PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lalo Arango (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Valentin Shovkovskyj (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lalo Arango could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Valentin Shovkovskyj's chin.

Arango
vs
Shovkovskyj

185 cm
19
188 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

180 cm
24
195 lbs
6 - 8 - 1

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lalo Arango!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Valentin Shovkovskyj!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Shovkovskyj shoots for a double leg takedown but Arango sprawls well. He's pushed Shovkovskyj's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Shovkovskyj tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Oooh a lovely combination from Arango sends Shovkovskyj down but not out. Arango dives into side control looking to finish.

Shovkovskyj is rocked!

It looks like Valentin Shovkovskyj has been cut.
Arango throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Shovkovskyj is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Arango is controlling him well.
Arango cracks Shovkovskyj with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Shovkovskyj sneaks back into half guard.
Arango slips a nice elbow through Shovkovskyj's hands, connecting with Shovkovskyj's forehead.
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!
Shovkovskyj gets full guard.
Arango with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Arango postures up in Shovkovskyj's guard and throws a big left but Shovkovskyj blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shovkovskyj controlling Arango's posture.
Arango postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Arango missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Arango with a flurry of punches that miss.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Shovkovskyj is on top in guard.
Arango wants to stand but Shovkovskyj is controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shovkovskyj in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Shovkovskyj makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Shovkovskyj lands a couple of elbows.
Shovkovskyj trying to control but Arango is working from the bottom.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Arango drives through and clinches with Shovkovskyj against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shovkovskyj pulls guard effortlessly.
Arango with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Shovkovskyj is on top in guard.

Arango manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Arango has managed to clinch.
Arango has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Shovkovskyj is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Shovkovskyj drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Arango gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Arango managing to block the knees to the body from Shovkovskyj.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Arango has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Shovkovskyj clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Shovkovskyj looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Arango doesn't have the hooks in and Shovkovskyj manages to turn into his guard.
Shovkovskyj trying to control but Arango is working from the bottom.

Shovkovskyj drops back looking for a leg! Arango is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Arango manages to kick Shovkovskyj off! Shovkovskyj jumps back into Arango's guard.
Arango keeping full guard, as Shovkovskyj tries to pass.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Arango keeping moving, preventing Shovkovskyj from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lalo Arango dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Valentin Shovkovskyj's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A combination from Arango does no damage.
And Shovkovskyj tries to counter it with a takedown but Arango pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Arango takes the fight into the clinch.

Arango turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Shovkovskyj sneaks back into half guard.
Shovkovskyj felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Nice strikes from Arango there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shovkovskyj wants to control but Arango is keeping busy.
Shovkovskyj holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Arango connects with a nice short shot to Shovkovskyj's temple.
Shovkovskyj slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shovkovskyj is trying to control the position but Arango postures up.
Shovkovskyj controlling Arango's posture.
Shovkovskyj looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Shovkovskyj trying to control the position here.
Shovkovskyj working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Arango.
Shovkovskyj looking to control.
Shovkovskyj avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Shovkovskyj preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Arango throws an elbow that misses. Shovkovskyj uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Arango's guard. Nice move by Shovkovskyj!
Shovkovskyj chips away with some ground and pound.
Arango is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Shovkovskyj can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Arango preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Arango knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Shovkovskyj on the ground.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Shovkovskyj's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Arango wants to stand but Shovkovskyj is controlling the position.
Shovkovskyj wants to control from the top but Arango keeps moving.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Lalo Arango is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Shovkovskyj looks for a takedown but Arango sprawls well.
Arango scores with a jab to the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shovkovskyj shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Arango pinned against the cage. Arango gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Arango feinted with a counter takedown.
Shovkovskyj throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Arango's waist but Arango gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Shovkovskyj off to one side.
Lalo Arango has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Valentin Shovkovskyj.
Arango throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Shovkovskyj.
Shovkovskyj wants to counter the offense by Arango and move into the clinch position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Arango forces Shovkovskyj back against the cage and clinches.
Arango goes for a takedown attempt but Shovkovskyj pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Shovkovskyj fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
It looked like Arango wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Shovkovskyj tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Arango defends well and Shovkovskyj ends up having to push Arango into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Arango closes the distance and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lalo Arango dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Valentin Shovkovskyj's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Arango slaps away a takedown attempt from Shovkovskyj, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Arango drops down looking for a counter takedown but Shovkovskyj sprawls and moves away.
Shovkovskyj has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Shovkovskyj there as he acknowledges the shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Horrible takedown attempt by Shovkovskyj or perhaps it was just good defense by Arango, which made it look bad.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Shovkovskyj looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Arango clinches up against the cage.
Arango is looking for a takedown.
Shovkovskyj is trying to drag Arango to the mat but Arango just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Lalo Arango has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Valentin Shovkovskyj.
Arango prevents a body shot from Shovkovskyj.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Arango prevents a body shot from Shovkovskyj.
Shovkovskyj tries to land knees in the clinch but Arango avoids the damage to the body.
Arango is looking to take this one to the mat.

Shovkovskyj works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Shovkovskyj is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Arango is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arango tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.

Shovkovskyj looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Shovkovskyj won't let Arango get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Arango is squirming around, avoiding Shovkovskyj's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Shovkovskyj has hold of Arango's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Arango manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

Shovkovskyj goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Arango turns into him and now he's in Shovkovskyj's guard.
Arango preventing the sweep.
Arango cracks Shovkovskyj with a solid left hand.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Arango working some strikes from top position.
Arango has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Arango throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Valentin Shovkovskyj has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Arango working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Shovkovskyj's head.
Lalo Arango is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Arango lands a couple of decent looking shots.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lalo Arango showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Arango has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:26
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lalo Arango!
A relieved looking Lalo Arango thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.