PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Aldin Arifi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carlo McCloughan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Arifi
vs
McCloughan

175 cm
18
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

172 cm
19
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

EyeFly

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Aldin Arifi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Carlo McCloughan!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

McCloughan shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
McCloughan can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Arifi is looking to escape.
McCloughan won't let Arifi get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Arifi holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as McCloughan tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Arifi is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Arifi regains half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCloughan working Arifi over with strikes.
McCloughan perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
McCloughan sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Arifi defending well though.
Arifi is trying to control but can't.

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.
Arifi wants to improve his position but McCloughan is controlling well.
McCloughan is controlling the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Carlo McCloughan was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Arifi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
McCloughan misses with a double jab
and Arifi counters with a one-two to the body.
Arifi doesn't succeed with the takedown

and McCloughan counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Arifi is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCloughan seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
McCloughan's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Arifi has momentary wrist control but McCloughan slips an elbow through the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCloughan is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Carlo McCloughan was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Arifi misses with a two punch combination.

McCloughan closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Arifi to the mat! Arifi manages to get full guard.
McCloughan wants to pass the guard but Arifi is keeping the position.
McCloughan is working Arifi over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
McCloughan must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
McCloughan is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carlo McCloughan dominated that round.
That's time! Arifi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Arifi looks to land a combination but McCloughan avoids it well.

McCloughan shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
McCloughan keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
McCloughan thows a huge punch but Arifi dodges it nicely.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Carlo McCloughan has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
McCloughan jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Arifi avoids the body shot from McCloughan.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Arifi enables McCloughan to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Arifi manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
McCloughan won't allow Arifi to sweep him here.
McCloughan with a nice head shot there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCloughan tries to free his leg and advance position but Arifi is retaining full guard.
Arifi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from McCloughan.
McCloughan landing with the ground and pound.
McCloughan with a flurry of punches that miss.
McCloughan makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCloughan looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
McCloughan throws a big right hand that misses.
McCloughan is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
McCloughan wants to pass the guard but Arifi is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
McCloughan stays in close to Arifi's body and controls the position.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Carlo McCloughan hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Excellent takedown into side control there by McCloughan.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Arifi takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Arifi being controlled for a moment.
Arifi takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carlo McCloughan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Arifi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

McCloughan misses with a kick to the body.

McCloughan darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
McCloughan looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Carlo McCloughan has got the better of the ground game so far.
McCloughan looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCloughan working the head and body with strikes.
McCloughan stalling.

Carlo McCloughan has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
McCloughan swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Arifi tries for a takedown but McCloughan circles away easily

and McCloughan counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by McCloughan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCloughan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
McCloughan trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
McCloughan is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
McCloughan with a nice head shot there.
McCloughan stays in close to Arifi's body and controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Carlo McCloughan was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Arifi avoids the body shot from McCloughan.
McCloughan misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Aldin Arifi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

McCloughan looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
McCloughan tries to free his leg and advance position but Arifi is retaining full guard.
McCloughan showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCloughan tries to free his leg and advance position but Arifi is retaining full guard.
McCloughan is looking to work some ground and pound but Arifi has wrist control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

McCloughan throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Arifi was covering up waiting for the punch and McCloughan finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Arifi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from McCloughan.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Arifi gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
McCloughan wants to control from the top but Arifi keeps moving.
McCloughan scoring with punches to the head and body.
McCloughan sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Arifi is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst McCloughan is controlling him.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCloughan slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Carlo McCloughan was stalling too much, according to the referee.

McCloughan shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
McCloughan seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCloughan frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
McCloughan controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCloughan is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Arifi can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
McCloughan lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
McCloughan working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCloughan unloading with bombs!
McCloughan controlling from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carlo McCloughan dominated that fourth round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

McCloughan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Arifi moves into range and connects with a jab.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Arifi.
Carlo McCloughan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Arifi throws a push kick but McCloughan slaps the foot to one side.
McCloughan looks to score with a jab to the body but Arifi is just out of range.

Arifi tries to sprawl but McCloughan drives through with a takedown into half guard.
McCloughan is figuring out what he wants to do next.
McCloughan thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Arifi's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arifi wants to get back to his feet.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
McCloughan stalling.
Arifi is trying to stand.
McCloughan has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
McCloughan content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Carlo McCloughan wasn't active enough on the ground.

McCloughan shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than McCloughan was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCloughan controlling the pace for now.
Arifi in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
McCloughan with a couple of short strikes.
McCloughan landing shots from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCloughan controlling the pace for now.
Let's hope that McCloughan has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
McCloughan lands with some strikes.
Aldin Arifi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McCloughan unloading with bombs!
BOOM! McCloughan connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCloughan with the ground and pound from mount.
McCloughan has his opponent pinned against the ropes, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Arifi's face.
McCloughan sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Arifi is in a horrible position here. McCloughan smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Carlo McCloughan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got McCloughan winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 44:50
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 41:50
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 44:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Carlo McCloughan!