PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Luke Holder (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Arlovski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Arlovski is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Sex, God, Sex by the SWANS. This should be a great matchup!

Holder
vs
Arlovski

185 cm
24
196 lbs
14 - 3 - 0

194 cm
28
196 lbs
18 - 9 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Vandal Fight Boutique (prices $8 - $30)
Vandal Fight Boutique (prices $8 - $30)

ACME-Blood Red Q158 Always $30

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 14 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Luke Holder!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jack Arlovski!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Illya Tyunina and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Arlovski misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Holder.
Holder slips under a jab.
Holder swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Arlovski feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Holders jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
The fight stays on the outside here - Arlovski looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Arlovski scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Arlovski trying to control the position but Holder is working away.
You can see the frustration on Holder's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Sloppy strikes there by Arlovski.
Arlovski lands a decent elbow from side control.
Arlovski scores with a couple of short elbows.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Holder is not content to let Arlovski control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arlovski working away.

Arlovski is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Holder knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Arlovski wants to lay and pray for a moment but Holder keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An elbow from Arlovski crashes against the mat.
Holder is not content to let Arlovski control the position.
Holder prevents Arlovski from moving into mount.
Arlovski is looking to take a break and control but Holder is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arlovski slows the pace down.
Arlovski fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Holder parries the strikes from Arlovski easily there. Arlovski is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Holder to escape.
Holder takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

Arlovski thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Holder is not content to let Arlovski control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holder is looking to reverse the position.
The ground and pound from Arlovski seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Arlovski scoring with punches from side control.
The strikes coming from Arlovski are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Arlovski staying calm.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Arlovski postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Arlovski dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Arlovski throws a series of strikes that have Holder backpedaling.
Holder throws a nice outside leg kick.
Holder slips a straight right by Arlovski.
Holder tries to clinch up.
Holder takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Arlovski feints and then cracks Holder's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Holder down.
Arlovski shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Holder as he jumps to the side.
Holder misses with a head kick.
Holder throws a combination. Arlovski tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

It looks like Jack Arlovski has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Holder swats away the attempt to clinch by Arlovski.
Holder doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Arlovski ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Holder moves away.

Arlovski bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Arlovski.
Jack Arlovski has got the better of the ground game so far.
Arlovski is trying to move to mount but Holder reverses beautifully and ends up in Arlovski's guard.
Holder trying to control the position from guard on top but Arlovski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Arlovski is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Arlovski keeping moving, preventing Holder from controlling successfully.
Arlovski looking to hit a scissor sweep but Holder is one step ahead there.
Arlovski is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arlovski looking to hit a scissor sweep but Holder is one step ahead there.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Luke Holder has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Holder misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Holder fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Arlovski manages to avoid it.
Arlovski connects with a crisp jab.
Luke Holder is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Arlovski has a takedown stuffed.
Donk. Arlovski catches Holder right on the button with a cross.
Holder tries to land a front kick but Arlovski steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A swing and a miss from Holder.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arlovski cracks Holder with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Arlovski looks to score with a jab to the body but Holder is just out of range.
Holder throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Arlovski misses the shot to the body.
Holder avoids a punch combination nicely.
A leg kick checked by Holder.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Holder checks a leg kick.
Holder lands a head kick. Arlovski smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Jack Arlovski seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Arlovski misses with the combination.
Holder checks a leg kick.
No luck for Arlovski with that takedown attempt.
Luke Holder has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jack Arlovski.
Arlovski tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Holder was well out of range. Poor timing from Arlovski.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holder circles away from the clinch attempt.
Holder dodges the punch combination from Arlovski.
Holder avoids the body shot from Arlovski.
Holder throws a head kick that misses.
Holder gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Arlovski makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Holder really felt that one!
Holder slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Arlovski loads up on a big right hand but Holder slips the punch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Arlovski tries to break the clinch but Holder is controlling the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nice elbow from Holder.

Arlovski escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jack Arlovski will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Jack Arlovski's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Holder takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Arlovski swings for the body but Holder moves out of range.
Holder is looking to clinch but Arlovski is avoiding it.
Holder showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Arlovski.

Holder gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Arlovski to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Arlovski loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Holder controls Arlovski momentarily but Arlovski frees himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Arlovski looking to sit in guard and control but Holder gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Arlovski is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holder is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Arlovski looking to hit a scissor sweep but Holder is one step ahead there.
Holder is fighting to break Arlovski's control of his arms but Arlovski is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Arlovski is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arlovski postures up in Holder's guard and throws a big left but Holder blocks it.
Arlovski works over Holder with some ground and pound from guard.
Arlovski is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Arlovski is fighting to break Holder's control of his arms but Holder is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Arlovski trying to control the position from guard on top but Holder is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Arlovski drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Holder dives on top into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holder stopping the sweep attempt from Arlovski.
Arlovski bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Holder's guard.
Arlovski is pushing down on Holder's leg trying to pass to half guard. Holder is fighting to maintain full guard but Arlovski has managed to sneak the leg through.
Arlovski wants to free his trapped foot but Holder is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Arlovski is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Holder has managed to free his arm - good work.
Holder is not content to let Arlovski control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Arlovski is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Holder defends it well.
Arlovski missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Arlovski throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Luke Holder has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Arlovski wants to control but Holder is keeping him busy.
Arlovski controlling the pace.
Arlovski has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Arlovski is trying to control. Holder wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jack Arlovski comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Arlovski 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jack Arlovski!