PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Shlemenko (ranked 2381 p4p, 311 weight class) and Jermey Arnold (ranked 2847 p4p, 353 weight class). Shlemenko comes to the cage accompanied by Omarion Ft. Chris Brown & Jhene Aiko - Post To Be. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Shlemenko
vs
Arnold

180 cm
33
201 lbs
20 - 18 - 0

190 cm
43
203 lbs
40 - 27 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
World class MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alexander Shlemenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 40 - 27 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jermey Arnold!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Trevor Gratis and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Arnold uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Shlemenko.
Arnold misses with a hook. Shlemenko ducked under it nicely.
Shlemenko ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Shlemenko shoots in looking for a takedown. Arnold tries to sprawl out of it but Shlemenko keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Arnold manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Shlemenko moves to clinch but Arnold breaks away
enabling Arnold to counter with a crisp jab.
Arnold misses with a straight left.
Shlemenko wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shlemenko wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shlemenko tries to clinch but Arnold is having none of it.
Arnold throws a big counter head kick but Shlemenko avoids it with no problem.
Shlemenko connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Arnold keeps the fight on the outside.
Arnold throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Shlemenko gets a clinch.
Shlemenko is leaning against Arnold and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

Shlemenko pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Arnold swats away the attempt to clinch by Shlemenko.
Shlemenko uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Arnold.
As Arnold tries to get set, Shlemenko tries to push him back and clinch up but Arnold manages to avoid the attempt.
Shlemenko throws a front kick aimed at Arnold's knee but Arnold avoids it well.
Shlemenko fails with an attempt to clinch.
Arnold is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Arnold finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
As Arnold tries to get set, Shlemenko tries to push him back and clinch up but Arnold manages to avoid the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shlemenko throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Arnold tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Shlemenko is in Arnold's guard.
Arnold is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Shlemenko dives into side control.

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!
Arnold looking for a sweep but Shlemenko has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Arnold is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shlemenko trying to control but Arnold is having none of it.
Arnold keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Shlemenko blocks Arnold's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Arnold tries to hold on but Shlemenko pushes him away.
Shlemenko controlling the pace for now.
Arnold can't escape the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Arnold wants to hold on but Shlemenko pushes him away.
Shlemenko controlling the position easily from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Shlemenko takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Arnold circles away from the clinch attempt.

Shlemenko rushes Arnold and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Arnold's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Shlemenko throws a head punch that misses.
Shlemenko fails to pull the fight into his guard.
A head punch on the inside from Shlemenko fails to land.
Arnold tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Arnold struggles to land a body shot inside as Shlemenko controls his hands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shlemenko works on Arnold's body with a couple of short punches.
Shlemenko scores with a shoulder strike.
Shlemenko takes a knee to the side of the body.

Arnold pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Arnold lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Alexander Shlemenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arnold takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Shlemenko connects with an inside leg kick.
Shlemenko is looking to clinch.
Arnold shapes to counter with a head kick.
Shlemenko tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Arnold paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Shlemenko misses with an uppercut
letting Arnold counter with a right hand.

Shlemenko closes the distance and clinches.
Arnold controlling the action here for a moment.
The referee calls for Arnold to work.
Arnold throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Shlemenko blocks it with crossed arms.
Arnold trying to stall but Shlemenko improves his position.
Arnold throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Shlemenko tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arnold just leaning against Shlemenko, taking a breather.
Arnold managing to block the knees to the body from Shlemenko.

Shlemenko pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Shlemenko shoots in for a takedown but Arnold shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Arnold displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Shlemenko throws out the jab.

Shlemenko has managed to clinch.
Arnold tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Arnold is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Shlemenko is keeping busy.
Shlemenko using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Arnold has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Alexander Shlemenko has scored more points in the clinch so far.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Arnold scores with a knee to the head.
Arnold trying to land knees to the body.
Arnold stalling in the clinch.
Arnold misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Shlemenko.
Our sources have told us that Shlemenko has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
Arnold creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Arnold throws an elbow but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arnold blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Arnold tries to land a knee to the head but Shlemenko blocks with his arms.
Arnold tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Shlemenko throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Shlemenko is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Arnold is defending well for now.
Shlemenko throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Arnolds head.
Arnold lands an elbow just above Shlemenko 's eye.
Arnold looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Shlemenko takes a knee right on the jaw!
Arnold throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Shlemenko blocks it with crossed arms.
Shlemenko tries to work over Arnold's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Shlemenko dodges an elbow strike from Arnold.
Arnold with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Shlemenko lands a right hand.
Arnold misses with a knee strike.
Shlemenko throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Arnold is breathing heavily.
Shlemenko scores with a shoulder strike.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A nice right hand lands inside from Shlemenko.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shlemenko lands with a light punch inside.

Arnold is rocked!
Shlemenko is leaning against Arnold and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Arnold is still on wobbly legs! Can Shlemenko finish him?
Arnold throws a knee to the head but misses.
Arnold trying to stall but Shlemenko improves his position.
Arnold seems to have recovered his senses.
Shlemenko tries a body shot but Arnold blocks it.
Shlemenko misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Arnold.

Arnold's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Arnold stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Arnold wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Shlemenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Shlemenko throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Arnold was covering up waiting for the punch and Shlemenko finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Arnold is wriggling around but Shlemenko manages to pass to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Alexander Shlemenko will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Shlemenko shoots in looking for a takedown but Arnold manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Shlemenko's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Shlemenko is looking to clinch.
Shlemenko wants to clinch but Arnold slips to the side
and Shlemenko takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Shlemenko fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Arnold manages to avoid it.
Shlemenko misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Arnold.
Arnold feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Shlemenko's calf.
Shlemenko closes this distance looking for a takedown but Arnold circles away.
Shlemenko shoots and misses
and Arnold counters with a lovely straight right hand!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Shlemenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shlemenko fails with the takedown
and Arnold counters with a stiff right hand.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arnold scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Arnold misses with a low kick as Shlemenko jumps back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shlemenko throws an overhand right that lands on Arnold's shoulder, as Arnold tries to avoid the shot.
Shlemenko closes the distance but Arnold moves to the side
and Arnold counters with a right hand to the body.
Arnold finds himself stumbling back on wobbly legs after being clipped by a right hand. He's up against the cage, ducking and weaving under Shlemenko's strikes but an uppercut finds it's way through and Arnold falls! - He's completely out of it and the ref jumps in to save him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:21 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Alexander Shlemenko!
A relieved looking Alexander Shlemenko thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.