PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mo Kendo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrei Arshavin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Arshavin has chosen The Arsenal Mastermind as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kendo
vs
Arshavin

189 cm
25
185 lbs
5 - 3 - 1

175 cm
23
185 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 5 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mo Kendo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Andrei Arshavin!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Stewart Dunkirk and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Arshavin misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kendo shoots in and drives through. Arshavin sprawls well.
Left hook, right uppercut from Arshavin.
Kendo misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Andrei Arshavin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Arshavin throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kendo.
Arshavin fails to land with a series of punches.
Nice jab there from Arshavin.
Arshavin misses with a wild combination.
Kendo shoots in and drives through. Arshavin sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mo Kendo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kendo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Arshavin tries to avoid it but Kendo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Arshavin to the ground. Arshavin escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Kendo tries for a takedown but Arshavin sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Arshavin leaves Kendo with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Arshavin misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Arshavin.
Kendo tries a head kick but it misses.

Arshavin rushes Kendo and presses him up against the cage.
Kendo drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kendo drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Arshavin pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kendo shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Arshavin sprawls well. Arshavin wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kendo gets slowly back to his feet.
Arshavin lands a slapping body shot.
Kendo shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Arshavin defends it nicely.
Kendo shoots in and drives through. Arshavin sprawls well.
No joy there for Arshavin, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Arshavin throws a right and a left that Kendo avoids nicely.
Kendo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Arshavin throws a right and a left that Kendo avoids nicely.
Arshavin swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Kendo feints and as Arshavin raises his hands in defense, Kendo changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Arshavin is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Kendo throws a strike but Arshavin rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kendo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kendo is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Arshavin pushes Kendo off looking to stand but Kendo dives back in and keeps control.
Kendo wants to free his trapped foot but Arshavin is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kendo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kendo looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Arshavin really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kendo. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Kendo is looking for a kimura here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Arshavin pushes Kendo off looking to stand but Kendo dives back in and keeps control.

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.

Kendo is looking for a kimura but Arshavin is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kendo to get the leverage.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Arshavin swinging wildly here.
Kendo tries to score a power double leg takedown but Arshavin sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kendo somewhat.
Kendo avoids a punch combination nicely.
Arshavin throws a right and a left that both miss.
Arshavin slaps away a takedown attempt from Kendo, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Arshavin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kendo.
Arshavin keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrei Arshavin dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Arshavin looks to land a combination but Kendo avoids it well.
Arshavin just misses with a punch to the body.
Arshavin misses with a series of wild punches.
Kendo tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Arshavin swivels and escapes.
Arshavin throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kendo fails with a takedown attempt.
Arshavin misses with a series of wild punches.
No joy there for Arshavin, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Arshavin throws a right and a left that both miss.
No joy there for Arshavin, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Mo Kendo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arshavin misses with a series of wild punches.

Kendo scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Kendo will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Arshavin is trying to buck Kendo off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kendo in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Kendo is looking to take a break and control but Arshavin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The referee asks Kendo politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Kendo prefers to stall for the moment though.

Kendo goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Arshavin rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Kendo's guard! Nice work there by Arshavin!
Arshavin has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Kendo is proving hard to escape from.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Kendo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Arshavin doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Arshavin manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kendo working a defensive guard here.
Arshavin must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Arshavin avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kendo doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Kendo trying to keep a closed guard but Arshavin is proving a slippery customer.

Kendo looking for a guillotine here but Arshavin defends easily.

Arshavin avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Kendo controls Arshavin momentarily but Arshavin frees himself.
Kendo has a closed guard, preventing Arshavin from standing up.
Kendo controls Arshavin momentarily but Arshavin frees himself.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kendo is striking but Arshavin is not phased and passes to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mo Kendo dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Kendo looks for a takedown but Arshavin sprawls well.
Arshavin scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Kendo doesn't seem bothered though.
Arshavin is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Kendo rather than just go for the knockout.
Arshavin stuffs the takedown attempt from Kendo. Kendo gets slowly back to his feet.
Kendo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Arshavin pinned against the cage. Arshavin gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mo Kendo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kendo has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Kendo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Arshavin circles away.
Arshavin wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Arshavin scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Kendo takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Arshavin lands a jab to Kendo's midsection.
Arshavin scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Kendo avoids a punch combination nicely.
Arshavin cracks a nice hook into Kendo's ribs.
Arshavin misses with a few strikes there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A right-left combo lands from Arshavin.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Arshavin with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arshavin misses with a jab, cross combination.
Arshavin digs a good body shot into Kendo's ribs.
Kendo shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Arshavin defends it nicely.
Arshavin comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Kendo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Andrei Arshavin seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kendo takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Arshavin misses with a double jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Arshavin. Kendo does a little dance to reset his feet.
Arshavin lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Kendo backs up against the cage.
Arshavin punishes Kendo's body with a nice straight punch.
Arshavin scores with a three punch combo!
Arshavin throws a series of punches but Kendo moves out of range.
Kendo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Arshavin misses with the combination.
A punch combination from Arshavin misses.
Arshavin lands a jab to Kendo's midsection.
Arshavin slaps away a takedown attempt from Kendo, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arshavin closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Arshavin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kendo manages to avoid it.
Arshavin closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Kendo showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Arshavin.

Kendo darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Arshavin wants to get back to his feet.
Arshavin is refusing to be controlled, as Kendo sits in half guard.

Arshavin manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Kendo.

Kendo tries for a kimura but Arshavin is defending well.
Arshavin prevents Kendo from moving into mount.
Arshavin is trying to buck Kendo off.

Kendo swings around for an armbar but Arshavin sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Kendo's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kendo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kendo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Arshavin is one step ahead there.

Kendo has his foot on Arshavin's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Arshavin works his way back into a safe position though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Kendo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andrei Arshavin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Arshavin has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29

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