PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jerzy Arlecki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Ferguson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Arlecki's entrance music is Undead. A fine choice. 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.

Arlecki
vs
Ferguson

168 cm
23
157 lbs
5 - 1 - 1

183 cm
27
155 lbs
5 - 3 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Russian Top Team Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jerzy Arlecki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tony Ferguson!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Valeri Chadov and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ferguson throws out a loose jab but Arlecki uses good head movement to avoid it.
Arlecki dodges the punch combination from Ferguson.
The crowd cheers as Arlecki lands an impressive looking overhand right. Ferguson doesn't seem phased though.
Arlecki misses with a head kick.
Ferguson throws a body punch but Arlecki moves out of range.
Arlecki steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ferguson.
Arlecki cracks Ferguson with a good jab.
The fighters circling - Ferguson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ferguson swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Arlecki.
A combination from Arlecki does no damage.
Arlecki throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Arlecki.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ferguson takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Arlecki slips a jab from Ferguson.
Arlecki displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ferguson throws out the jab.
Sloppy strikes from Arlecki. Those never looked like landing.
Ferguson misses with a shot to the body
and Arlecki counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Arlecki moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A left lands for Arlecki.
Ferguson rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Arlecki counters with a nice uppercut.
Ferguson throws a shot from downtown. Arlecki moves away and avoids it.
Arlecki fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Ferguson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arlecki lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Ferguson throws a jab but it's blocked by Arlecki.
Arlecki jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ferguson steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Arlecki. That one must have hurt.
Ferguson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Arlecki looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Arlecki buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Arlecki avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ferguson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Arlecki.
Nice defenses there by Arlecki.
Ferguson chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Arlecki can pounce on him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arlecki with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Ferguson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Jerzy Arlecki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Arlecki throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A nice inside leg kick there by Arlecki. That's going to slow Ferguson down.
Arlecki lands with a kick to the temple. Ferguson shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Arlecki is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ferguson.
Arlecki slips a jab from Ferguson.
Arlecki walks into a left hand.
Arlecki misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nice body kick from Arlecki.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arlecki fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Ferguson.
Arlecki throws a head kick that misses.
Ferguson on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Arlecki. Arlecki obviously looking to wear him down.
Arlecki fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ferguson manages to avoid it.
Ferguson throws a hook but Arlecki blocks it.
Ferguson cracks Arlecki with a right hand to the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Arlecki keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ferguson lands a jab.
Arlecki on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jerzy Arlecki dominated that round.
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.

Ferguson thows a left - swing and a miss!
Arlecki getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Arlecki throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Ferguson's head.
Arlecki thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ferguson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
An inside leg kick lands from Arlecki.
Arlecki ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ferguson moves away.
Arlecki has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
A jab lands there for Ferguson.
Ferguson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ferguson steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Arlecki. That one must have hurt.
Ferguson lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Arlecki at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ferguson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Arlecki.
Arlecki pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Ferguson misses with a straight left.
Jerzy Arlecki is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A telegraphed right hand from Ferguson misses the target.
Arlecki moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Arlecki.
Ferguson looks to land a right hand but Arlecki moved out of range.
Ferguson misses the jab.
A head kick from Arlecki lands but Ferguson takes it in his stride.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Arlecki.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arlecki connects with a solid leg kick.
Ferguson misses with an uppercut. Arlecki saw that one coming.
Ferguson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Jerzy Arlecki is winning the standup battle so far.
Ferguson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Arlecki throws a head kick that misses.
Ferguson's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Arlecki lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ferguson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Arlecki throws out the jab.
Ferguson connects with a good right hand that stumbles Arlecki. Arlecki circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Arlecki throws a head kick that Ferguson semi-blocks.
Arlecki throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arlecki throws a hook to the side of Ferguson's head but Ferguson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ferguson misses with a looping right.
A telegraphed right hand from Ferguson misses the target.
Arlecki thuds his shin into the meat of Ferguson's side.
Arlecki lands a nice leg kick that just misses Ferguson's sensitive parts.
Arlecki lands with a shot to the body.
Ferguson misses with a left hand
and Arlecki counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Arlecki ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ferguson throws a hook but Arlecki blocks it.
Ferguson might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Ferguson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Arlecki.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arlecki throws a body punch but Ferguson moves out of range.
Arlecki swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Ferguson.
Arlecki lands a nice leg kick that just misses Ferguson's sensitive parts.
Arlecki ducks under a wild hook from Ferguson.
Arlecki is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Ferguson throws a jab when Arlecki was well out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Arlecki throws a head kick but Ferguson moves out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ferguson misses with a straight right.
Ferguson slips under a jab from Arlecki.
Arlecki throws a nice inside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Arlecki connects with a body shot that sends Ferguson's belly button to the back.
Ferguson lands a nice shot that snaps Arlecki's head back.

Ferguson looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Ferguson throws a big elbow that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ferguson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Arlecki works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ferguson distracts Arlecki with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Arlecki doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Ferguson trying to control but Arlecki is working from the bottom.
Ferguson stopping the sweep attempt from Arlecki.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ferguson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ferguson trying to control the position from guard on top but Arlecki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ferguson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ferguson tries to free his leg and advance position but Arlecki is retaining full guard.
Ferguson trying to control but Arlecki is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Tony Ferguson.
Ferguson takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Ferguson shoots for a takedown but Arlecki saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Ferguson gets a double leg takedown into Arlecki's guard.
Ferguson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Arlecki keeping moving, preventing Ferguson from controlling successfully.
Tony Ferguson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ferguson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ferguson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Arlecki works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Arlecki looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ferguson is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson looking to sit in guard and control but Arlecki gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Ferguson is trying to control the position but Arlecki postures up.
Arlecki trying to control but Ferguson is working from the bottom.
Arlecki sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ferguson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Arlecki misses with a kick to the body.
Ferguson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Arlecki turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Ferguson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Arlecki pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Jerzy Arlecki is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Arlecki fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tony Ferguson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Arlecki has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jerzy Arlecki!
During a confident post fight interview, Jerzy Arlecki thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.