PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Butch Cleaver (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Belnick Arlovski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Cleaver
vs
Arlovski

190 cm
25
255 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

200 cm
24
270 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Butch Cleaver!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Belnick Arlovski!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Daniel Franklin and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Arlovski fails with a takedown attempt.
Arlovski wants to clinch.

Cleaver looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Cleaver is looking to work some ground and pound but Arlovski has wrist control.
Arlovski avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cleaver throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Arlovski wants to sweep but no luck.
Cleaver in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cleaver landing with the ground and pound.
Arlovski looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Cleaver decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Cleaver doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Arlovski decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Cleaver's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Arlovski drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Arlovski jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Arlovski looks gassed!
Cleaver wants to get back to his feet but Arlovski is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Arlovski thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Arlovski advances position into side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two 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 wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cleaver keeps working.

Arlovski tries for a kimura but Cleaver is defending well.

Arlovski tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Arlovski has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Arlovski tries for a kimura but Cleaver is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cleaver is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Arlovski is controlling him well.

Arlovski thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Arlovski is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Cleaver is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

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.
Cleaver wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Arlovski wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Cleaver, who protects the arm well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Arlovski is trying to get an arm triangle but Cleaver is defending well.

Arlovski working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Belnick Arlovski dominated that round.
That's time! Cleaver's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Cleaver looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Arlovski!
Arlovski working to try and regain half guard.
Cleaver dominating with strikes here.

It looks like Belnick Arlovski has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cleaver lands a heavy elbow.

That has opened up Belnick Arlovski's cut even more.
Cleaver looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Cleaver fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Arlovski working to try and regain half guard.
Arlovski is breathing heavily.
Cleaver lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cleaver working the ground and pound effectively.
Cleaver lands a big elbow.
Cleaver with good strikes from the mount here!
Cleaver breaks from Arlovski's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Cleaver lands with some strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cleaver dominating with strikes here.
Cleaver is landing with some decent strikes but Arlovski is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Cleaver looking to finish Arlovski with some ground and pound. This is bad for Arlovski!
Arlovski is trying to escape the mount.
Cleaver looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arlovski can't escape the position.
BOOM! Cleaver connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Cleaver prevents Arlovski from getting the reversal.
BOOM! Cleaver connects with a massive shot to the dome!
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Cleaver here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Cleaver looking to finish Arlovski with some ground and pound. This is bad for Arlovski!
Arlovski gets back to half guard.
Cleaver scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Cleaver working over Arlovski with some ground and pound. Arlovski looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Arlovski is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Cleaver scores with a couple of nice shots.
Arlovski keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arlovski taking some punishment here, with Cleaver in his half guard.
Arlovski pushes Cleaver off looking to stand but Cleaver dives back in and keeps control.
Cleaver slips a nice elbow through Arlovski's hands, connecting with Arlovski's forehead.
Arlovski looks like he's trying to stand up.
Arlovski works his way to full guard. Good work.
Cleaver with a flurry of punches that miss.
Cleaver postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cleaver makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Arlovski manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Cleaver manages to get himself to full guard.

Arlovski thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cleaver keeping moving, preventing Arlovski from controlling successfully.
Cleaver wants to stand up but Arlovski is controlling him.

Arlovski is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Arlovski gets to his feet. Cleaver looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Butch Cleaver dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Belnick Arlovski's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Cleaver defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Arlovski.

Cleaver shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Cleaver takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Cleaver looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Cleaver scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Arlovski tries to get to full guard but Cleaver has control of the leg.
Cleaver looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Arlovski with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Arlovski taking some punishment here, with Cleaver in his half guard.
Cleaver lands with a punch from half guard.
Cleaver drops an elbow to the side of Arlovski's head.
Cleaver with the ground and pound but Arlovski uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arlovski wants to sweep but no luck.
Cleaver has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Cleaver throwing strikes from guard but Arlovski blocks nicely.
Arlovski wants to stand but Cleaver is controlling the position.
Cleaver postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Arlovski is on top in guard.

Arlovski drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Arlovski jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

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

Arlovski thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Cleaver is looking to stand up but Arlovski isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cleaver is working an open guard so Arlovski takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Butch Cleaver seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cleaver circles away from the clinch attempt.
Arlovski moves in looking to clinch but Cleaver pushes him off.
Arlovski closes the distance and clinches up with Cleaver, looking for a takedown. Arlovski pushes Cleaver against the cage but Cleaver circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Arlovski takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

The cut above Belnick Arlovski's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Cleaver stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Cleaver wants it to stay on the feet.
Butch Cleaver has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Belnick Arlovski.
Arlovski looks for a takedown but Cleaver sprawls well.
Cleaver shoots in but no luck this time.
Cleaver throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

so Arlovski counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

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

Arlovski thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arlovski trying to control but Cleaver is working from the bottom.

Arlovski is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Butch Cleaver.
Well Cleaver has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Butch Cleaver!