PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Edgar Garcia Jr (ranked 1597 p4p, 1644 weight class) and Saint Arai (ranked 140 p4p, 145 weight class). Garcia Jr comes to the cage accompanied by “Still Tippin”. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Garcia Jr
vs
Arai

171 cm
21
153
8 - 1 - 0

170 cm
20
148
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Furnace Performance 🔥
Silverguard Outfitters 🛡

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Edgar Garcia Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Saint Arai!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Percy O'Donnell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Garcia Jr just misses with a punch to the body.
Garcia Jr throws a body shot but no joy.
Garcia Jr tries to clinch up.
Arai ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Garcia Jr moves away.
Garcia Jr throws a right and a left that Arai avoids nicely.
Garcia Jr throws a combination that misses
and Arai counters with a left and a right that stings Garcia Jr.

Garcia Jr takes the fight into the clinch.
Arai being controlled against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Garcia Jr.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Arai escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The fight stays on the outside here - Garcia Jr looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Arai connects with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arai keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Garcia Jr misses with the combination.
Arai avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Garcia Jr tries to clinch but Arai moves away
and Arai counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Edgar Garcia Jr seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Garcia Jr swats away the attempt to clinch by Arai.
A big right from Arai misses.
Arai looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Garcia Jr misses with a shot to the body
and Arai counters with a nice uppercut.
Garcia Jr slips under a jab from Arai.
Arai ducks under a wild hook from Garcia Jr.
Garcia Jr sets himself, and Arai steps forward looking for the clinch! Garcia Jr avoids it this time.
Arai paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

Arai takes the fight into the clinch.
Garcia Jr blocking some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arai creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Arai lands a left hand that snaps the head of Garcia Jr backwards.
Garcia Jr lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
I was talking to Garcia Jr's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Garcia Jr misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Garcia Jr pressing his opponent against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Arai.
Garcia Jr tries a body shot but Arai blocks it.
Arai tries to break free but Garcia Jr pushes him back against the cage.
Arai digs a right hand into Garcia Jr's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Garcia Jr's gas tank.

Garcia Jr manages to break the clinch.
A telegraphed right hand from Garcia Jr misses the target.
Arai unleashes a big counter combination but Garcia Jr bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Garcia Jr throws a shot to the body.
Garcia Jr connects with a body shot.
Arai throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Garcia Jr scores with a jab. Arai acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Garcia Jr takes the fight into the clinch.
Arai tries to break free but Garcia Jr pushes him back against the cage.
Garcia Jr can't find room to land a body shot as Arai controls the action.
Garcia Jr takes a shot to the head.
Garcia Jr tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Arai's elbow.
Arai looking to stall.
A short left from Garcia Jr.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Garcia Jr.

Arai's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Garcia Jr feints a jab promting Arai to slip. Garcia Jr then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Arai slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Arai throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Arai throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Garcia Jr seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Arai keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Garcia Jr ducks under a wild hook from Arai.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garcia Jr punishes Arai's body with a nice straight punch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Arai doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Garcia Jr scores with a jab to the head.
Arai dips to his left and cracks Garcia Jr with an uppercut!

Arai moves into range and clinches up with Garcia Jr.
Arai throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Garcia Jr blocks it with crossed arms.
Arai lands a nice uppercut.
Garcia Jr tries to work over Arai's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Arai fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
The referee calls for Arai to work.
Arai has a couple of punches blocked by Garcia Jr.
Garcia Jr misses with a body punch.
Garcia Jr blocks an uppercut.
Garcia Jr taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Garcia Jr tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Saint Arai will probably get the nod.
That's time! Garcia Jr's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Garcia Jr throws a left and a right that both miss
and Arai counters with a nice uppercut.
Arai connects with a nice looking jab.
Garcia Jr swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Garcia Jr fails in his attempt to clinch.
Garcia Jr misses with a body shot.
Arai looks to score with a jab to the body but Garcia Jr is just out of range.
Garcia Jr tries to close the distance and clinch but Arai swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A countering left hand to the body from Arai misses.

Arai drives through and clinches with Garcia Jr against the cage.
Arai lands an uppercut.
Arai prevents a body shot from Garcia Jr.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arai misses with a punch on the inside.
Arai is trying to push Garcia Jr away but Garcia Jr has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Arai prevents a body shot from Garcia Jr.
Garcia Jr lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Garcia Jr throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Arais head.
Garcia Jr lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arai misses with a short punch on the inside.
Garcia Jr blocks an uppercut.
Arai tries to throw a body punch but Garcia Jr avoids it by throwing Arai back against the cage.
Garcia Jr struggles to land a body shot inside as Arai controls his hands.
Garcia Jr is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Arai is keeping busy.
A nice right hand lands inside from Garcia Jr.
Garcia Jr struggles to land a body shot inside as Arai controls his hands.
Garcia Jr goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Garcia Jr just leaning against Arai, taking a breather.
Arai lands with a right to the head.
Arai goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Arai breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Garcia Jr misses with a body shot.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Arai! But no joy.
Arai circles away from the clinch attempt.

Garcia Jr gets tackled into the cage by Arai. Arai maintains the clinch.
Arai lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garcia Jr leaning his opponent against the cage.
Garcia Jr tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Arai's elbow.
Arai swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Saint Arai seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A nice left hand lands by Arai.
Arai doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Garcia Jr working aggressively here.
Arai misses with a punch on the inside.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Garcia Jr creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Garcia Jr looking to stall.
Garcia Jr can't find room to land a body shot as Arai controls the action.
Arai letting Garcia Jr take a breather here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcia Jr tries to throw a body punch but Arai avoids it by throwing Garcia Jr back against the cage.
Arai goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Garcia Jr misses with a shot to the kidneys.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Arai.
Garcia Jr tries a body shot but Arai blocks it.
A nice left hand lands by Arai.
Garcia Jr doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Arai doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Garcia Jr misses with a body punch.
Garcia Jr wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Garcia Jr throws a head punch that misses.

Arai breaks from the clinch.
A cross from Arai lands.
Garcia Jr lands with a nice body punch.
Saint Arai seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Garcia Jr tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Arai paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arai tries to clinch up.
Garcia Jr tries to grapple but his opponent circles
letting Arai counter with a right hand.
Arai slips a straight right by Garcia Jr.
Arai slips a jab from Garcia Jr.
Arai throws out a counter right but Garcia Jr avoids it with no problem.
Garcia Jr doesn't manage to clinch there - Arai circles away.
Left hook, right uppercut from Garcia Jr.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Garcia Jr keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A little feinted left hand from Garcia Jr on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Garcia Jr swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Garcia Jr takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Garcia Jr swings for the body but Arai moves out of range.
Garcia Jr misses with a jab, cross combination.

Arai rushes Garcia Jr and presses him up against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Arai breaks the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Saint Arai will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Arai throws a big shot that misses.

Garcia Jr clinches up against the cage.
Garcia Jr misses with a hook to the ribs.
Garcia Jr leaning against his opponent.
Garcia Jr keeps control of Arai as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Arai lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Garcia Jr swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Arai lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Garcia Jr tries to throw a body punch but Arai avoids it by throwing Garcia Jr back against the cage.
Arai fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Arai misses with some punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garcia Jr misses with a hook to the ribs.
Garcia Jr tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Arai's elbow.
Arai prevents a body shot from Garcia Jr.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Arai misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short body shot lands from Garcia Jr as the two fighters clinch.
Arai letting Garcia Jr take a breather here.
Garcia Jr misses with a punch on the inside.

Arai pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Arai dodges the punch combination from Garcia Jr.
Arai tries to close the distance and clinch up but Garcia Jr swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Arai tries to close the distance and clinch up but Garcia Jr swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Arai scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Garcia Jr connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Nice cross by Garcia Jr.
Arai showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Garcia Jr.
Arai is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Edgar Garcia Jr has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garcia Jr swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Garcia Jr tries to clinch but Arai moves away
and Garcia Jr takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Arai closes the distance and clinches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Garcia Jr misses with the head strike.
Garcia Jr struggles to land a body shot inside as Arai controls his hands.
Arai doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Garcia Jr breaks from the clinch.
Garcia Jr throws a sloppy body shot
and Arai counters with a straight right hand.
Garcia Jr keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Arai.
Edgar Garcia Jr is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A jab from Garcia Jr finds it's way through Arai's defenses.
Arai misses with a two punch combination.
Garcia Jr seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Garcia Jr misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Arai.

Garcia Jr has managed to clinch.
Arai tries a body shot but Garcia Jr blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Arai as Garcia Jr tries to tie him up.
Garcia Jr lands a left hand.
Arai prevents Garcia Jr from breaking the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Arai.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Garcia Jr lands a left hand that snaps the head of Arai backwards.
Saint Arai is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Arai.
Arai throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Garcia Jrs head.
Arai taking a breather.
Arai working aggressively here.
Arai blocks an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garcia Jr scores with a shoulder strike.
Garcia Jr tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Garcia Jr tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Arai is trying to maintain a safe position but Garcia Jr gets an underhook and turns Arai into the cage.
Garcia Jr can't find room to land a body shot as Arai controls the action.
Garcia Jr can't find room to land a body shot as Arai controls the action.
Garcia Jr has Arai pressed against the cage.
Garcia Jr misses with a hook to the ribs.
Arai lands a shoulder strike.
Arai misses with a hook to the ribs.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Garcia Jr can't find room to land a body shot as Arai controls the action.
Arai digs a right hand into Garcia Jr's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Garcia Jr's gas tank.
Arai lands with a short shot to the head.

Arai breaks the clinch.
Arai lands a lovely overhand right.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Saint Arai.
Well Arai 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Saint Arai!