PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Pat Tillman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jannis Arvanitidis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Tillman
vs
Arvanitidis

177 cm
24
159 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

169 cm
41
156 lbs
32 - 27 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Powerful

Hellbent

My$tic Clothing ~ (`10%Laundry`)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Pat Tillman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 27 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jannis Arvanitidis!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Andrew Berry and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tillman scores with a spinning back kick!
Tillman scores with a push kick.
Tillman cracks Arvanitidis with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Jab by Arvanitidis.
Arvanitidis paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Arvanitidis throws a hook but Tillman avoids it easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Arvanitidis.
Tillman throwing a counter right hand but Arvanitidis manages to avoid it.

Arvanitidis drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tillman looking for a sweep. Not yet Tillman, not yet.

Tillman is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Tillman trying to keep a closed guard but Arvanitidis is proving a slippery customer.
Arvanitidis trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Tillman had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Arvanitidis defends it easily.
Arvanitidis with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Arvanitidis accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Arvanitidis throwing strikes from guard but Tillman blocks nicely.

Arvanitidis got a little sloppy there for a moment and Tillman has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Arvanitidis has managed to get both his arms back between Tillman's legs - danger averted.
Arvanitidis is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Arvanitidis trying to control but Tillman is working from the bottom.
Arvanitidis in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Arvanitidis won't allow Tillman to sweep him here.
Arvanitidis postures up and lands a big shot to Tillman's brow.
Arvanitidis trying to control the position from guard on top but Tillman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Arvanitidis throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tillman works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arvanitidis loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Arvanitidis postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Tillman lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Arvanitidis escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Tillman gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Arvanitidis has momentary wrist control but Tillman slips an elbow through the middle.
Tillman not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Tillman keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Arvanitidis's head.

Arvanitidis looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Tillman showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Tillman chips away with some ground and pound.
We've been hearing good reports from Tillman's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Arvanitidis is looking for a triangle here but Tillman uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Tillman in side control lands a decent elbow.

Tillman tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Tillman has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Tillman is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Arvanitidis knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Tillman tries to move into full mount but can't pass Arvanitidis's legs.
Arvanitidis is trying to improve his position.
Arvanitidis on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arvanitidis sneaks back into half guard.

Arvanitidis is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Tillman pulls his head out easily.
Tillman sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Arvanitidis on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Tillman seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Tillman lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Arvanitidis is looking to control Tillman's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Arvanitidis avoid being mounted?

Arvanitidis is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Tillman pulls his head out easily.
Tillman prevents Arvanitidis from improving his position.
Tillman has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pat Tillman dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Arvanitidis takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Arvanitidis looks to land a right hand but Tillman moved out of range.
Tillman walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Tillman on the wrong end of a nice hook.
A lazy left from Tillman finds it's target.
Arvanitidis misses with the combination.
Arvanitidis throws an overhand right that lands on Tillman's shoulder, as Tillman tries to avoid the shot.
Tillman fails to land the takedown.
Arvanitidis is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Tillman with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Arvanitidis to score with a decent uppercut.
A slow jab from Arvanitidis misses its intended target.
Tillman keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Arvanitidis on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Tillman's jab looks to have found its range, popping Arvanitidis under the eye.

Arvanitidis gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Tillman to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Tillman preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Arvanitidis working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Tillman doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Tillman manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Arvanitidis keeping moving, preventing Tillman from controlling successfully.

Arvanitidis working for a triangle but Tillman defends it easily.
Tillman trying to control the position from guard on top but Arvanitidis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Arvanitidis controls Tillman momentarily but Tillman frees himself.

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.
Arvanitidis keeping moving, preventing Tillman from controlling successfully.

Arvanitidis looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Tillman not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Arvanitidis wants to sweep here but Tillman controlling him for the moment.
Pat Tillman overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Arvanitidis is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Arvanitidis has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Tillman can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Arvanitidis isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Tillman stacks Arvanitidis on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Tillman!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tillman scores with a couple of short elbows.
Arvanitidis is looking to regain half guard here but Tillman keeps moving and retains side control.
Arvanitidis is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Tillman trying to control the position but Arvanitidis is working away.
Tillman lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Arvanitidis down.
Tillman landing strikes.
Tillman trying to control the position but Arvanitidis is working away.
Tillman lands a decent elbow from side control.
Arvanitidis manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Tillman is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Arvanitidis doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Tillman.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tillman looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Arvanitidis with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Nice strikes from Tillman there.
Arvanitidis wants to control but Tillman is keeping busy.
Arvanitidis has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Tillman is nestled in close to Arvanitidis, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Tillman perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Tillman is nestled in close to Arvanitidis, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Tillman is trying to control. Arvanitidis wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Tillman is thwarting Arvanitidis's attempts to control the position.
Tillman wants to control but Arvanitidis is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pat Tillman dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Tillman misses with a head kick.
Sloppy strikes from Arvanitidis. Those never looked like landing.
Tillman misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Tillman takes a swing at Arvanitidis's ribcage but misses.
Tillman is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Arvanitidis throws a hook to the side of Tillman's head but Tillman sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Tillman throws a leg kick which misses Arvanitidis's front leg but catches the back leg as Arvanitidis tries to avoid it.
Tillman lands a nice shot to the body.
Tillman misses with a straight left.
Tillman gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
A telegraphed right hand from Arvanitidis misses the target.
Arvanitidis might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Tillman moves out of range of the strikes.
Arvanitidis throws a looping overhand right but Tillman ducks down to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tillman shoots in for a double leg but Arvanitidis sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Tillman slips a straight right by Arvanitidis.
Arvanitidis lands with a hook. Tillman tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Tillman staying out of range there.
Jannis Arvanitidis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
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!
Arvanitidis swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
letting Tillman counter with a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arvanitidis is trying hard to land a takedown here. Tillman sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Tillman uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Tillman showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Arvanitidis.
Arvanitidis takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Arvanitidis avoids the head kick by Tillman.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Arvanitidis! But no joy.
Arvanitidis throws a big shot that misses.
An inside leg kick from Arvanitidis misses.
Tillman throws a head kick that misses.
Tillman digs a good body shot into Arvanitidis's ribs.
Arvanitidis misses with a left hand
and Tillman counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Arvanitidis thows a left - swing and a miss!
Arvanitidis misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Arvanitidis jabs Tillman to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Tillman misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Arvanitidis swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A nice combination there by Arvanitidis.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tillman connects with a nice looking jab.
Pat Tillman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Tillman.
Tillman scores with a hook to the body. Arvanitidis takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

Arvanitidis gets a double leg takedown into Tillman's guard.
Arvanitidis won't allow Tillman to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tillman working a defensive guard here.
Arvanitidis won't allow Tillman to sweep him here.
Arvanitidis being controlled here momentarily.
Arvanitidis is working Tillman over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tillman preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Arvanitidis throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Arvanitidis postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Arvanitidis trying to control but Tillman is working from the bottom.
Tillman has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Arvanitidis in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Arvanitidis throws a big elbow that misses.
Arvanitidis is fighting to break Tillman's control of his arms but Tillman is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Tillman is trying to control the position but Arvanitidis postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Arvanitidis takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Arvanitidis throws a hook to the side of Tillman's head but Tillman sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Arvanitidis throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Arvanitidis throws a nice looking combination but Tillman bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Arvanitidis takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Tillman throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Tillman slips a jab from Arvanitidis.
Arvanitidis lands a jab to the head.
Tillman works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

Arvanitidis closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Tillman to the mat! Tillman manages to get full guard.
Jannis Arvanitidis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tillman trying to control the position.
Arvanitidis postures up and lands a big shot to Tillman's brow.
Tillman wants to sweep but no luck.
Tillman is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Arvanitidis trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jannis Arvanitidis comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Tillman has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pat Tillman!
Pat Tillman took some time post fight to say the following; 'I'm coming down to 145 and going after Neymar Jr. I'm coming for you, buddy!'.