PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Michal Arlovsky (ranked 1407 p4p, 186 weight class) and Alvaro Ortaga (ranked 3012 p4p, 329 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Arlovsky
vs
Ortaga

190 cm
24
178 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

187 cm
22
178 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Michal Arlovsky!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Alvaro Ortaga!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Andrew Berry and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Arlovsky keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Arlovsky takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Arlovsky takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Ortaga slaps away a takedown attempt from Arlovsky, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Arlovsky instigates a clinch.

Ortaga's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nice sprawl there from Ortaga as Arlovsky shoots in.
A nice combination there by Ortaga.

It looks like Michal Arlovsky has been cut.
Ortaga lands with a nice body punch.
Ortaga misses with a straight left.
Ortaga just misses with a punch to the body.
Ortaga lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Arlovsky backs up against the cage.
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!

Ortaga darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Ortaga scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arlovsky trying to control from the bottom.

Arlovsky looking for submissions off his back.
Ortaga is looking to take a break and control but Arlovsky is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ortaga is thwarting Arlovsky's attempts to control the position.

Arlovsky is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ortaga pulls his head out easily.
Arlovsky is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Tayne's 4d3d3d3 Gym that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Arlovsky on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Ortaga lands strikes from half guard.
Ortaga controlling the action here.

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.

Arlovsky looking for submissions off his back.
Ortaga working the head and body with strikes.
Ortaga with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Arlovsky misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Arlovsky has one foot on Ortaga's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Ortaga throws a body punch but Arlovsky moves out of range.
Ortaga misses with a straight left.
Ortaga misses with a wild body shot.
Arlovsky shoots in and drives through. Ortaga sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michal Arlovsky. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arlovsky avoids the body shot from Ortaga.
Alvaro Ortaga seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Ortaga feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Arlovsky is trying to keep Ortaga in close.
Ortaga postures up and lands a big shot to Arlovsky's brow.
Ortaga trying to control the position from guard on top but Arlovsky is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Arlovsky isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Ortaga stacks Arlovsky 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 Ortaga!
Arlovsky regains half guard.

Arlovsky actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Arlovsky looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ortaga passes into side control, despite Arlovsky's attempt to control the position.
Ortaga wants to control but Arlovsky is keeping him busy.
Ortaga controlling the position.
Ortaga passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Arlovsky!
Arlovsky keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alvaro Ortaga dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Michal Arlovsky's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Ortaga misses with a takedown attempt - Arlovsky sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Michal Arlovsky is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ortaga throws a right hand that Arlovsky ducks under and follows up with a left that Arlovsky also avoids with ease.
Ortaga tries to bum rush Arlovsky with a series of wild strikes but Arlovsky uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Ortaga darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Arlovsky makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Arlovsky.

Arlovsky has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Ortaga 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 Arlovsky.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ortaga trying to control the action but Arlovsky is working from the bottom.
My spies in ~T~ Troid - Gym inform me that Ortaga has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Ortaga scores with a couple of short elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arlovsky is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Ortaga decides to stand up, so the ref orders Arlovsky to his feet.

Ortaga closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Arlovsky quickly recovers to half guard.
Nice strikes from Ortaga there.
Arlovsky is not content to let Ortaga control the position.
Ortaga working the head and body with strikes.

Arlovsky looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arlovsky is not content to let Ortaga control the position.
Alvaro Ortaga has got the better of the ground game so far.

Arlovsky looking for submissions off his back.
Arlovsky is trying to control but can't.
Ortaga looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Arlovsky looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Arlovsky looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arlovsky is refusing to be controlled, as Ortaga sits in half guard.
Ortaga prevents Arlovsky from improving his position.
Arlovsky is working hard here to advance position.

Arlovsky actively working from the bottom here.
Arlovsky tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Arlovsky wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ortaga is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Ortaga throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Ortaga misses with a straight right.
Arlovsky tries to counter with a takedown but Ortaga is quick to defend against it.
Arlovsky shoots for a takedown but Ortaga saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Arlovsky dives in for a single leg takedown but Ortaga sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A punch combination from Ortaga misses.
Ortaga throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Ortaga throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ortaga scores with a nice head shot.
A big left from Ortaga misses.
As Ortaga tries to get set, Arlovsky tries to push him back and clinch up but Ortaga manages to avoid the attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Arlovsky misses with a takedown
and Ortaga counters with a left to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michal Arlovsky. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ortaga. Arlovsky does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ortaga ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Arlovsky moves away.
Arlovsky half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alvaro Ortaga showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Michal Arlovsky's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Ortaga punishes Arlovsky's body with a nice straight punch.
Arlovsky shoots for a takedown but Ortaga saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ortaga stuffs the takedown.
Arlovsky goes for a double leg but Ortaga avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Ortaga continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michal Arlovsky. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Ortaga shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Ortaga working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Arlovsky's head.
Ortaga stopping the sweep attempt from Arlovsky.
Ortaga is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Ortaga works over Arlovsky with some ground and pound from guard.
Ortaga trying to control but Arlovsky is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Arlovsky has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ortaga can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ortaga controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ortaga tries to free his leg and advance position but Arlovsky is retaining full guard.

Arlovsky looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ortaga seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Ortaga thows a left - swing and a miss!
A left and a right from Ortaga both land. Nice combination.

Arlovsky feints and as Ortaga raises his hands in defense, Arlovsky changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ortaga looking to hit a scissor sweep but Arlovsky is one step ahead there.

Arlovsky has gone for a leg lock! Ortaga slips out almost immediately though and dives into Arlovsky's guard.

Arlovsky keeping moving, preventing Ortaga from controlling successfully.

Arlovsky working for a triangle but Ortaga defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ortaga makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Ortaga is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Arlovsky is on top in guard.

Ortaga working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Arlovsky.

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.
Ortaga is controlling Arlovsky's posture.
Ortaga has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ortaga looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Arlovsky has gone for a leg lock! Ortaga slips out almost immediately though and dives into Arlovsky's guard.

Michal Arlovsky has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Arlovsky working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ortaga doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ortaga manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Arlovsky wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Ortaga manages to pass to side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ortaga drops an elbow to the side of Arlovsky's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alvaro Ortaga comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ortaga winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alvaro Ortaga!