PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Blagoi Arlovski (ranked 5707 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shiro Kazuma (ranked 4141 p4p, 548 weight class). Shiro Kazuma is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Arlovski
vs
Kazuma

190 cm
18
199 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
25
205 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Blagoi Arlovski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shiro Kazuma!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yuuki Gou and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kazuma closes the distance and pushes Arlovski back into the cage.
Kazuma looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Arlovski is trying to pull guard but Kazuma turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Kazuma has picked Arlovski up - he's going for a ride! Kazuma dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Arlovski looking for submissions off his back.
Arlovski is trying to get back to full guard.
Arlovski is working hard here to advance position.
Kazuma performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arlovski wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arlovski is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Kazuma jumps into side control!
Kazuma controls the position.
Arlovski is trying to improve his position.
Kazuma moves into full mount!
Kazuma controlling from mount.
Arlovski tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kazuma looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kazuma looking to control and managing it successfully.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kazuma's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Kazuma is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Arlovski to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Arlovski shrugs it off.
Arlovski tries to hold on but Kazuma postures up.
Arlovski really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Kazuma looking to secure an arm triangle but Arlovski defends it well.
Arlovski tries to reverse the position but Kazuma maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arlovski knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kazuma on the ground.
Kazuma controlling from the full mount.
Arlovski is trying desperately to improve position.
Arlovski gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kazuma stalling.
Arlovski moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Kazuma slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kazuma wants to control from the top but Arlovski keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shiro Kazuma dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Arlovski lunges at Kazuma with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Kazuma's hand.
Kazuma on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Arlovski scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Shiro Kazuma is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Arlovski connects with a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arlovski sizes up Kazuma with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Kazuma closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Kazuma takes one on the button.
Kazuma is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kazuma on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Arlovski keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Arlovski lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Kazuma moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Kazuma gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Arlovski.
Kazuma walks into a left hand.
Nice cross by Arlovski.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Arlovski finds it's way through Kazuma's defenses.
Kazuma looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Kazuma takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Arlovski, as that shot connected.
Arlovski misses with a straight right.
Arlovski lands a really nice looking cross but Kazuma seems unphased.
Arlovski is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kazuma can do to turn this around?
Kazuma will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arlovski lands with a right hand.
Blagoi Arlovski is winning the standup battle so far.
Kazuma drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
A telegraphed right hand from Arlovski misses the target.
Kazuma takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Kazuma has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Kazuma takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arlovski works over Kazuma's head and body with a nice combination.
Arlovski lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Arlovski keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Nice body punch from Arlovski.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Arlovski tests Kazuma's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Arlovski misses with a hook.
Kazuma walks into a straight right hand from Arlovski.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blagoi Arlovski dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Kazuma ducks under a wild hook from Arlovski.
Kazuma lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Arlovski is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Kazuma moves away from the strike by Arlovski.
Kazuma is looking for the big counter here.
Arlovski scores with a body shot.
Kazuma with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Arlovski to score with a decent uppercut.
Arlovski is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arlovski cracks Kazuma with a right hand to the side of the head.
Kazuma takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Arlovski slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Arlovski clobbers Kazuma with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kazuma walks into a jab.
Kazuma slips a jab from Arlovski.
Kazuma is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Arlovski with a hook.
Arlovski lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Arlovski bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Arlovski lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Arlovski misses the jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arlovski lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Kazuma is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Arlovski looks to land a combination. Kazuma sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Arlovski throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kazuma.
Kazuma drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Kazuma takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Kazuma looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Arlovski swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Blagoi Arlovski is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arlovski misses with an uppercut. Kazuma saw that one coming.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kazuma! But no joy.
A cross from Arlovski lands.
Arlovski misses with an uppercut.
Kazuma has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Kazuma there as he acknowledges the shot.
Arlovski keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Arlovski dips to his left and cracks Kazuma with an uppercut!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arlovski scores with a crisp jab that stopped Kazuma in his tracks.
Kazuma defending well as Arlovski loads up on a big left hand.
A cross from Arlovski lands.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Arlovski!
Kazuma takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
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!
Arlovski digs a good hook to Kazuma's body.
Kazuma walks into a jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Blagoi Arlovski showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Arlovski 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:26
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:26
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Blagoi Arlovski!
During a confident post fight interview, Blagoi Arlovski thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.