PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Iheb Aribii (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arjen Blaauwendraat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Aribii
vs
Blaauwendraat

225 cm
20
145 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

180 cm
21
140 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Iheb Aribii!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Arjen Blaauwendraat!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Elvis Blanc and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aribii tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Blaauwendraat throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Aribii gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Blaauwendraat makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Aribii really felt that one!
Aribii tries to clinch there but Blaauwendraat circles away.

Blaauwendraat darts in and clinches Aribii up against the cage.

Aribii pulls guard successfully.
Aribii keeping full guard, as Blaauwendraat tries to pass.
Blaauwendraat being controlled here momentarily.
Blaauwendraat passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Aribii regains half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aribii is refusing to be controlled, as Blaauwendraat sits in half guard.
Blaauwendraat might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Aribii haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Aribii tries to get to full guard but Blaauwendraat has control of the leg.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aribii trying to control but Blaauwendraat postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Blaauwendraat is looking to clinch.
Blaauwendraat avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Aribii fails with the takedown.
Aribii tries to close the distance and clinch up but Blaauwendraat swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blaauwendraat's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Blaauwendraat duly obliges.
Blaauwendraat tries to clinch up but Aribii circles away and keeps his distance.
Aribii throws a head kick that misses.
Aribii looks for a takedown but Blaauwendraat sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Iheb Aribii. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Blaauwendraat misses with a few strikes there.
Aribii shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Blaauwendraat as he jumps to the side.
Blaauwendraat tries to clinch but Aribii is having none of it.
Blaauwendraat tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A swing and a miss from Blaauwendraat.
Aribii shoots in for a takedown but Blaauwendraat shows good takedown defense.
Aribii is breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Blaauwendraat drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Aribii struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aribii is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Aribii is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Blaauwendraat wants to control but Aribii is keeping him busy.
Aribii is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blaauwendraat wants to control but Aribii is keeping him busy.
Aribii tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Blaauwendraat shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Aribii as he avoids it easily.
Aribii is looking to clinch.
Aribii really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Aribii shoots in for a takedown but Blaauwendraat shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Blaauwendraat throws a combination that misses
letting Aribii counter with a right hand.
The fight stays on the outside here - Aribii looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Aribii dodges the punch combination from Blaauwendraat.
Blaauwendraat throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A good leg kick by Blaauwendraat.
Aribii throws a wild body kick that Blaauwendraat sees coming a mile off.
Aribii is looking to clinch but Blaauwendraat is avoiding it.
Aribii shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Blaauwendraat as he jumps to the side.
Blaauwendraat goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blaauwendraat displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Aribii.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Iheb Aribii. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Blaauwendraat lands a nice looking body shot.
Blaauwendraat shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Aribii defends it nicely.
Blaauwendraat shoots for a double leg takedown but Aribii sprawls well. He's pushed Blaauwendraat's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Blaauwendraat lands a nice shot to the body.
Blaauwendraat blocks a head kick by Aribii.
Sloppy strikes from Blaauwendraat. Those never looked like landing.
Blaauwendraat throws a wild body kick that Aribii sees coming a mile off.
Blaauwendraat fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Blaauwendraat is breathing heavily.
Aribii shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aribii looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Blaauwendraat throws a combination that misses
and Aribii counters with a nice uppercut.
Aribii fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Aribii tries to clinch but fails miserably
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Aribii doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Blaauwendraat throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Aribii was covering up waiting for the punch and Blaauwendraat finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Blaauwendraat passes Aribii's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Aribii is staying active underneath Blaauwendraat, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aribii tries to roll over but Blaauwendraat keeps him under control.
Blaauwendraat stops Aribii from getting back to his feet.

Blaauwendraat is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Aribii controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aribii trying to hold on to Blaauwendraat's head to control him but Blaauwendraat postures up.
Aribii is staying active underneath Blaauwendraat, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Aribii is trying to maintain the position but Blaauwendraat is very close to passing his half guard.
Aribii makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Aribii.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Aribii pulls Blaauwendraat in to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Arjen Blaauwendraat will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Blaauwendraat thows a body shot but no joy.
A looping hook to the body misses from Blaauwendraat. Aribii does a little dance to reset his feet.
Aribii doesn't manage to clinch there - Blaauwendraat circles away.
Blaauwendraat leaves Aribii with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Aribii scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Blaauwendraat doesn't seem bothered though.
Blaauwendraat misses with a jab, cross combination.
Blaauwendraat takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Blaauwendraat rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Aribii counters with a series of strikes. Blaauwendraat will be more careful next time no doubt.
Iheb Aribii is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Aribii is looking to clinch.

Blaauwendraat shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Aribii manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Blaauwendraat stops Aribii from standing up.
Arjen Blaauwendraat has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Blaauwendraat wants to control from the top but Aribii keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aribii seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Blaauwendraat wants to control from the top but Aribii keeps moving.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Arjen Blaauwendraat.
Blaauwendraat moves in looking to clinch but Aribii pushes him off.
Blaauwendraat throws a right hand that Aribii ducks under and follows up with a left that Aribii also avoids with ease.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Aribii enables Blaauwendraat to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Aribii manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Blaauwendraat controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blaauwendraat being controlled here momentarily.

Blaauwendraat is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Aribii has his foot on Blaauwendraat's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Blaauwendraat works his way back into a safe position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blaauwendraat advances to half guard.
Aribii tries to get to full guard but Blaauwendraat has control of the leg.

Blaauwendraat is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Blaauwendraat content to control rather than advance.
Blaauwendraat is trying to control the action in half guard but Aribii is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aribii tries to roll over but Blaauwendraat keeps him under control.
Aribii is working hard here to advance position.
Blaauwendraat is taking a breather. Aribii says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Aribii tries to get to full guard but Blaauwendraat has control of the leg.
Blaauwendraat is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Iheb Aribii has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Arjen Blaauwendraat is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Aribii is trying desperately to improve position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Arjen Blaauwendraat comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Blaauwendraat has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arjen Blaauwendraat!
Arjen Blaauwendraat seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.