PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Leonard Robinson (ranked 6500 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafik Arfah (ranked 23815 p4p, 0 weight class). Leonard Robinson could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Rafik Arfah's chin.

Robinson
vs
Arfah

179 cm
19
192 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

150 cm
20
205 lbs
2 - 22 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Leonard Robinson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 22 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rafik Arfah!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Alan Glass and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Robinson misses with a two punch combination.
Robinson looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
A jab from Arfah misses.
Robinson moves out of range of the strikes.

Robinson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Robinson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Arfah.
Arfah jumps guard but Robinson turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Arfah should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Robinson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Robinson looks to land a combination but Arfah avoids it well.
Arfah misses with a looping right.
Arfah wants to land a leg kick but Robinson is out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Robinson checks a leg kick.
Robinson seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Robinson keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Arfah pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Robinson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Arfah swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Arfah ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Robinson moves away.
Rafik Arfah seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big right from Arfah misses.
Robinson has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Cozad MMA Las Vegas in the buildup to the fight.
Arfah swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Arfah misses the body punch
and Robinson counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Robinson slips a jab from Arfah.
Robinson is looking for a counter combo.
A looping hook to the body misses from Arfah. Robinson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Robinson is looking for a counter combo.
Robinson on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Arfah. Arfah obviously looking to wear him down.
Arfah tries a low kick but Robinson avoids it.
Arfah is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Robinson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Arfah! But no joy.
Arfah just misses with a punch to the body.
Arfah tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Robinson was well out of range. Poor timing from Arfah.
Robinson changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Robinson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Arfah.
Arfah throws a body punch but Robinson moves out of range.
Arfah throws a body shot but no joy.
Robinson checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Robinson swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Arfah throws out a loose jab but Robinson uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Robinson shoots in looking for a takedown. Arfah tries to sprawl out of it but Robinson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Arfah manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Arfah misses with a body shot.
Arfah takes a swing at Robinson's ribcage but misses.
Arfah looks to score with a jab to the body but Robinson is just out of range.
Arfah throws a hook but Robinson avoids it easily.
A slow jab from Arfah misses its intended target.
Arfah looks to throw the jab but Robinson is out of range.
Arfah misses the shot to the body.
Arfah misses the jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Robinson shoots in for a double leg but Arfah sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Arfah tries a quick counter leg kick but Robinson is wise to it.
Arfah throws a jab but it's blocked by Robinson.
A telegraphed right hand from Arfah misses the target.
Arfah just misses with a punch to the body.
Robinson half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A bone on bone clash there as Robinson blocks the leg kick.
Arfah misses with a hook. Robinson ducked under it nicely.
Arfah throws a body shot but no joy.
Arfah tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Robinson was well out of range. Poor timing from Arfah.
Robinson checks a leg kick.
Arfah throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Arfah fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Leonard Robinson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafik Arfah.
Arfah misses the jab.
Arfah looks to score with a jab to the body but Robinson is just out of range.
Arfah misses with a leg kick.
Robinson blocks a jab.
Robinson was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Arfah misses the shot to the body.
Robinson tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Arfah manages to circle out of the way.
Robinson staying out of range there.
Robinson tries to counter by clinching up but Arfah breaks away and moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arfah is looking to chop away at Robinson's legs.
Robinson staying out of range there.
Arfah throws a front kick aimed at Robinson's knee but Robinson avoids it well.
Arfah throws the left hand but Robinson avoids the punch easily.
Arfah ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Robinson moves away.
Arfah fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Robinson is out of range.
Robinson checks a low kick from Arfah.
Arfah swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Robinson drops down looking for a counter takedown but Arfah sprawls and moves away.
Robinson moves away from the strike by Arfah.
A looping hook to the body misses from Arfah. Robinson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Arfah throws an overhand right that lands on Robinson's shoulder, as Robinson tries to avoid the shot.
The fighters circling - Arfah throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Arfah takes a swing at Robinson's ribcage but misses.
Arfah misses with a hook. Robinson ducked under it nicely.
Arfah throws an overhand right that lands on Robinson's shoulder, as Robinson tries to avoid the shot.
As Arfah looks to move away, Robinson throws a big counter combo but Arfah just gets out of the way.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Robinson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Arfah.
Arfah has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Arfah throws out a loose jab but Robinson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nice defenses there by Robinson.
Robinson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Arfah.
As Arfah tries to get set, Robinson tries to push him back and clinch up but Arfah manages to avoid the attempt.
Robinson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Arfah.
Arfah takes a swing at Robinson's ribcage but misses.
Robinson moves out of range as Arfah strikes.
Robinson tries to clinch up but Arfah circles away and keeps his distance.
Arfah swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Arfah misses with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arfah tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Robinson was well out of range. Poor timing from Arfah.
Arfah misses with a straight right.
Arfah shoots in and drives through. Robinson sprawls well.
Arfah tried to score with a low kick but Robinson checks it.
Robinson was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Arfah just misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arfah throws the left hand but Robinson avoids the punch easily.
Robinson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Arfah swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Arfah shoots in but Robinson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Leonard Robinson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Robinson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Arfah.
Robinson seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Arfah fails with a takedown attempt.
Leonard Robinson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafik Arfah.
Arfah throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Arfah loads up on a big right hand but Robinson slips the punch.
Arfah misses the shot to the body.
Rafik Arfah seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Arfah misses with a wild body shot.
Arfah misses the shot to the body.
Robinson is looking for a counter combo.
Robinson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Arfah.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Arfah has eaten all the pies!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arfah is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Robinson.
Robinson appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Arfah throws a poor cross that misses
and Arfah takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Arfah throws a lazy right hand but Robinson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Robinson slips a straight right by Arfah.
Arfah looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Robinson is fending him off so far but Arfah persists. Nope, Robinson circles away and we're back to standing.
Robinson avoids the body shot from Arfah.
Robinson wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Arfah throws a lazy right hand but Robinson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A telegraphed right hand from Arfah misses the target.
Arfah throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Robinson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Arfah.
Arfah swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Robinson half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Arfah takes a swing at Robinson's ribcage but misses.
Robinson ducks under a wild hook from Arfah.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arfah fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Robinson manages to avoid it.
Arfah swings for the body but Robinson moves out of range.
Arfah misses with a hook. Robinson ducked under it nicely.
Robinson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Robinson slips a jab from Arfah.
Robinson shoots in looking for a takedown. Arfah tries to sprawl out of it but Robinson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Arfah manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Nice defenses there by Robinson.
Robinson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Robinson tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Arfah manages to circle out of the way.
Arfah attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Robinson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
As Arfah tries to get set, Robinson tries to push him back and clinch up but Arfah manages to avoid the attempt.
Robinson ducks under a wild hook from Arfah.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arfah throws a body shot but no joy.
Robinson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Arfah.
Arfah waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Robinson.
Robinson moves out of range of the strikes.
Robinson moves out of range as Arfah strikes.
Robinson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Robinson blocks a low kick nicely.
Arfah jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Arfah walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Robinson checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Robinson ducks under a wild hook from Arfah.
Robinson throws a big counter combination but Arfah scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Arfah throws a body punch but Robinson moves out of range.
Robinson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Arfah misses the shot to the body.
Arfah tries to score with a low kick but Robinson moves his leg out of the way.
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.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Arfah throws a body punch but Robinson moves out of range.
Arfah swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Arfah misses the shot to the body.
Arfah throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Robinson moves out of range of the strikes.
Robinson changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Robinson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Robinson tries to clinch but Arfah moves out of range.
Arfah wants to land a leg kick but Robinson is out of range.
Arfah throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Robinson ducks under a wild hook from Arfah.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arfah leaves Robinson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Arfah throws the left hand but Robinson avoids the punch easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Arfah throws a low kick but it's checked well by Robinson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arfah misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Robinson.
Arfah throws an overhand right that lands on Robinson's shoulder, as Robinson tries to avoid the shot.
Arfah throws the left hand but Robinson avoids the punch easily.
Robinson moves away from the strike by Arfah.
Robinson went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Arfah misses with a hook.
Robinson slips a jab from Arfah.
Arfah misses with a wild body shot.
Arfah misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Robinson.
Robinson checks a low kick from Arfah.

Arfah manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Robinson on his heels. He'll look to pass Robinson's guard now, I'm sure.
Arfah stands and throws Robinson's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Arfah tries to advance to mount but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arfah controls the position from side control.
Arfah wants to lay and pray for a moment but Robinson keeps working.
A lull in the action here.
Arfah is looking to take a break and control but Robinson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Robinson managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Arfah.
The ground and pound from Arfah seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Arfah controlling the position.
Arfah wants to lay and pray for a moment but Robinson keeps working.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Robinson trying to remain calm as Arfah controls from the top position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Arfah waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Robinson.
Robinson seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Robinson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Arfah does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Arfah misses with a hook.
Arfah looks to land a left hand but Robinson moved out of range nicely.
Arfah misses with an uppercut. Robinson saw that one coming.
Good work by Robinson as he checks the leg kick.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Arfah jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Arfah pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Leonard Robinson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Arfah looks to land a left hand but Robinson moved out of range nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rafik Arfah comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Arfah winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 26:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 26:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafik Arfah!
A pretty intense looking Rafik Arfah took the opportunity post-fight to ask for a shot at the title.