PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Henry Lancaster (ranked 1109 p4p, 1708 weight class) and Mikel Arteta (ranked 149 p4p, 228 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Arteta's choice of entrance music: Stranglehold/ Ted Nugent. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Lancaster
vs
Arteta

183 cm
27
185
13 - 7 - 0

191 cm
26
200
7 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Hardcore Alchemy
Core Combat

Vegan Gains

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 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Henry Lancaster!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Mikel Arteta!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Yuuki Gou and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Arteta slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Lancaster stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Arteta.
Arteta throws a leg kick that misses.
Lancaster takes a jab right on the kisser.
Lancaster throws a jab but it's blocked by Arteta.
Arteta scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Lancaster doesn't seem bothered though.
Lancaster looks to land a left hand but Arteta moved out of range nicely.
Lancaster definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Lancaster pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Lancaster throws a body punch but Arteta moves out of range.
Lancaster needs to keep his hands up - Arteta had a free shot at his head there.
Lancaster throws a shot from downtown. Arteta moves away and avoids it.
Lancaster misses with a hook.
Arteta ducks under a wild hook from Lancaster.
Lancaster takes a shot to the body in his stride.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Arteta's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Lancaster connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Arteta scrambles back to his feet.
Arteta avoids the body shot from Lancaster.
Arteta with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Lancaster to score with a decent uppercut.
Lancaster throws a poor cross that misses
and Lancaster takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Arteta staying out of range there.
The fighters circle momentarily. Arteta darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Arteta fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Lancaster to the ground. Arteta is now in Lancaster's guard.

Lancaster wriggles free and stands up.
Arteta throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lancaster.

Arteta shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Lancaster manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Lancaster is adopting a defensive guard.
Arteta stands and throws Lancaster's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Arteta is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Lancaster has escaped the position, nice work there.
Lancaster tries to bench press Arteta off him but Arteta keeps the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arteta sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Lancaster is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Lancaster prevents Arteta from moving into mount.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Arteta working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.

Arteta is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Lancaster has escaped the position, nice work there.
Arteta tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Lancaster prevents Arteta from moving into mount.
Arteta in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Lancaster is pushing Arteta's head away, looking to escape. Arteta manages to hold on to the position though.
Lancaster is looking to reverse the position.
Lancaster is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Arteta is controlling him well.
Lancaster tries to bench press Arteta off him but Arteta keeps the position.
Arteta has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Lancaster holding on.
Arteta in side control, throwing shots but Lancaster defends.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Arteta tries for a kimura but Lancaster is defending well.
Lancaster prevents Arteta from moving into mount.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
An elbow from Arteta crashes against the mat.

Arteta goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Lancaster has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Arteta but great work by Lancaster.
Arteta sneaks back into half guard.
Lancaster is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Lancaster trying to control the action but Arteta is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lancaster is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arteta moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Arteta is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Arteta keeping moving, preventing Lancaster from controlling successfully.
Lancaster has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Arteta is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Arteta had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Lancaster defends it easily.
Lancaster showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Lancaster rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Arteta counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Lancaster has Arteta pulled in close to control his posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Arteta postures up.
Arteta with a flurry of punches that miss.
Arteta wants to pass the guard but Lancaster is keeping the position.
Lancaster is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arteta wants to control from the top but Lancaster keeps moving.
Arteta tries to free his leg and advance position but Lancaster is retaining full guard.
Lancaster trying to keep a closed guard but Arteta is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arteta throws a big right hand that misses.
Lancaster is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Lancaster wants to get back to his feet.
Lancaster is keen to just control but Arteta is a slippery customer.
Arteta trying to hold on to Lancaster's head to control him but Lancaster postures up.
Arteta is trying to get back to full guard.
Lancaster controlling the pace.
Arteta is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arteta is pressing down on Lancaster's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Arteta is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Arteta looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Arteta had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Lancaster defends it easily.

Arteta is looking for a triangle but Lancaster pushes his legs off easily.
Lancaster passes into half guard.
Arteta is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lancaster with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Arteta is trying to get back to full guard.
Lancaster seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Arteta is looking to improve his position.
Arteta throws a sloppy strike from the bottom. He's now off balance and Lancaster manages to pass to side control.
Arteta tries to improve position but can't.

Lancaster stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Lancaster is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Lancaster misses with a wild body shot.
Lancaster is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Arteta's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
A jab lands there for Lancaster.
Arteta slips a straight right by Lancaster.
Nice shot by Arteta.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Arteta.
Lancaster throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lancaster lands a nice shot that snaps Arteta's head back.
Arteta connects with a nice looking jab.
Lancaster tries to move into range but Arteta moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Mikel Arteta seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Lancaster misses with an uppercut
and Arteta counters with a straight right hand.
Arteta slips a jab and a cross from Lancaster.
Arteta lands a jab.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Arteta tries to score with a low kick but Lancaster moves his leg out of the way.
Arteta clobbers Lancaster with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Lancaster swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Arteta swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Lancaster.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mikel Arteta 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!

Arteta scores with a nice strike.
Arteta lands with a nice body kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Lancaster misses the target.
Arteta throws a body shot but no joy.
Lancaster looks to throw the jab but Arteta is out of range.
Arteta blocks a jab.
Lancaster throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Arteta.
Arteta connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Arteta lands with an overhand left.
Jab from Arteta.
Arteta has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Lancaster misses the jab.
Lancaster throws a big shot that misses.
Lancaster lands a nice hook to Arteta's body. Arteta takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Lancaster lands a body shot.
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!
Arteta comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Arteta lands with a nice body punch.
Arteta misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arteta with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Lancaster to score with a decent uppercut.
Lancaster fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Arteta manages to avoid it.
Arteta keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lancaster takes one to the chin there.
Lancaster throws a hook but Arteta blocks it.
Arteta throws out a counter right but Lancaster avoids it with no problem.
Lancaster moves into range and connects with a jab.
Decent striking displayed by Arteta there.
Lancaster blocks a leg kick.
Lancaster missing with a left hand there. Arteta was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Lancaster thows a left - swing and a miss!
Arteta blocks a jab.
Arteta ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Lancaster lands a right hook to the body.
Lancaster throws a right hand that Arteta ducks under and follows up with a left that Arteta also avoids with ease.
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!
Lancaster throws out a loose jab but Arteta uses good head movement to avoid it.
Henry Lancaster has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lancaster slips a jab and a cross from Arteta.
Arteta connects with a nice looking jab.
Lancaster throws a right and a left that both miss.
Arteta staying out of range there.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Lancaster checks a leg kick.
Lancaster scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Lancaster throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Arteta slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Arteta moves out of range of the strikes.
Lancaster looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Arteta lands a head shot.
Arteta rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Lancaster moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Lancaster misses with a hook.
Lancaster misses with a straight left.
Lancaster throws a looping overhand right but Arteta ducks down to avoid it.
Arteta fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lancaster looks to throw the jab but Arteta is out of range.
Lancaster waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Arteta.
Arteta lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Lancaster misses with a wild body shot.
Lancaster connects with a looping right hand.
Lancaster misses with a hook to the body
enabling Arteta to counter with a crisp jab.
Arteta avoids the body shot from Lancaster.
A telegraphed right hand from Lancaster misses the target.
Lancaster swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lancaster swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Arteta listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Lancaster gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Lancaster is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Arteta.
Some wild striking there from Arteta.
Lancaster was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
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!

Arteta closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Lancaster has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Arteta is on him like a limpet, forcing Lancaster back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lancaster prevents a body shot from Arteta.
Lancaster misses with a short punch on the inside.
Lancaster goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Mikel Arteta is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Arteta escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Arteta gets a takedown into half guard.
Lancaster is refusing to be controlled, as Arteta sits in half guard.

Lancaster manages to escape and get back to his feet!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Arteta dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Arteta slips under a jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Henry Lancaster.
I think Arteta has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mikel Arteta!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Mikel Arteta made sure he mentioned Vegan Gains, along with how happy he was to win his fight.