PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Dale Lang (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aldin Arifi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Arifi has chosen Eminem - Not Afraid as his entrance music. 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.

Lang
vs
Arifi

168 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
26
135 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Dale Lang!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Aldin Arifi!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, James Ackerman and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Arifi feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Arifi lands a couple of elbows.
Lang wants to stand and escape but Arifi is having none of it.
Arifi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Lang utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Arifi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Arifi postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Arifi slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
It looks like Arifi might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arifi prevents Lang from getting back to his feet.
Arifi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Arifi postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Arifi lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Arifi postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Lang knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Arifi on the ground.
Arifi keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Lang's head.
Arifi slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Arifi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Lang works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arifi thows a big elbow that misses.
Arifi thows a big elbow that misses.
Lang is breathing heavily.
Arifi makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Arifi engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Lang is working an open guard so Arifi takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Arifi shoots in and bounces Lang off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arifi controls from within his opponent's guard.
Arifi won't allow Lang to get back to his feet.
Arifi working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Arifi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Arifi working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

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.
Arifi scoring with some ground and pound.
Arifi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Arifi is looking to work some ground and pound but Lang has wrist control.
Arifi is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Arifi's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Arifi working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Lang's head.
Arifi throwing strikes but missing.
Arifi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aldin Arifi dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Arifi shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Lang is trying to defend but Arifi finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Arifi thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Arifi thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Lang blocking the ground and pound attempt from Arifi.
Arifi not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Arifi stands up from half guard.

Arifi fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Lang sprawls well initially but Arifi persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Arifi throwing shots but Lang is blocking nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arifi seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Arifi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Lang defending well though.
Arifi working over Lang with some ground and pound. Lang looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Arifi is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Lang is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:03 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Aldin Arifi!