PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Alexei Pavlov (ranked 6925 p4p, 0 weight class) and Atakan Arslan (ranked 5292 p4p, 0 weight class). Atakan Arslan is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Pavlov
vs
Arslan

181 cm
25
157 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

188 cm
25
158 lbs
1 - 2 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Alexei Pavlov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 1, fighting out of The Island, Atakan Arslan!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Sandra Marshall and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pavlov misses with a takedown
and Arslan counters with a series of strikes. Pavlov will be more careful next time no doubt.
Arslan dives in for a single leg takedown but Pavlov sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Arslan misses with an attempted mid kick.
Nice sprawl there from Arslan as Pavlov shoots in.
Arslan steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Pavlov. That one must have hurt.
Arslan displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Pavlov.
Arslan with the counter takedown but Pavlov avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexei Pavlov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pavlov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Arslan sprawls well. Arslan wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Pavlov gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arslan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pavlov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Arslan throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Pavlov.
Pavlov went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Arslan tries to clinch up but Pavlov circles away and keeps his distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pavlov gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Arslan prevents Pavlov from breaking the clinch.

Arslan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Arslan shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Pavlov sprawls well. Pavlov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Arslan gets slowly back to his feet.
Arslan misses with a wild combination.
Pavlov looks for a takedown but Arslan sprawls well.
Pavlov wants to clinch up but Arslan keeps it at a distance.
Arslan pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Arslan cracks Pavlov with an open hand slap.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pavlov fails with the takedown.
Arslan punishes Pavlov's body with a nice straight punch.
Pavlov stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Pavlov wants it to stay on the feet.
Pavlov fails with the takedown.
Arslan closes the distance and clinches up with Pavlov, looking for a takedown. Arslan pushes Pavlov against the cage but Pavlov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Arslan throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Pavlov counters with a nice uppercut.
Horrible takedown attempt by Arslan or perhaps it was just good defense by Pavlov, which made it look bad.
Pavlov wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

Pavlov pushes Arslan up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arslan wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Pavlov has him pressed against the cage.
Pavlov is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Pavlov avoiding damage.
Pavlov drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Arslan gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Pavlov lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Arslan or not.

Arslan's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Arslan tries to bum rush Pavlov with a series of wild strikes but Pavlov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Arslan takes a kick to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arslan displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Pavlov.
Pavlov is breathing heavily.

Pavlov darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Arslan punching from the bottom.

Arslan actively working from the bottom here.
Arslan misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Arslan tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Atakan Arslan will probably get the nod.
That's time! Pavlov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Arslan tries a head kick but it misses.

Pavlov pushes Arslan up against the cage in a clinch.

Arslan's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Arslan tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Pavlov swivels and escapes.
Pavlov drops down looking for a counter takedown but Arslan sprawls and moves away.
Arslan throws a head kick but Pavlov moves out of range.
Pavlov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Arslan pinned against the cage. Arslan gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Arslan doesn't manage to clinch there - Pavlov circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pavlov is looking to clinch.
Pavlov lands a nice shot to the body.
Arslan is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Arslan pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Pavlov shoots in looking for a takedown. Arslan tries to sprawl out of it but Pavlov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Arslan manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arslan on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Arslan throws a head kick but Pavlov moves out of range.
Arslan ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Arslan shoots in but no luck this time.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Pavlov. Arslan shrugs it off though.
Pavlov swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Arslan counters with a one-two to the body.
Arslan has his takedown stuffed
and Pavlov counters with a one-two to the body.
Alexei Pavlov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Atakan Arslan.
Arslan is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pavlov misses with a head kick.
Arslan leaves Pavlov with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Arslan shoots in for a takedown but Pavlov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pavlov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Arslan is fending him off so far but Pavlov persists. Nope, Arslan circles away and we're back to standing.
Pavlov stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Pavlov wants it to stay on the feet.
Arslan keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Arslan lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Pavlov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Arslan avoids it really well and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Arslan closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Arslan breaks the clinch.
Arslan fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Pavlov avoids it really well and circles away.
Pavlov doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Arslan counters with a one-two to the body.
Pavlov throws a sloppy head kick and Arslan moves out of range easily.
Arslan fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Pavlov avoids it really well and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pavlov throws a head kick that Arslan semi-blocks.
Arslan goes for a double leg but Pavlov avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Pavlov continues to drive forward.
Nice straight punches there by Arslan. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Arslan.
Nice sprawl there from Pavlov as Arslan shoots in.
Alexei Pavlov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pavlov throws a sloppy head kick and Arslan moves out of range easily.
Arslan stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Arslan wants it to stay on the feet.
Arslan shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Pavlov sprawls well. Pavlov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Arslan gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Atakan Arslan will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Arslan tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Pavlov defends well and Arslan ends up having to push Pavlov into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Arslan wants to clinch up but Pavlov keeps it at a distance.
Arslan clobbers Pavlov with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Arslan stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Pavlov wants to clinch up but Arslan keeps it at a distance.
Arslan just misses with a punch to the body.
Arslan shoots in but no luck this time.
Arslan takes a shot to the body in his stride.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pavlov lands with a slapping head kick.
Pavlov shoots in but no luck this time.
Arslan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Pavlov smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Pavlov fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pavlov wants to clinch
letting Arslan counter with a right hand.
Arslan throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Arslan manages to break the clinch.
Arslan darts in looking for a takedown but Pavlov gets double underhooks and turns Arslan into the cage.
Alexei Pavlov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Atakan Arslan.
Arslan fails with the takedown.
Pavlov lands a jab to Arslan's midsection.
Pavlov thuds a left hand into Arslan's body.
Pavlov is looking to wear down Arslan with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pavlov fails with the takedown.
Pavlov plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Pavlov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Arslan as he avoids it easily.
Pavlov is looking to clinch but Arslan is avoiding it.

Arslan has closed the distance and engaged Pavlov in a clinch.

Arslan's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
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!
Pavlov shoots for a double leg takedown but Arslan sprawls well. He's pushed Pavlov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Arslan moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Arslan clinches with his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Arslan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Pavlov moves out of range as Arslan throws a body kick.
Arslan lands with an uppercut that bounces Pavlov off the cage and back into range.

Pavlov has closed the distance and engaged Arslan in a clinch.
Arslan gets underhooks to prevent Pavlov's takedown attempt.

Arslan manages to break the clinch.
A nice combination there by Arslan.
Pavlov stuffs the takedown.
Arslan throws a leg kick that is checked
and Pavlov counters with a two punch combo.
Pavlov tries to clinch but Arslan is having none of it.
Despite the aggression on Arslan's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Arslan circles away from the clinch attempt.
Arslan wants to counter the offense by Pavlov and move into the clinch position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arslan tries to clinch but Pavlov is having none of it.
Arslan shoots in but no luck this time.
Pavlov lands a leg kick that knocks Arslan off balance momentarily.
Atakan Arslan seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pavlov scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Arslan looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Pavlov fails with the takedown
and Arslan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Arslan instigates a clinch.
Alexei Pavlov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Atakan Arslan is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Pavlov throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Atakan Arslan.
I've got Arslan 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 28:30
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Atakan Arslan!