Gracie looking for subs off his back but Arshavin has passed one foot through into half guard.
The Filipino Gracie looks gassed!

The Filipino Gracie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arshavin tries to stand but his hand is stuck under The Filipino Gracie.

The Filipino Gracie looking for submissions off his back.
The Filipino Gracie has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Arshavin is working away from the top position though.

Arshavin stands up out of the half guard.

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.
Arshavin fails with an attempt to clinch.
Arshavin tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Arshavin moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Arshavin misses with a body kick.
Arshavin tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Arshavin tries to clinch but The Filipino Gracie moves out of range.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Arshavin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but The Filipino Gracie paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The Filipino Gracie blocks the body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrei Arshavin dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

The Filipino Gracie uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Arshavin.
Arshavin stuffs the takedown.
Arshavin throws a hook but The Filipino Gracie avoids it easily.
Arshavin swinging wilding here.
Arshavin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Andrei Arshavin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice takedown defense from Arshavin. No joy for The Filipino Gracie on that attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arshavin throws a nice looking combination but The Filipino Gracie bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Arshavin tries to clinch up.
Arshavin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but The Filipino Gracie paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Arshavin looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Arshavin tries to close the distance and clinch up but The Filipino Gracie swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Arshavin wants to clinch.
The Filipino Gracie shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Arshavin pinned against the cage. Arshavin gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Andrei Arshavin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James The Filipino Gracie.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
The Filipino Gracie swats away the attempt to clinch by Arshavin.
Andrei Arshavin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Arshavin tries to close the distance and clinch up but The Filipino Gracie swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Arshavin looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The Filipino Gracie closes the distance and clinches up with Arshavin, looking for a takedown. The Filipino Gracie pushes Arshavin against the cage but Arshavin circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Arshavin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but The Filipino Gracie paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Andrei Arshavin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The Filipino Gracie has a takedown stuffed.
The Filipino Gracie is breathing heavily.
Arshavin tries to clinch up.
Arshavin tries to close the distance and clinch up but The Filipino Gracie swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Arshavin tries to clinch up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Arshavin fails with an attempt to clinch.

The Filipino Gracie darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Arshavin is trying to stand back up but The Filipino Gracie is controlling him
Arshavin knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for The Filipino Gracie on the ground.

The Filipino Gracie is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Arshavin doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time The Filipino Gracie.
Arshavin is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but James The Filipino Gracie will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

A punch combination from Arshavin misses.
Arshavin tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Arshavin pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Arshavin tries to clinch there but The Filipino Gracie circles away.
The Filipino Gracie takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
The Filipino Gracie takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arshavin lands a jab to The Filipino Gracie's midsection.
Arshavin tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arshavin tries to clinch there but The Filipino Gracie circles away.
Arshavin throws a head kick that The Filipino Gracie semi-blocks.
Arshavin tries to clinch but The Filipino Gracie moves out of range.
Arshavin is looking to slow The Filipino Gracie down with leg kicks.
Arshavin stuffs the takedown.
Arshavin tries to clinch up.
The Filipino Gracie shoots in for a takedown but Arshavin shows good takedown defense.
Arshavin tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Arshavin throws a right and a left that The Filipino Gracie avoids nicely.
Arshavin tries to close the distance and clinch but The Filipino Gracie swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Arshavin with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
The Filipino Gracie swats away the attempt to clinch by Arshavin.
Arshavin throws a right and a left that both miss.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The Filipino Gracie fails with a takedown attempt.
Andrei Arshavin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James The Filipino Gracie.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The Filipino Gracie avoids the head kick by Arshavin.
The fight stays on the outside here - Arshavin looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Arshavin throws a hook but The Filipino Gracie avoids it easily.
Arshavin throws a head kick that half lands.
Arshavin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but The Filipino Gracie moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arshavin looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
The Filipino Gracie shoots in for a double leg but Arshavin sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Arshavin wants to clinch up but The Filipino Gracie keeps it at a distance.
Arshavin thows a body shot but no joy.
The fight stays on the outside here - Arshavin looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The Filipino Gracie circles away from the clinch attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andrei Arshavin showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Arshavin 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andrei Arshavin!