PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Charlie Potter (ranked 24644 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafik Arfah (ranked 24790 p4p, 0 weight class). Charlie Potter has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Potter
vs
Arfah

187 cm
20
200 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

150 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 9 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Charlie Potter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rafik Arfah!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Chris Downing and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Arfah throws a sloppy body shot

and Potter counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Potter.

Potter breaks the clinch.
Potter throws a one two combo.

It looks like Rafik Arfah has been cut.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Arfah has eaten all the pies!
Potter ducks under a wild hook from Arfah.
Potter tries for a takedown but Arfah sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Potter rushes Arfah and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Potter is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Arfah pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Potter stalls.
Potter has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Arfah is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Charlie Potter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Arfah misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Potter has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Arfah avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arfah misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Potter blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Nice elbow from Potter.
Potter blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Potter escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Arfah misses with a body punch
and Potter counters with a left and a right that stings Arfah.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck for Potter with that takedown attempt.
Rafik Arfah seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Arfah struggles to land a body shot inside as Potter controls his hands.
Arfah misses with a short punch on the inside.
Potter tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Arfah smiles and moves away.
Potter fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Arfah tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Potter was well out of range. Poor timing from Arfah.
Arfah finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Potter dives in and grabs Arfah's left leg, looking for a takedown. Arfah pushes down on Potter's head and hops out.

Potter closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Arfah misses with a punch on the inside.
Arfah misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Arfah fails to land.
A head punch on the inside from Arfah fails to land.
Potter blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Potter breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Potter shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Arfah as he jumps to the side.
Arfah throws a hook to the side of Potter's head but Potter sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Arfah looks to land a right hand but Potter moved out of range.

Potter closes the distance and clinches.

Potter pulls guard effortlessly.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Arfah is pushing down on Potter's leg trying to pass to half guard. Potter is fighting to maintain full guard but Arfah has managed to sneak the leg through.
Arfah is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Arfah trying to control from half guard but Potter is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Potter is trying to control but Arfah passes into side control!
Potter is not content to let Arfah control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Potter is trying to control Arfah's posture but Arfah avoids it.
Potter is not content to let Arfah control the position.
Arfah might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Potter haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Charlie Potter dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rafik Arfah's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Potter closes the distance and clinches.
Arfah wants to stall.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Potter.
Arfah has a couple of punches blocked by Potter.
Potter blocks an uppercut.
Potter is trying to pull guard but Arfah turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Arfah fails to land.
Potter controlling the action here for a moment.
Arfah misses with the head strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arfah struggles to land a body shot inside as Potter controls his hands.
Potter is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Arfah misses with some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee calls for Potter to work.
Potter just leaning against Arfah, taking a breather.
Arfah misses with a short punch on the inside.

Potter drags the fight down to the ground.

Potter is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Arfah defends well.
Arfah passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Potter is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Arfah is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Arfah looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Potter tries to hold on but Arfah pushes him away.
Arfah tries to control but Potter wriggling away.
Arfah takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Potter sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Arfah wants to take a breather but Potter is having none of it.
Potter is trying to maintain the position but Arfah is very close to passing his half guard.
Potter is trying to stand back up but Arfah is controlling him

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arfah is trying to control the action in half guard but Potter is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Potter is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Arfah jumps into side control!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Potter struggling a bit here.
Potter is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Arfah trying to control the action but Potter is working from the bottom.
Potter is trying to control Arfah's posture but Arfah avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Potter is looking for a sweep.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Arfah looks to land a left hand but Potter moved out of range nicely.
It looked like Potter was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Arfah.
Potter displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Arfah throws out the jab.
Arfah tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Potter was well out of range. Poor timing from Arfah.
Arfah swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Arfah misses with a straight left.
Arfah throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Potter counters with a three punch combo that has Arfah backing up. Arfah nods at Potter to acknowledge the strikes.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Potter misses with a takedown attempt - Arfah sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Potter.
Arfah appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafik Arfah showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rafik Arfah's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Arfah is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Potter.
Potter lands a head kick!
Arfah misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Potter.
Arfah misses with a straight left.
Arfah misses the body punch
and Potter counters with a left and a right that stings Arfah.

That has opened up Rafik Arfah's cut even more.
Potter connects with a looping right hand.
Arfah throws a leg kick but Potter sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Good work by Potter as he checks the leg kick.
Charlie Potter is winning the standup battle so far.
Arfah throws an overhand right that lands on Potter's shoulder, as Potter tries to avoid the shot.
Potter throws a shot to the body.
Arfah leaves Potter with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Arfah throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Arfah misses with a hook.
Arfah throws a right hand that misses
letting Potter counter with a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arfah moves out of range of the body kick.
Potter fails with a takedown attempt.
Rafik Arfah is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Arfah fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Potter manages to avoid it.
Arfah misses with a wild body shot.
A leg kick checked by Potter.
A counter left hand to the body from Potter misses its target.
Potter steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Arfah.
Potter fakes the leg kick and cracks Arfah in the body.
Arfah misses with a looping right.
Potter staying out of range there.
Potter lands with a shot to the body.
Arfah misses the shot to the body.
Potter moves out of range as Arfah strikes.
No luck for Potter with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Charlie Potter. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arfah misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Potter counters with a left to the body.
Arfah is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Potter defending well as Arfah loads up on a big left hand.
Potter attempts a counter takedown but Arfah avoids it well and moves away.
Potter moves away from the strike by Arfah.
Arfah misses the jab.
Potter is looking to counter punch.
A shot to the body from Arfah misses
and Potter counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Arfah throws a leg kick that misses.
Potter moves into range and connects with a jab.
Arfah misses with a leg kick
and Potter counters with a left and a right that stings Arfah.
Arfah misses the body punch
letting Potter counter with a right hand.
Potter looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Potter avoids the body shot from Arfah.
Arfah misses the jab.
Arfah misses with a hook. Potter ducked under it nicely.
Arfah missing with a left hand there. Potter was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arfah fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Potter is out of range.
Charlie Potter is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Arfah will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Arfah throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Arfah misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Potter counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

The cut above Rafik Arfah's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Potter uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Arfah.
Arfah blocks a head kick by Potter.
Potter ducks under a wild hook from Arfah.
Arfah misses with a wild body shot.

Potter clinches up against the cage.
Potter pushes Arfah back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Arfah working aggressively here.
Arfah keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Potter's efforts to push away.
Potter blocks a body shot from Arfah.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arfah misses with a body punch.
Potter is looking for a takedown.
Potter blocks an uppercut.
Arfah tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Potter has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Arfah avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Arfah tries a body shot but Potter blocks it.
Arfah tries to work over Potter's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Arfah fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Potter misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Arfah.
Arfah tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Arfah is trying to maintain a safe position but Potter gets an underhook and turns Arfah into the cage.
Potter blocks an uppercut.
Arfah swings wildly with an uppercut but Potter uses good head movement to avoid it.
A head punch on the inside from Arfah fails to land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Charlie Potter showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Potter 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Charlie Potter!