PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Victor Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aldin Arifi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Stevens
vs
Arifi

175 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
19
155 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Victor Stevens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Aldin Arifi!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Marco Blurström and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Arifi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Stevens closes the distance and clinches.
Stevens prevents a takedown attempt there.
Stevens connects with a knee to the head.
Stevens managing to block the knees to the body from Arifi.

Stevens breaks from the clinch.
Arifi scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

Stevens shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Arifi napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Stevens tries to advance to mount but can't.
Stevens throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Stevens wants to lay and pray for a moment but Arifi keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stevens decides to stand back up.

Arifi gets the takedown into side control.
Arifi cracks Stevens with a big elbow.
Stevens wants to get back to his feet but Arifi drags him back down.
Stevens is looking for a sweep.
The ground and pound from Arifi seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Arifi working the head with strikes.
Stevens takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

Arifi tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Arifi looks gassed!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stevens is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Arifi's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevens trying to control here.
Stevens tries to kick Arifi off but Arifi keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Stevens is trying to maintain the position but Arifi is very close to passing his half guard.
Stevens pushes Arifi off looking to stand but Arifi dives back in and keeps control.
Arifi is nestled in close to Stevens, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arifi thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Arifi is nestled in close to Stevens, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Arifi is keen to just control but Stevens is a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stevens trying to control here.
Arifi prevents Stevens from standing back up.
Arifi is looking to advance position but Stevens won't allow it.
Stevens regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Arifi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevens 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.

Stevens pushes Arifi off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Arifi closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Stevens quickly recovers to half guard.
Stevens tries to roll over but Arifi keeps him under control.
Arifi not doing much here.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stevens wants to control but Arifi is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Aldin Arifi will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Stevens scores with a nice body kick.
Arifi stuffs the takedown attempt from Stevens. Stevens gets slowly back to his feet.

Stevens has taken the fight to the clinch.
Arifi takes an elbow to the temple.
Arifi looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Stevens can't break the clinch.
Stevens lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Stevens gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Arifi.
Stevens jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Arifi walks away with a smile on his face. Stevens gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Stevens tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Arifi swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Victor Stevens. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arifi defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Stevens.
Stevens works Arifi's body with a nice hook.

Stevens closes the distance and pushes Arifi back into the cage.
Arifi tries to land knees in the clinch but Stevens avoids the damage to the body.
Arifi is breathing heavily.
Arifi fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Stevens drops down looking for an ankle pick but Arifi pulls his leg out and moves away.

Stevens gets caught napping as Arifi dives in and scores a takedown. Stevens manages to retain guard.
Arifi must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Stevens wants to stand up but Arifi is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arifi postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Stevens is looking to stand back up but Arifi counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Stevens.
Arifi looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stevens taking some punishment here, with Arifi in his half guard.
Arifi lands strikes from half guard.
Stevens is staying active underneath Arifi, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Stevens gets back to full guard.
Stevens working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Arifi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arifi throwing strikes from guard but Stevens blocks nicely.
Arifi trying to control the position from guard on top but Stevens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Arifi won't allow Stevens to get back to his feet.
Aldin Arifi has got the better of the ground game so far.
Arifi scoring with some ground and pound.

Arifi avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Stevens has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Arifi can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Stevens really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Arifi is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevens keeping moving, preventing Arifi from controlling successfully.
Arifi makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Stevens looking to hit a scissor sweep but Arifi is one step ahead there.
Arifi postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Arifi working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Stevens's head.
Stevens bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Arifi's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Aldin Arifi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Stevens drives through and clinches with Arifi against the cage.
Arifi has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Stevens is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Arifi tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Stevens smiles and moves away.
Left hook, right uppercut from Arifi.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Stevens.

Stevens clinches up against the cage.
Arifi blocks an elbow strike from Stevens.
Stevens lands an elbow inside.
Stevens lands a good knee to the midsection. Arifi won't want to take too many of those.
Stevens tries to stall but Arifi uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Stevens fails to pull guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens has Arifi pushed against the cage.
Stevens looking to throw knees to the head but Arifi is blocking nicely.
Arifi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Stevens breaks from the clinch.

Stevens gets a clinch.
Stevens has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Stevens's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Arifi stuffs the takedown.

Stevens closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Arifi jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Stevens walks away with a smile on his face. Arifi gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Victor Stevens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aldin Arifi.

Stevens gets a clinch.
Arifi tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Stevens just stands there and leans against the cage.
Arifi content to slow the pace in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevens wants to break the clinch but can't.
Stevens content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Stevens trying to stall but Arifi improves his position.

Arifi is fighting off a takedown attempt but Stevens is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Arifi to the mat. Arifi regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stevens throws a strike but Arifi rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Stevens working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Arifi.
Aldin Arifi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Stevens is looking for a triangle but Arifi pushes his legs off easily.
Arifi content to stall in guard here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Stevens is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arifi is looking to stand up but Stevens isn't so interested in that idea.
Stevens wants to stand but Arifi has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Victor Stevens has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Victor Stevens.
Stevens thows a body kick. Arifi tries to catch it but that hurt him.

Stevens gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Stevens is trying to trip Arifi. He has hold of a leg but Arifi is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Stevens persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Stevens stands and steps away. Arifi gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

And that's the end of the fight!
Victor Stevens showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Arifi 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Victor Stevens!