PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Huberto Arnaboldi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago Meida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Arnaboldi
vs
Meida

204 cm
27
296 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

210 cm
27
285 lbs
14 - 7 - 1

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Huberto Arnaboldi !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thiago Meida!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Meida shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Arnaboldi gets a takedown into half guard.
Meida is staying active underneath Arnaboldi , who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Meida wants to control but Arnaboldi is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Meida is defending against the submission attempts here by Arnaboldi .

Arnaboldi is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Meida is staying active underneath Arnaboldi , who seems content to just control the action from this position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arnaboldi prevents Meida from improving his position.

Arnaboldi is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Meida defends it well.
Meida is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Arnaboldi is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Meida sees it coming and defends easily.
Meida misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Arnaboldi is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Meida doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Arnaboldi .
Meida has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Arnaboldi is working away from the top position though.

Arnaboldi is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Meida is just riding it out for now. Arnaboldi eventually gives up the hold.

Arnaboldi is trying to work for a kimura but Meida is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Arnaboldi is looking for a kimura but Meida is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Arnaboldi to get the leverage.
Meida moves into full guard.
Meida throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Arnaboldi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Meida is keeping the position for now.
Meida looking for a sweep. Not yet Meida, not yet.
Meida keeping moving, preventing Arnaboldi from controlling successfully.

Arnaboldi drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Arnaboldi jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Meida is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Arnaboldi trying to control the position from guard on top but Meida is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meida bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Arnaboldi 's guard.

Meida got a little sloppy there for a moment and Arnaboldi has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Meida has managed to get both his arms back between Arnaboldi 's legs - danger averted.
Meida looking to pass the guard.
Meida wants to control from the top but Arnaboldi keeps moving.

Arnaboldi escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Meida gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Arnaboldi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Meida throwing strikes from guard but Arnaboldi blocks nicely.

Arnaboldi is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Meida is aware though and is defending well.
Meida wants to control from the top but Arnaboldi keeps moving.
Arnaboldi throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Meida tries to free his leg and advance position but Arnaboldi is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Meida trying to control but Arnaboldi is working from the bottom.

Arnaboldi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Arnaboldi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Meida postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Arnaboldi throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Meida trying to control the position from guard on top but Arnaboldi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Arnaboldi is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Meida defends well.

Arnaboldi has his foot on Meida's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Meida works his way back into a safe position though.
Arnaboldi keeping moving, preventing Meida from controlling successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Meida trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Meida trying to control the position from guard on top but Arnaboldi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Meida wants to pass the guard but Arnaboldi is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Huberto Arnaboldi dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Nice sprawl there from Arnaboldi as Meida shoots in.
No luck for Meida with that takedown attempt.
Arnaboldi feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Meida shoots in for a double leg but Arnaboldi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Huberto Arnaboldi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thiago Meida.
Arnaboldi stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Arnaboldi wants it to stay on the feet.
Huberto Arnaboldi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Meida shoots in for a takedown but Arnaboldi shows good takedown defense.
Meida shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Arnaboldi as he avoids it easily.

Meida closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Arnaboldi struggling a bit here.
Meida tries to score with some ground and pound. Arnaboldi controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Arnaboldi regains half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Arnaboldi actively working from the bottom here.

Arnaboldi looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Arnaboldi looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Meida seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Arnaboldi does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Arnaboldi moves into full guard.
Meida trying to control the position from guard on top but Arnaboldi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Arnaboldi looking for a guillotine here but Meida defends easily.
Arnaboldi keeping moving, preventing Meida from controlling successfully.

Arnaboldi has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Meida can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Meida throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Arnaboldi looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Arnaboldi throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Meida tries to free his leg and advance position but Arnaboldi is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Arnaboldi is looking for a triangle but Meida pushes his legs off easily.

Arnaboldi looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Meida trying to control the position from guard on top but Arnaboldi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Meida sitting in guard here, content to control.

Arnaboldi looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Meida throwing strikes from guard but Arnaboldi blocks nicely.
Arnaboldi can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Meida controls the pace.
Arnaboldi is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Meida avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Arnaboldi keeping moving, preventing Meida from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meida tries to free his leg and advance position but Arnaboldi is retaining full guard.
Meida loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Meida must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Arnaboldi keeping moving, preventing Meida from controlling successfully.

Arnaboldi throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

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

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:43 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Huberto Arnaboldi !