PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Viktor Arzhanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ulquiorra Schiffer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Arzhanov might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Needled 24/7. 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.

Arzhanov
vs
Schiffer

179 cm
19
200 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

190 cm
27
200 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Determined

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Viktor Arzhanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ulquiorra Schiffer!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Illya Tyunina and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Arzhanov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Schiffer counters with a nice double leg into side control. Arzhanov won't be happy with that.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

Schiffer is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Arzhanov has escaped the position, nice work there.
Schiffer is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Arzhanov will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
It looks like Schiffer 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 crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Ulquiorra Schiffer wasn't active enough on the ground.
Schiffer cracks Arzhanov with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Arzhanov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Schiffer circles away quickly and effectively.
Arzhanov swinging wildly here.
Arzhanov swinging wildly here.
Schiffer with a nice cross.
Viktor Arzhanov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Arzhanov swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Schiffer counters with a single leg into guard. Arzhanov didn't expect that.
Schiffer passes easily into side control. Nice work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Schiffer content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schiffer's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Ulquiorra Schiffer hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Schiffer looking to score a takedown here. Arzhanov is defending well but Schiffer drives through and ends up in Arzhanov's guard.
Schiffer sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Arzhanov's guard.
Schiffer is looking to advance position but Arzhanov won't allow it.
Arzhanov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Schiffer sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Schiffer wants to free his trapped foot but Arzhanov is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schiffer stalling.
Schiffer moves into full mount! Arzhanov won't be happy about that!
Schiffer controlling from mount.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ulquiorra Schiffer dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Schiffer connects with a right hand. Arzhanov shakes it off.
Arzhanov throws a combination that misses

so Schiffer counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Schiffer is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Arzhanov keeping full guard, as Schiffer tries to pass.
Schiffer controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Schiffer trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Arzhanov is trying to keep Schiffer in close.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Arzhanov misses with a combination

and Schiffer counters with a shoot takedown. Arzhanov fights it but they end up in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schiffer won't allow Arzhanov to get back to his feet.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Schiffer's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Schiffer slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Ulquiorra Schiffer has got the better of the ground game so far.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Ulquiorra Schiffer wasn't active enough on the ground.
Arzhanov looks to land a combination but Schiffer avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arzhanov feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Schiffers jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Schiffer dodges the punch combination from Arzhanov.
Arzhanov takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Schiffer staying out of range there.
Schiffer slips a straight right by Arzhanov.
Arzhanov with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Schiffer to score with a decent uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Schiffer forces Arzhanov back against the cage and clinches.
Schiffer has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Schiffer has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Arzhanov clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Schiffer keeps control of the position easily here as Arzhanov tries to buck him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is taking a good look at Arzhanov as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Schiffer!
Schiffer controls the position.
Arzhanov might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well, with Schiffer on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Arzhanov is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Schiffer keeps control of the position as Arzhanov tries to break free.
Schiffer biding his time, looking for the opening.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Ulquiorra Schiffer wasn't active enough on the ground.
Arzhanov moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ulquiorra Schiffer showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Arzhanov throws a right hand that Schiffer ducks under and follows up with a left that Schiffer also avoids with ease.

It looks like Ulquiorra Schiffer has been cut.
Arzhanov throws a left and a right that both miss

and Schiffer counters with a nice double leg into side control. Arzhanov won't be happy with that.
Schiffer in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Arzhanov on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Schiffer is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Arzhanov will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Arzhanov is trying to improve his position.
Schiffer taking a breather here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ulquiorra Schiffer has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Arzhanov looks to land a right hand but Schiffer moved out of range.
Arzhanov throws a left and a right that both miss

and Schiffer counters with a shoot takedown. Arzhanov fights it but they end up in guard.
Schiffer stays in close to Arzhanov's body and controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arzhanov can't keep his opponent in guard - Schiffer advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Still in half guard, Schiffer seems content to control.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Ulquiorra Schiffer wasn't active enough on the ground.
Arzhanov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Schiffer drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Schiffer slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Schiffer wants to pass the guard but Arzhanov is keeping the position.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Ulquiorra Schiffer hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Arzhanov throws a series of strikes that have Schiffer backpedaling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arzhanov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Schiffer counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
You can see the frustration on Arzhanov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Viktor Arzhanov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Schiffer just content to control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Schiffer working the head with strikes.
A lull in the action here as Schiffer stalls from top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ulquiorra Schiffer comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Schiffer 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ulquiorra Schiffer!
An out of breath Ulquiorra Schiffer thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.