PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jensen Saint (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Arlovski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Arlovski is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: IF I DIE TONIGHT. Ivan Arlovski will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Saint
vs
Arlovski

182 cm
20
205 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

190 cm
24
214 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Machina Clothing (Formerly Ares Combatwear)
Convicted

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jensen Saint!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Arlovski!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Vladimir Khabensky and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Arlovski misses with a wild body shot.
Arlovski cracks Saint with an open hand slap.
Arlovski rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Saint moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Saint uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Arlovski.
A big left from Arlovski misses.
Saint slips a jab and a cross from Arlovski.
Saint missing with a left hand there. Arlovski was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Arlovski uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Nice straight punches there by Arlovski. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Arlovski.
Saint with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Arlovski to score with a decent uppercut.
Saint moves out of range of the strikes.
Saint throws a right and a left that both miss.
Saint showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Arlovski.
Arlovski misses with a jab, cross combination.
Arlovski swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Saint.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saint uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Arlovski.
Arlovski misses with a combination
and Saint counters with a stiff right hand.

Saint scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Saint creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Arlovski sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Saint in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Arlovski is trying to control Saint's posture but Saint avoids it.
Arlovski holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
Saint has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Saint tries to move into full mount but can't pass Arlovski's legs.
Arlovski is looking for a sweep.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Arlovski throws a hook but Saint blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arlovski swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Saint cracks Arlovski with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Saint cracks Arlovski with a good jab.
Saint keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Saint cracks Arlovski with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Saint slips under a jab.
Ivan Arlovski seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Arlovski staying out of range there.
Saint is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Saint avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Saint throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Arlovski misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Saint.
Saint shoots in but no luck this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arlovski missing with a left hand there. Saint was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ivan Arlovski is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Saint looks to land a right hand but Arlovski moved out of range.
Good shot there by Saint.
Saint moves out of range of the strikes.
Arlovski misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Saint counters with a nice double leg into side control. Arlovski won't be happy with that.
Sloppy strikes there by Saint.
Arlovski is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Arlovski can't do much from the bottom here.
Saint landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Saint is looking to take a break and control but Arlovski is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saint in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saint tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Saint sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Arlovski is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Saint misses with the ground and pound.
Saint advances to full mount.
Saint thowing shots but they're missing.
Arlovski avoids a series of strikes thrown by Saint.
Saint unloading with bombs!
Saint won't let Arlovski get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

Saint goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Arlovski turns into him and now he's in Saint's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jensen Saint will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A slow jab from Arlovski misses its intended target.
A slow jab from Arlovski misses its intended target.
Jab from Saint.
Saint wants to clinch up but Arlovski keeps it at a distance.
Arlovski throws a jab when Saint was well out of range.
Saint moves out of range of the strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saint fails to land the takedown.
Arlovski throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Saint changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Arlovski tries to avoid it but Saint manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Arlovski to the ground. Arlovski escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arlovski swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Arlovski looks to throw the jab but Saint is out of range.
Jensen Saint is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Arlovski misses with a shot to the body
and Saint counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Saint fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Nice shot lands for Arlovski.
Arlovski throws a combination that misses
and Saint counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Arlovski misses with a looping right.
Arlovski lands with a shot to the body.

Saint shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Saint missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Arlovski manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arlovski misses with a looping right.
Arlovski swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Arlovski throws a nice inside leg 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!
Arlovski pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Saint on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Saint walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Arlovski scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Saint looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Ivan Arlovski seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Saint pushes Arlovski up against the cage in a clinch.
Arlovski makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Arlovski wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Arlovski lands with a left to the head.
Saint tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jensen Saint. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Saint keeps control of Arlovski as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Saint wants a takedown.
Saint changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Arlovski fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arlovski misses with a straight right.
Arlovski with a hook.
Arlovski misses with a leg kick.
Arlovski waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Saint.
Saint slips under a jab.
Arlovski misses with an uppercut. Saint saw that one coming.
Saint misses with a wild combination.
Arlovski avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Arlovski throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Donk. Arlovski catches Saint right on the button with a cross.
Saint uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Arlovski.
Arlovski misses the jab.
Saint throws an overhand right that lands on Arlovski's shoulder, as Arlovski tries to avoid the shot.
Saint throws a combination that misses
and Arlovski counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Arlovski with a nice cross.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Arlovski, as that shot connected.
Saint takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
A big right from Arlovski misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Arlovski.
Arlovski misses the shot to the body.
Saint is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Arlovski throws a lazy right hand but Saint sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Arlovski showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Arlovski throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Arlovski misses the shot to the body.
Arlovski throws a head kick but Saint moves out of range.
Saint shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Arlovski but Arlovski pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Arlovski throws a big shot that misses.
Arlovski waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Saint.
Arlovski swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Saint counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Saint postures up in Arlovski's guard and throws a big left but Arlovski blocks it.
Saint trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Arlovski is looking to stand up but Saint isn't so interested in that idea.
Arlovski has control of Saint's left arm, preventing Saint from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arlovski controls Saint momentarily but Saint frees himself.
Saint won't allow Arlovski to get back to his feet.
Arlovski takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Saint pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Arlovski is keeping the position for now.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Saint walks into a stiff left hand from Arlovski.
Arlovski swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Saint decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Arlovski's guard.
Arlovski keeping full guard, as Saint tries to pass.
Arlovski utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Arlovski seems keen to control Saint's posture.
Saint in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Arlovski pushes Saint off and gets back to his feet.

Saint scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Arlovski is controlling Saint's trapped leg to prevent Saint from advancing to side control.
Saint thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Arlovski to regain full guard.
Arlovski keeping moving, preventing Saint from controlling successfully.
Saint is really struggling to control Arlovski but he's trying to hold on to the position.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arlovski is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Saint throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Arlovski works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Arlovski jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Arlovski throws a nice looking combination but Saint bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Saint closes the distance and clinches.

Arlovski's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Saint shoots in but Arlovski avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Arlovski throws a looping overhand right but Saint ducks down to avoid it.
Arlovski lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Saint backs up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saint uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Arlovski.
Saint avoids a kick to the body.
Arlovski throws a series of punches but Saint avoids them all with ease.
Arlovski plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Arlovski thows a left - swing and a miss!
Arlovski misses with a two punch combination.
Arlovski throws a shot from downtown. Saint moves away and avoids it.
Saint misses with a hook.

Arlovski tries to keep at a distance but Saint has taken the fight into the clinch.
Saint jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Arlovski walks away with a smile on his face. Saint gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jensen Saint. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Saint showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Arlovski.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jensen Saint showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Saint 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jensen Saint!