PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rafal Arsic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Martin Di Scola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Arsic
vs
Di Scola

167 cm
18
142 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

Cripplers Corner

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 Los Angeles, Rafal Arsic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Martin Di Scola!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Di Scola darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Di Scola thows a huge punch but Arsic dodges it nicely.
Di Scola throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Di Scola throwing shots but Arsic is blocking nicely.
Di Scola thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Arsic's head.
Di Scola thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Di Scola misses with a head shot. Arsic uses the momentum to regain guard.
Di Scola throws a strike but Arsic rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Di Scola looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Arsic puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Arsic wants to control but Di Scola is keeping him busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Di Scola is trying to get back to full guard.
Di Scola punching from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Di Scola is looking to improve his position.
Arsic trying to control the action but Di Scola is working from the bottom.
Arsic prevents Di Scola from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Martin Di Scola was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Di Scola gets a clinch.

Di Scola turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Di Scola tries to score with some ground and pound. Arsic controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Arsic is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Di Scola throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
You can see the frustration on Arsic's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Di Scola tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Arsic is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Di Scola throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Arsic regains half guard, as Di Scola was trying to land strikes.
Di Scola thows a huge punch but Arsic dodges it nicely.
Di Scola working the head and body with strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Di Scola missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Di Scola is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Di Scola misses with a head shot. Arsic uses the momentum to regain guard.
Arsic wants to get back to his feet but Di Scola is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Di Scola closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Martin Di Scola has got the better of the ground game so far.
Arsic regains half guard, as Di Scola was trying to land strikes.
Arsic on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Di Scola not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Di Scola throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Arsic to regain full guard.
Di Scola trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Di Scola connects with a couple of short punches.
Di Scola postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Di Scola scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Di Scola connects with a couple of short punches.
Di Scola wants to pass the guard but Arsic is keeping the position.
Di Scola must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Arsic working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Di Scola.
Arsic might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Di Scola with a nice head shot there.
Arsic wants to stand but Di Scola is controlling the position.
Di Scola lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Di Scola throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Arsic works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Di Scola content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Arsic lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Di Scola!
Di Scola has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.
Di Scola tries to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arsic trying to control.
Di Scola rolls, trying to escape but Arsic keeps control of the position.
Arsic trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Rafal Arsic.

Arsic forces Di Scola back against the cage and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Martin Di Scola showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Arsic drives through and clinches with Di Scola against the cage.
Di Scola tries for a takedown. No joy.
Di Scola is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Arsic pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Arsic is trying to maintain a safe position but Di Scola gets an underhook and turns Arsic into the cage.
Di Scola is looking for a takedown.
Rafal Arsic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Martin Di Scola.
Di Scola throws a punch but it's blocked by Arsic.
Arsic misses with an elbow strike.
Arsic lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Arsic lands a nice elbow.

Arsic manages to pull guard.
Arsic utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Di Scola accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Di Scola throws a big elbow that misses.
Di Scola throws a strike but Arsic rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Di Scola wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arsic is fighting to break Di Scola's control of his arms but Di Scola is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Martin Di Scola has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Di Scola has closed the distance and engaged Arsic in a clinch.
Arsic lands an elbow that stopped Di Scola in his tracks for a moment.

Di Scola pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Di Scola closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Arsic wants to control but Di Scola postures up.
Di Scola misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Di Scola with the ground and pound but Arsic regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Arsic gets back to full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Di Scola accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Di Scola throwing strikes from guard but Arsic blocks nicely.
Di Scola working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Di Scola postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Di Scola stands over his opponent and dives in with a flying punch! Arsic throws up his legs and catches Di Scola in a triangle! Oh this looks tight! Di Scola tries to escape but he's forced to tap! Wow, fantastic work there by Arsic! That came out of nowhere!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:22 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Rafal Arsic!