PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Arvydas Sabonis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcus Avery (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Sabonis
vs
Avery

210 cm
34
293 lbs
30 - 14 - 0

198 cm
26
258 lbs
15 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Reaper Combatwear
Fury Nutrition Inc.

Wild Ones Apparel (Fightwear and Laundry)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 30 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Arvydas Sabonis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Marcus Avery!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, James Atkins and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Avery slips under a jab from Sabonis.
Avery avoids the body shot from Sabonis.
Avery tries a head kick but it misses.

A jab-cross combination lands for Avery and sends Sabonis crashing to the mat! Avery follows him down to the mat - Sabonis regains half guard but he's not out of trouble yet!

It looks like Arvydas Sabonis has been cut.
Sabonis trying to control here.
Sabonis is looking to escape.
Avery sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Avery lands with a punch from half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Sabonis looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Avery pushes past his half guard into mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sabonis regains half guard.
Sabonis trying to control but Avery postures up.
Sabonis desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Sabonis is looking to improve his position.
Sabonis is trying to stand back up but Avery is controlling him
Sabonis moves into full guard.
Avery trying to control but Sabonis is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Avery avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Sabonis is looking for a triangle but Avery pushes his legs off easily.

Sabonis is looking for a triangle but Avery pushes his legs off easily.
Avery trying to control but Sabonis is working from the bottom.

Sabonis has his foot on Avery's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Avery works his way back into a safe position though.
Avery trying to control but Sabonis is working from the bottom.
Avery lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Avery works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Sabonis moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Sabonis has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Avery can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Avery passes Sabonis's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Sabonis trying to control from the bottom.
Sabonis is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Avery is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Sabonis manages to get to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sabonis has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Avery is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Sabonis.
Sabonis wants to control but Avery postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sabonis is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Avery lands a few punches from side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sabonis is trying to improve his position.
You can see the frustration on Sabonis's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Avery dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Arvydas Sabonis's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Avery keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Sabonis.
Avery wants to land a leg kick but Sabonis is out of range.
Avery darts in trying to clinch
and Sabonis counters with a nice low kick that buckles Avery's knee momentarily.
Good work by Sabonis as he checks the leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sabonis takes a swing at Avery's ribcage but misses.
Avery doesn't manage to clinch there - Sabonis circles away.
Avery shoots for a takedown but Sabonis saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Avery throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Sabonis counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sabonis keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Avery tries to clinch up.
Avery tries to clinch but Sabonis moves out of range.
Avery chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Avery connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
A head kick misses from Sabonis.
Avery tries to land a body kick

and Sabonis counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Sabonis.
Avery has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Avery is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sabonis is defending well for now.
Sabonis lands a shoulder strike.

Sabonis manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Avery working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Sabonis will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Sabonis throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sabonis keeping moving, preventing Avery from controlling successfully.

Sabonis escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Avery gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Avery trying to control but Sabonis is working from the bottom.

Sabonis looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Avery passes into half guard.
Sabonis is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Avery looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Sabonis with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Sabonis looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Avery controlling the action here.
Avery wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sabonis keeps working.
Sabonis has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Avery is working away from the top position though.
Avery wants to free his trapped foot but Sabonis is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Avery lands strikes from half guard.
Sabonis manages to get to full guard.

Sabonis has his foot on Avery's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Avery works his way back into a safe position though.
Avery is stalling in the full guard.

Avery is posturing up here but Sabonis has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Avery tries to roll out but it's too tight and Avery has to tap! Slick submission there by Sabonis!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Arvydas Sabonis!
Arvydas Sabonis made sure to give a little speech post fight, saying 'I want to thank my fans and I only want one thing and thats a rematch for my BELT. GRIMES you have it and I want it back. So lets do this one more time and then you can retire. '.
The defeated Marcus Avery had this to say: 'Oh man, thanks for the support, I am still young and will just keep getting better.'.