PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Connor Pappas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roman Arshavin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Roman Arshavin is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Pappas
vs
Arshavin

175 cm
20
205 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

184 cm
26
204 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Brown Belt
Great elbows
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Connor Pappas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Roman Arshavin!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Patrick Alders and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pappas circles away from the clinch attempt

and Pappas counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Pappas throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The fighters are battling for position here. Arshavin manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Pappas scoring with punches to the head and body.
Arshavin has momentary wrist control but Pappas slips an elbow through the middle.
Pappas chips away with some ground and pound.
Arshavin is trying to keep Pappas in close.
Arshavin wants to sweep here but Pappas controlling him for the moment.
Pappas is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Xtreme Fight Club (best in Amsterdam) that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pappas lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Pappas is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Pappas with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pappas scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Pappas working some strikes from top position.
Pappas is looking to pass into half guard but Arshavin pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Arshavin is in guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Arshavin trying to control but Pappas is working from the bottom.
Pappas managing to control the position.
Arshavin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pappas is keeping the position for now.
Arshavin trying to control the position from guard on top but Pappas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pappas wants to stand up but Arshavin is controlling him.

Pappas uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Pappas shoots in and gets a takedown into Arshavin's guard.
Pappas stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Arshavin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Pappas working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Arshavin is trying to keep Pappas in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arshavin lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Pappas wants to get back to his feet but Arshavin is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Arshavin preventing the sweep.
Pappas keeping moving, preventing Arshavin from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Arshavin won't allow Pappas to get back to his feet.
Arshavin wants to control from the top but Pappas keeps moving.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Pappas shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Arshavin blocking the ground and pound attempt from Pappas.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pappas takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Connor Pappas dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Pappas swats away the attempt to clinch by Arshavin.
Arshavin looks to clinch

and Pappas decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Arshavin's guard.
Arshavin working a defensive guard here.
Connor Pappas overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Pappas trying to move into half guard but instead Arshavin has managed to sweep!

Arshavin trying to control the position from guard on top but Pappas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pappas is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Arshavin is controlling him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arshavin trying to control the position from guard on top but Pappas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pappas controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pappas keeping moving, preventing Arshavin from controlling successfully.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Pappas manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Arshavin just misses with a elbow thrown towards Pappas's brow.
Pappas dodges an elbow strike from Arshavin.
With the fighters up against the cage, Arshavin throws an elbow but misses.

Pappas turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Pappas working the head with strikes.
Arshavin is looking for a sweep.
Pappas scoring with punches from side control.
Pappas lands some shots froms side control.
Pappas tries to advance to mount but Arshavin denies him.
Pappas knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Arshavin on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pappas grinds an elbow into Arshavin's temple.
Arshavin takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Pappas lands a decent elbow from side control.
Arshavin is looking to reverse the position.
Pappas scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Arshavin to see if he's OK.
Pappas creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

Arshavin is rocked!
Pappas working the head and body with strikes.
Arshavin is still in real trouble! Can Pappas finish him?
Pappas in side control here. He's dropped a big elbow there and Arshavin looks hurt! Oh, he is hurt! Pappas turns on the heat and pounds him out for a TKO victory! Good killer instinct there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Connor Pappas!