PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Andrey Arshavin (ranked 3836 p4p, 0 weight class) and Blake Jones (ranked 5760 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Blake Jones was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Arshavin
vs
Jones

170 cm
25
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

177 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Enjoys gardening

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Andrey Arshavin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Blake Jones!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Arshavin tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Jones manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Jones circles away from the clinch attempt

and Jones counters with a takedown into side control.

Jones is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Arshavin is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Arshavin tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Jones wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Jones wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Arshavin, who protects the arm well.

Jones goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Arshavin rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Jones's guard! Nice work there by Arshavin!
Jones looking to hit a scissor sweep but Arshavin is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arshavin trying to stand up but can't free himself from Jones's guard.
Jones wants to sweep but no luck.
Arshavin throwing strikes from guard but Jones blocks nicely.
Arshavin looking to sit in guard and control but Jones gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Jones is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Arshavin is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Arshavin has escaped and now he's on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arshavin trying to control but Jones is working from the bottom.
Arshavin trying to stand up but can't free himself from Jones's guard.
Arshavin throwing strikes from guard but Jones blocks nicely.
Jones tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jones is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Arshavin trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Arshavin accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Arshavin wants to control from the top but Jones keeps moving.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Arshavin postures up and lands a big shot to Jones's brow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Arshavin wants to control from the top but Jones keeps moving.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Arshavin accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Arshavin looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Jones swats away the attempt to clinch by Arshavin.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Andrey Arshavin will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Jones keeps the fight on the outside.
Jones drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Arshavin defends it well.
Arshavin wants to clinch up but Jones keeps it at a distance.
Arshavin tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Jones changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Jones circles away from the clinch attempt.
Andrey Arshavin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Arshavin tries to clinch

and Jones counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Arshavin is defending against the submission attempts here by Jones.

Jones is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Arshavin doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Jones.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arshavin connecting with a few gentle strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jones is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Arshavin is just riding it out for now. Jones eventually gives up the hold.
Jones stops Arshavin from getting back to his feet.

Jones is trying to work for a kimura but Arshavin is defending well.

Jones is working for a kimura but Arshavin is defending it quite comfortably.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Arshavin tries to roll over but Jones keeps him under control.

Jones is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Jones is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Jones is breathing heavily.

Jones seems to be looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jones is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Arshavin has managed to free his arm - good work.

Jones is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Arshavin doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Jones.

Jones is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Arshavin has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Jones looking for a submission but Arshavin manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.
Arshavin trying to control the position.
Arshavin wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Arshavin tries to clinch up but Jones circles away and keeps his distance.
Arshavin tries to clinch but Jones moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blake Jones showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Arshavin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Jones paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Arshavin tries to clinch but Jones moves away

and Jones counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Jones trying to mount his opponent but Arshavin defends it.

Jones is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Arshavin defends it well.

Jones seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Arshavin is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:46 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Blake Jones!