PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Arkley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve French (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). French is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by MGM Intro. James Arkley has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Arkley
vs
French

190 cm
24
221 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

188 cm
21
205 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Arkley!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Steve French!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Chris Downing and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
French swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Arkley.
French throws a right and a left that both miss.
French pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Arkley back to the cage. French follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

It looks like James Arkley has been cut.
French fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
French looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
French fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Arkley on the side of the head.
French will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
French misses with a few strikes there.
Arkley wants to slow French down by chopping away at his legs.
French looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Arkley misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
French swinging wildly here.
Arkley throws a body punch but French moves out of range.
Arkley lands a body shot.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
French tries to throw a body punch but Arkley avoids it by throwing French back against the cage.
Arkley tries to stall but French uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Arkley goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
French tries to throw a body punch but Arkley avoids it by throwing French back against the cage.
French wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Arkley has him pressed against the cage.
French is working Arkley over against the cage.
Arkley using the Thai plumb to throw knees but French has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Arkley tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
French blocks an uppercut.
French tries a body shot but Arkley blocks it.
Arkley working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
French misses with the head strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arkley looking to slow down the pace here.
French stalling against the cage.

French's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
French misses with a few strikes there.
A slapping leg kick lands for Arkley.
Good shot there by French.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
French misses with a wild combination.
Arkley misses with a two punch combination.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Arkley looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
French throws a head punch that misses.
Arkley blocks a body shot from French.
French wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
French can't find room to land a body shot as Arkley controls the action.
Arkley has a couple of punches blocked by French.
French has had enough of the clinch but Arkley keeps him there for the moment.
French lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
French looking to slow down the pace here.
Arkley tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Arkley misses with the head strike.
French blocking some punches.
French scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arkley has a couple of punches blocked by French.
French working hard to break the clinch.
French lands on the inside with an uppercut.
French blocks a body shot from Arkley.
French blocking some punches.
Arkley misses with a short punch on the inside.
Arkley blocking some punches.
French throws a head punch that misses.
Arkley is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but French is keeping busy.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Arkley as French tries to tie him up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A short left from French.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve French dominated that round.
The cut man is working on James Arkley's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

French throws a one two combo.
Arkley takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from French in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.

Arkley closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Arkley lands with a short shot to the head.
Arkley tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
French working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Arkley throws a punch but it's blocked by French.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Arkley blocks a body shot from French.
French's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
French lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Arkley misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's one minute gone in the round.
French misses with a punch to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Arkley.

French manages to break the clinch.
French goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
French throws a right hand that Arkley ducks under and follows up with a left that Arkley also avoids with ease.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Arkley lands with a right hand.
Steve French is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
French waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Arkley.
Arkley fails with an attempt to clinch.
French throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Arkley sees it coming and avoids it easily.
French throws a series of punches but Arkley avoids them all with ease.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Arkley tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. French manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Arkley looks for the body kick but French saw that one coming.
French misses with a wild body shot.
A punch combination from Arkley misses.
French looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Steve French seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
French misses with a hook. Arkley ducked under it nicely.
French looks to land a combination but Arkley avoids it well.
French takes a swing at Arkley's ribcage but misses.
Arkley scoring well with a low kick there.
French throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Arkley throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
French circles away from the clinch attempt.
French ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Arkley moves away.
French closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

It looks like Steve French has been cut.
French throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Arkley throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
French ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
French drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Sloppy strikes from French. Those never looked like landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arkley lands a nice looking body shot.
French bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Arkley's head backwards.
Arkley is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Arkley fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt French.
French is breathing heavily.
Arkley slips under a jab from French.
Arkley misses the shot to the body.
Arkley scores with a nice head shot.
French looks to score with a jab to the body but Arkley is just out of range.
French takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Decent striking displayed by Arkley there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Arkley slips under a jab from French.
A shot to the liver by French. Beautiful body shot.
Arkley throws a wild body kick that French sees coming a mile off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arkley looks for the body kick but French saw that one coming.
A nice combination there by French.
French looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
French keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
French waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Arkley.
Arkley fakes high and swings low for a body shot but French manages to avoid it.
A big left from French misses.
Arkley lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as French backs up against the cage.
Arkley blocks a jab.
French lands with a nice body punch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
French is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Arkley.
French lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Arkley at a distance.
French misses with a few strikes there.
A nice combination there by French.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that James Arkley will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Arkley throws a quick inside leg kick.
Arkley tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and French is able to avoid easily.
Arkley misses with a double jab
and French counters with a stiff right hand.
French throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Arkley sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A lazy left from French finds it's target.
French takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
A nice combination there by French.
Arkley looks to score with a jab to the body but French is just out of range.
Arkley throws a combination but it was largely blocked by French.
French throws a right hand that misses
and Arkley counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. French is lucky that one didn't land flush.

French is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Arkley stuns French with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
French throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A chopping leg kick lands by Arkley.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Arkley uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by French.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arkley thows a left - swing and a miss!
Arkley slips a straight right by French.
Steve French seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Arkley defending well as French loads up on a big left hand.
French lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Arkley circles away quickly and effectively.
A looping hook to the body misses from Arkley. French does a little dance to reset his feet.
Arkley uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by French.
Arkley throws a nice looking combination but French bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A bone on bone clash there as French blocks the leg kick.
French throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Arkley just misses with a punch to the body.
Arkley showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from French.
French has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Arkley.
Arkley is looking to wear down French with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
French feints a jab promting Arkley to slip. French then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Arkley slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Arkley gets cracked there but stands up to it.
A slapping body kick lands there for Arkley.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Arkley looks to land a left hand but French moved out of range nicely.
Arkley scores with a hook to the body. French takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
French tests Arkley's chin there with a solid looking shot.
French misses with a double jab
and Arkley counters with a low kick, right behind French 's knee.
Arkley scores with a body shot.
A jab from Arkley finds it's way through French's defenses.
Arkley throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Arkley - that will leave a mark!
Arkley cracks French with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
French throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Arkley just misses with a punch to the body.
Arkley throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Arkley lands a leg kick that knocks French off balance momentarily.
French throws a right and a left that Arkley avoids nicely.
Arkley moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
French's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Arkley connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! French scrambles back to his feet.

Arkley clinches with his opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Arkley is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Arkley using the Thai plumb to throw knees but French has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
French has a couple of punches blocked by Arkley.
French swings wildly with an uppercut but Arkley uses good head movement to avoid it.
A right hand to the body from French.
French tries to work over Arkley's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
French has had enough of the clinch but Arkley keeps him there for the moment.
Arkley misses with a hook from the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Arkley fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
French tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Arkley's elbow.
Arkley has a couple of punches blocked by French.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Arkley clearly takes that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

French lands the left hand.
Arkley lands with an overhand left.
French rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Arkley moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Arkley clinches up with French and pushes him back against the cage.
French blocks a body shot from Arkley.
French tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Arkley's elbow.
French content to slow the pace in the clinch.
French tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Arkley's elbow.
French swings wildly with an uppercut but Arkley uses good head movement to avoid it.
Arkley tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
French misses with some punches.
French has had enough of the clinch but Arkley keeps him there for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arkley struggles to land a body shot inside as French controls his hands.
Arkley blocking some punches.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Arkley creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from French fails to land.
Arkley tries a body shot but French blocks it.
Arkley scores with a nice hook to the head.
French blocks a body shot from Arkley.
Arkley misses with a knee strike.
French's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
French pushes Arkley back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Arkley misses with a short punch on the inside.
A short right hand to the side of the head by French.
French lands with a short shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
French lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Arkley is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but French is keeping busy.
French manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Knees to the body from Arkley.
French lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
French is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Arkley is keeping busy.
French blocks a body shot from Arkley.
Arkley makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
French works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Arkley.
French blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Arkley struggles to land a body shot inside as French controls his hands.
Steve French seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A knee to the head by Arkley.
French slows down the pace here.
Arkley with a knee to the head.
French is still on wobbly legs! Can Arkley finish him?
Arkley unloads with a big right hand that wobbles French! He's leaning against the cage trying to keep his feet but Arkley is unloading with more strikes now! French drops to his knees and the referee stops the fight for a TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). James Arkley!
James Arkley is the new light heavyweight champion!