PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Steve Headden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Arlovski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Arlovski is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Submit To Death by Grotesque. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Jack Arlovski was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Headden
vs
Arlovski

183 cm
23
195 lbs
13 - 6 - 0

194 cm
22
196 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

[JMFC] 160!

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 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Steve Headden!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jack Arlovski!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Gwen Towbar and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Arlovski finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Headden is looking to clinch.
Headden moves out of range of the strikes.
Headden tries to clinch up.
Headden avoids the body shot from Arlovski.
Arlovski misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Headden.
A punch combination from Headden misses.
A swing and a miss from Headden.
Arlovski with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Arlovski throws an overhand right that lands on Headden's shoulder, as Headden tries to avoid the shot.
Arlovski throws a body punch but Headden moves out of range.
Arlovski ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Headden moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Headden is looking to clinch.
Headden misses with the combination.
Headden has a takedown stuffed.
Arlovski swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Steve Headden seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Headden misses.
Arlovski is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Headden rather than just go for the knockout.
Arlovski cracks the inside of Headden's front leg.
Headden lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

Arlovski shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Headden manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Headden has momentary wrist control but Arlovski slips an elbow through the middle.
Arlovski trying to control the position from guard on top but Headden is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Headden avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Arlovski postures up and lands a big shot to Headden's brow.
Headden is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Arlovski must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Headden pulls Arlovski in to control the position.
Arlovski working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Arlovski working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Headden's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Headden looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Arlovski working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Arlovski drops back, looking for a kneebar! Headden looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Headden looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Headden!
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Arlovski is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Arlovski manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Headden trying to control from the bottom.
Arlovski throws a strike but Headden avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Headden looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Arlovski cracks Headden with a solid left hand.
Arlovskiis looking to pass into half guard but Headden pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Headden is in guard.
Arlovski trying to keep a closed guard but Headden is proving a slippery customer.
Arlovski keeping moving, preventing Headden from controlling successfully.
Arlovski is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Headden might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Arlovski has his hands on Headden's head, controlling the position.
Headden won't allow Arlovski to sweep him here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Arlovski avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Headden throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Headden misses with a straight right.
Arlovski uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Headden.
Arlovski avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Headden connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
A head kick misses from Headden.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Headden getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Headden throws out a loose jab but Arlovski uses good head movement to avoid it.

Headden shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Headden showed some decent athleticism there.
Arlovski is looking to improve his position.
Headden sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Arlovski trying to get back to full guard but Headden takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arlovski tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Headden sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Headden manages to capitalize on a mistake by Arlovski to take his back!
Headden is riding his opponent, not letting Arlovski buck him off.
Arlovski trying to control the hands but Headden won't let him.
Headden biding his time, controlling Arlovski.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Headden's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Headden avoiding Arlovski 's attempts to control his hands.
Arlovski turns into Headden and is now in his guard.
Headden keeping moving, preventing Arlovski from controlling successfully.
Arlovski might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Headden kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Arlovski thows a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arlovski looking to pass the guard.
Headden has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Headden has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Headden can't keep his opponent in guard - Arlovski advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Well, if Arlovski 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.
Arlovski trying to pass the guard but Headden defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Headden gets back to full guard.
Headden keeping full guard, as Arlovski tries to pass.
Arlovski lands a couple of elbows.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Headden manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Arlovski gets back to half guard.
Arlovski is looking for a sweep. Headden is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Headden is trying to control the action in half guard but Arlovski is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Headden dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Arlovski misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Headden.
Arlovski avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Headden waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Arlovski.
Headden fails with an attempt to clinch.
Headden tries to clinch up but Arlovski circles away and keeps his distance.
Arlovski keeps the fight on the outside.
Arlovski lands with a straight right. Headden didn't see that one coming.
Arlovski displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Headden throws out the jab.

Arlovski closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Headden regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Arlovski.
Headden pulls Arlovski in close to prevent any damage.
Headden utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Arlovski with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arlovski trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Arlovski is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Arlovski missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Headden trying to control the position here.
Arlovski wants to control from the top but Headden keeps moving.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Headden tries to close the distance and clinch but Arlovski swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Headden lunges at Arlovski with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Arlovski's hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Headden connects with a solid leg kick.
Arlovski avoids the head kick by Headden.
Headden misses with an uppercut.
A telegraphed right hand from Arlovski misses the target.
Arlovski swats away the attempt to clinch by Headden.
Headden fails in his attempt to clinch.
Headden swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Headden ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Headden tries to close the distance and clinch up but Arlovski swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Arlovski tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Headden was well out of range. Poor timing from Arlovski.
Headden stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Headden throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arlovski misses with the combination.
Arlovski takes a swing at Headden's ribcage but misses.
Headden loads up on a big right hand but Arlovski slips the punch.
Headden tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Arlovski paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Headden misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Headden moves into range and connects with a jab.
Headden connects with a single shot there.
Headden is looking to clinch but Arlovski is avoiding it.
Headden tries to land a front kick but Arlovski steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Arlovski throws a body punch but Headden moves out of range.
Nice defenses there by Arlovski.
Headden is looking to clinch.
Arlovski bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

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.
Arlovski ducks right into an uppercut from Headden.
Headden is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Headden gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Arlovski misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Arlovski misses with a body punch.
Arlovski tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Headden makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Headden digs a right hand into Arlovski's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Arlovski's gas tank.
Arlovski tries to work over Headden's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Headden with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Jack Arlovski has been cut.
A right hook to the body lands for Headden.
Headden lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Headden keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Arlovski's efforts to push away.
Headden connects with a nasty looking knee right to Arlovski's face.
Arlovski tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Arlovski throws a head punch that misses.
Arlovski has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Headden tries a knee to the head but Arlovski blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Headden showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Headden 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Headden!