PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Javier Arroyo (ranked 280 p4p, 331 weight class) and Sergej Kersikov (ranked 46 p4p, 52 weight class). Kersikov has chosen Re-Style - I'm Alive as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Arroyo
vs
Kersikov

176 cm
29
155
15 - 7 - 1

178 cm
30
160
10 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Conviction

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 15 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Javier Arroyo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sergej Kersikov!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kersikov misses with a low kick.
Kersikov misses with a straight right.
Arroyo quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Arroyo lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Donk. Kersikov catches Arroyo right on the button with a cross.
Arroyo scores with a hook.
Kersikov throws a low kick but it's checked well by Arroyo.
Arroyo thuds his right hand into Kersikov's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Arroyo missing with a left hand there. Kersikov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Arroyo lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Kersikov at a distance.
A telegraphed right hand from Arroyo misses the target.
Arroyo looks to land a right hand but Kersikov moved out of range.
Arroyo on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
A jab from Arroyo misses.
Arroyo has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Mary Gracies Jiu Jitsu in the buildup to the fight.
Arroyo throws a hook but Kersikov blocks it.
Kersikov ducks under a wild hook from Arroyo.
Arroyo tests Kersikov's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kersikov connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kersikov rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Arroyo counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Kersikov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kersikov scores with a jab to the jaw.
Arroyo slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Arroyo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A jab from Arroyo misses.
Arroyo takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
A low kick from Kersikov is predictable there
and Arroyo makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Kersikov really felt that one!
Arroyo scores with a leg kick.
Arroyo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Arroyo buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Kersikov looks to land a body kick but Arroyo moved away.
Kersikov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Arroyo.
Arroyo throws a body punch but Kersikov moves out of range.
Arroyo swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Javier Arroyo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov throws a right and a left that Arroyo avoids nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Arroyo chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Arroyo throws a low kick but it's checked well by Kersikov.
And Kersikov responds with a good body kick, but Arroyo manages to step out the way in time.
Arroyo bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Arroyo looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Kersikov lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Arroyo ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Arroyo ducks under a wild hook from Kersikov.

Kersikov clinches with his opponent.
Arroyo tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Arroyo wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Kersikov stalling the fight.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kersikov.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kersikov.
Kersikov trying to control the position but instead, Arroyo has worked for underhooks and has pushed Kersikov into the cage.

Arroyo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Arroyo throws a hook to the side of Kersikov's head but Kersikov sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kersikov stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Arroyo.
Arroyo tries to work over Kersikov's front leg with a kick but Kersikov checks it.
Arroyo thuds a left hand into Kersikov's body.
Arroyo fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Kersikov checks it well.
Arroyo throws a body shot but no joy.
Nice defenses there by Kersikov.
Kersikov checks the leg kick nicely there.
Arroyo fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Arroyo cracks Kersikov with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Kersikov doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Kersikov tries a low kick but Arroyo avoids it.
Arroyo throws a big shot that misses.
Arroyo backing away here, and Kersikov unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Arroyo throws a low kick, looking for Kersikov's leg but Kersikov calmly moves out of range.
Kersikov misses with a hook. Arroyo ducked under it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Arroyo lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Arroyo loads up on a big right hand but Kersikov slips the punch.
Kersikov misses with a body kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A bone on bone clash there as Arroyo blocks the leg kick.
Kersikov wants to land a leg kick but Arroyo is out of range.
Arroyo scores with a body shot.
Arroyo lands an overhand right.
Kersikov tries to bum rush Arroyo with a series of wild strikes but Arroyo uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Arroyo misses with a straight right.
Arroyo tries to work over Kersikov's front leg with a kick but Kersikov checks it.
Arroyo shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Kersikov keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
A nice side step and Kersikov releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Arroyo thows a leg kick but Kersikov checks it
and Kersikov counters with a solid body kick.
A thudding body kick lands there by Arroyo!
Arroyo swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Javier Arroyo dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kersikov avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Kersikov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Arroyo has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Kersikov.
Nice defenses there by Kersikov.
Kersikov blocks a jab.
Arroyo misses with a hook.
Arroyo throws a body punch but Kersikov moves out of range.
Kersikov feints a counter leg kick.
Kersikov throws a jab when Arroyo was well out of range.
Arroyo thows a leg kick but Kersikov checks it
and Kersikov counters with a straight right hand.
Arroyo looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Arroyo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kersikov can do to turn this around?
Kersikov slips a jab from Arroyo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arroyo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Arroyo lands a jab to the head.
Arroyo pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Javier Arroyo is winning the standup battle so far.
Arroyo throws a big shot that misses.
Arroyo takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arroyo connects with the punch.
Kersikov tries to clinch but Arroyo is having none of it.
Kersikov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Arroyo.
Arroyo on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kersikov. Kersikov obviously looking to wear him down.
Kersikov thows a left - swing and a miss!
A good leg kick by Kersikov.
Arroyo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kersikov was well out of range. Poor timing from Arroyo.
Arroyo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kersikov moves away.
It seemed like Kersikov was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Nice straight punches there by Arroyo. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Arroyo.
Kersikov throws a big shot that misses.
Arroyo misses with a low kick.
Kersikov misses the shot to the body.
Arroyo throws a lazy body kick
and Kersikov counters with a stiff right hand.
Arroyo misses with an attempted mid kick.
Kersikov slips under a jab.
Arroyo takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arroyo lands with a thumping leg kick.
Arroyo tries to work over Kersikov's front leg with a kick but Kersikov checks it.
Kersikov feints a counter leg kick.
Arroyo throws the kick towards the body but Kersikov avoids it.
Arroyo waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kersikov.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Arroyo feints and then cracks Kersikov's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Kersikov down.
A swing and a miss from Arroyo.
Arroyo backing away here, and Kersikov unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Kersikov scores with a push kick.
Good shot there by Arroyo.
A telegraphed right hand from Kersikov misses the target.
Kersikov with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A jab from Arroyo does it's job there.
Kersikov's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Kersikov buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Kersikov moves out of range of the strikes.
Kersikov staying out of range there.
Arroyo is looking to land body kicks.
Arroyo throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arroyo misses with a right hand
and Kersikov counters with a nice uppercut.
Kersikov slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Arroyo gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Arroyo is looking to chop away at Kersikov's legs.
Kersikov jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kersikov tests Arroyo's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kersikov misses with a low kick.
A jab lands there for Kersikov.
Arroyo looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Kersikov just misses with a punch to the body.
Arroyo stuns Kersikov with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Arroyo on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kersikov. Kersikov obviously looking to wear him down.
Kersikov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Arroyo sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Arroyo checks the leg kick.
Arroyo is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Kersikov attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arroyo attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Arroyo dips to his left and cracks Kersikov with an uppercut!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Arroyo has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Kersikov finds it's way round the side to connect with Arroyo's head.
Arroyo steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kersikov.
Arroyo 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.
Kersikov throws a lazy right hand but Arroyo sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Kersikov lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Arroyo has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Arroyo and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Arroyo has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Kersikov.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kersikov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Arroyo connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Arroyo looks to throw a body kick
and Kersikov counters with a nice uppercut.
Arroyo swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Arroyo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kersikov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Arroyo.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sergej Kersikov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Arroyo throws a nice outside leg kick.
Kersikov slips under a jab.
Kersikov staying out of range there.
Arroyo looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Kersikov lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
A lazy left from Arroyo finds it's target.
Arroyo on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Arroyo misses with a left hand
and Kersikov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kersikov looks to land a right hand but Arroyo moved out of range.
Kersikov ducks under a wild hook from Arroyo.
Arroyo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kersikov moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kersikov misses with a low kick as Arroyo jumps back.
Kersikov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Arroyo takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Arroyo is looking to score with low kicks.
Kersikov on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Arroyo. Arroyo obviously looking to wear him down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kersikov checks the leg kick.
That kick from Kersikov tenderised Arroyo's leg. Arroyo is trying to keep his angry face on.
Arroyo looks to land a left hand but Kersikov moved out of range nicely.
Kersikov misses with an attempted mid kick.
Kersikov moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Kersikov lands with an uppercut that bounces Arroyo off the cage and back into range.
Arroyo lands a nice leg kick that just misses Kersikov's sensitive parts.
Kersikov feints and then cracks Arroyo's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Arroyo down.
Arroyo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kersikov.
Kersikov throws an overhand right that lands on Arroyo's shoulder, as Arroyo tries to avoid the shot.
Arroyo checks the leg kick.
Kersikov goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Arroyo on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kersikov. Kersikov obviously looking to wear him down.
Kersikov misses with a wild combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arroyo throws a leg kick that misses.
Kersikov throws a nice outside leg kick.
Kersikov throws a leg kick but Arroyo checks it.
Arroyo just misses with a punch to the body.
A little jabbing left from Kersikov on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Arroyo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kersikov moves away.
Kersikov was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Kersikov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Arroyo.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kersikov checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Arroyo stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Kersikov.
Kersikov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Arroyo throwing a counter right hand but Kersikov manages to avoid it.
A big right from Kersikov misses.
Kersikov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kersikov.
Jab from Arroyo.
Kersikov throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Kersikov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Arroyo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov slips under a jab from Arroyo.
Kersikov let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Kersikov takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Arroyo finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Kersikov takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Arroyo looks to throw the jab but Kersikov is out of range.
Kersikov takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Kersikov misses the jab.
Arroyo scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Arroyo takes a swing at Kersikov's ribcage but misses.
Nice shot lands for Arroyo.
Arroyo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kersikov.
Kersikov fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Arroyo has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Arroyo misses with a straight left.
Kersikov takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Arroyo scores with a nice strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Kersikov blocks a jab.
Kersikov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Nice defenses there by Kersikov.
Arroyo finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Arroyo chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Kersikov has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Kersikov just misses with a punch to the body.
Arroyo misses the shot to the body.
Kersikov fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Kersikov throws a big shot that misses.
Arroyo takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Arroyo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kersikov tries a quick counter leg kick but Arroyo is wise to it.
Arroyo scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Arroyo looks for the body kick but Kersikov saw that one coming.
Arroyo scores with a punch to the head.
Kersikov throws a shot from downtown. Arroyo moves away and avoids it.

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 Javier Arroyo.
I think Arroyo 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Javier Arroyo!
Javier Arroyo decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.