PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rafik Arfah (ranked 24693 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jesus Joseph (ranked 24806 p4p, 0 weight class). Arfah has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Jesus Joseph has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Rafik Arfah's chin.

Arfah
vs
Joseph

150 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 10 - 0

183 cm
18
200 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Enjoys gardening

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 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rafik Arfah!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jesus Joseph!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Wesley Smith and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Joseph throws a combination. Arfah tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Rafik Arfah's cut is getting worse.

Joseph instigates a clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Joseph.
Arfah's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A head punch on the inside from Arfah fails to land.
Arfah tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Arfah tries to throw a body punch but Joseph avoids it by throwing Arfah back against the cage.

Joseph tightens his grip and picks Arfah up, before dumping him to the ground. Arfah manages to land in guard.
Joseph is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Joseph must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Joseph's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Joseph gets to his feet. Arfah looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arfah misses with a right hand
and Joseph makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Arfah really felt that one!
Arfah throws a lazy uppercut
and Joseph makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Arfah throws a poor cross that misses
and Joseph counters with a right hand to the body.
Arfah is breathing heavily.
Arfah misses with a low kick.
Rafik Arfah seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Arfah throws a poor cross that misses
and Joseph counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Arfah thinking.

Joseph instigates a clinch.
Joseph is leaning against Arfah and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Joseph scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Joseph manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Joseph rushes Arfah and presses him up against the cage.
Joseph lands a body punch in the clinch.
Joseph blocking some punches.
Nice body punch from Joseph - that landed with a thud.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Arfah is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Joseph is leaning against Arfah and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Joseph is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Joseph lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Arfah.
Arfah misses with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Joseph.
Arfah tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Joseph's elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Arfah fails to land.
Arfah misses with the head strike.
Joseph digs a right hand into Arfah's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Arfah's gas tank.
Arfah misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Arfah swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Joseph lands a body shot.

Joseph manages to break the clinch.

Joseph closes the distance and clinches.
Arfah working aggressively here.

Joseph has Arfah pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Joseph pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Arfah tumbling to the mat - Joseph dives into Arfah's guard.
Joseph controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joseph stopping the sweep attempt from Arfah.
Joseph controlling from the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesus Joseph dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rafik Arfah's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Arfah tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Joseph is able to avoid easily.
Joseph is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Arfah misses with a body shot
and Joseph counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Joseph has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Arfah swings widly with a right hand
and Joseph counters with a right hand to the body.

Joseph moves into the clinch.
Jesus Joseph seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Arfah misses with some punches.
Joseph blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A short left from Joseph.
Joseph displaying some good clinch control by pressing Arfah up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Joseph works on Arfah's body with a couple of short punches.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Joseph.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Arfah.
Joseph throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Arfah tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Arfah tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A right hook to the body lands for Joseph.
Joseph is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

Joseph pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Arfah misses with a body shot
and Joseph counters with a straight right hand.
Arfah swings for the body but Joseph moves out of range.
Arfah misses with a right hand
and Joseph counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Joseph clinches up with Arfah and pushes him back against the cage.
Arfah struggles to land a body shot inside as Joseph controls his hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A right hook to the body lands for Joseph.

Joseph gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Arfah regains guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Joseph stands and steps away. Arfah gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Joseph manages to break the clinch.
Arfah really is a fat lump.
Arfah throws a lazy uppercut
and Joseph counters with a right hand to the body.

Joseph closes the distance and pushes Arfah back into the cage.
Joseph lands a nice shot to the body.
Joseph crunches a lovely knee into Arfah's ribcage.
Arfah misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joseph leaning against his opponent.
Joseph works on Arfah's body with a couple of short punches.
Arfah wants to stall.

Joseph breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Joseph goes for a double leg but Arfah avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Arfah continues to drive forward.

Joseph rushes Arfah and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Joseph.
Arfah looking to stall.
Arfah tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Nice elbow from Joseph.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arfah tries to work over Joseph's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Joseph blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Joseph scores with a hook to the body.
Joseph pushes Arfah back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Joseph lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Joseph scores a nice knee to the body.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Joseph.
Joseph is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Nice body punch from Joseph - that landed with a thud.
A short body shot lands from Joseph as the two fighters clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesus Joseph 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 minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Joseph lands a nice hook to Arfah's body. Arfah takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Arfah throws a right hand that misses
and Joseph makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Arfah misses with a hook to the body
and Joseph counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Joseph has closed the distance and engaged Arfah in a clinch.
Joseph scores with a hook to the body.
Arfah doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Arfah is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Joseph's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Joseph is working Arfah over against the cage.
Joseph lands a body punch in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arfah swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Joseph lands a knee to the body.
Joseph works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Good body shot from Joseph.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joseph lands a body punch in the clinch.
Arfah takes a knee to the side of the body.

Joseph manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Arfah pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Joseph is keeping the position for now.
Arfah stops Joseph from standing up.
Joseph is pulling down on Arfah's head to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joseph is looking to stand up but Arfah isn't so interested in that idea.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Joseph clinches up with Arfah and pushes him back against the cage.

Joseph is trying to trip Arfah. He has hold of a leg but Arfah is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Joseph persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Joseph stays in close to Arfah's body and controls the position.
Jesus Joseph has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Joseph stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Jesus Joseph is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Arfah throws a right hand that misses
and Joseph makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Joseph shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Arfah's guard.
Rafik Arfah has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Arfah looking for a sweep. Not yet Arfah, not yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jesus Joseph comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Joseph has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 26:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 26:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jesus Joseph!