PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Steve Areeno (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Son Ii (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steve Areeno has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Areeno
vs
Son Ii

175 cm
30
155 lbs
18 - 15 - 0

184 cm
21
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Inner Beast Nutrition And Laundry

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 18 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Steve Areeno!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sam Son Ii!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Stewart Dunkirk and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Son Ii takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Areeno defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Son Ii.
Son Ii shoots in looking for a takedown. Areeno tries to sprawl out of it but Son Ii keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Areeno manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Son Ii tries to sprawl but Areeno drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Areeno wants to take a breather but Son Ii is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Son Ii is looking to improve his position.
Areeno tries to stand and escape but Son Ii is controlling the position.
Areeno seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Areeno escapes and gets back to his feet.

Areeno closes the distance and clinches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Areeno just misses with a elbow thrown towards Son Ii's brow.
Areeno lands an elbow just above Son Ii 's eye.
Areeno throws a knee to the head but misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Areeno throws an elbow but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Areeno creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Areeno missing with knees to the body.
Son Ii goes for a takedown attempt but Areeno pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Steve Areeno has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sam Son Ii.

Areeno moves into the clinch.
Son Ii managing to block the knees to the body from Areeno.
Areeno misses with an elbow over the top.
Son Ii avoids a wild elbow strike from Areeno.
Areeno with a knee to the head.
Son Ii avoiding damage as Areeno throws knees to the body.
Son Ii is trying to push Areeno away but Areeno has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Son Ii drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Areeno lands an elbow inside.
Son Ii blocks an elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Son Ii avoids the elbow strike from Areeno, against the cage.
Son Ii changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Areeno fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Areeno keeps the fight on the outside.
Son Ii circles away from the clinch attempt.
Areeno wants to clinch.

Areeno scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
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!
Son Ii is staying active underneath Areeno, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Areeno keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Son Ii is trying to get back to full guard.

Areeno wants to work for an arm triangle but Son Ii is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Areeno looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Son Ii with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Son Ii gets full guard.
Areeno wants to control from the top but Son Ii keeps moving.
Son Ii working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Areeno.

Son Ii working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Areeno doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Areeno manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Areeno wants to control from the top but Son Ii keeps moving.
Son Ii looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Son Ii trying to keep a closed guard but Areeno is proving a slippery customer.

Areeno thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Areeno wants to pass the guard but Son Ii is keeping the position.
Son Ii looking to control.
Areeno trying to control the position from guard on top but Son Ii is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Areeno has closed the distance and engaged Son Ii in a clinch.
Areeno pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Areeno throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Son Ii misses with a body punch.

Son Ii escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Areeno moves into range and connects with a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Areeno dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Son Ii ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Son Ii shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Areeno as he jumps to the side.
Areeno throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Good shot there by Areeno.
Son Ii is looking to score with low kicks.
Areeno stuffs the takedown.
Areeno dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A big left from Areeno misses.
Areeno throws a jab when Son Ii was well out of range.
Areeno just misses with a punch to the body.
A chopping leg kick lands by Areeno.
Areeno throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Areeno uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Son Ii.
Areeno takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Areeno slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Areeno throws a shot from downtown. Son Ii moves away and avoids it.
Areeno avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Steve Areeno seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Son Ii takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Son Ii tries for a takedown but Areeno sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Steve Areeno has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sam Son Ii.
Son Ii shoots in and drives through. Areeno sprawls well.
Son Ii on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
A slapping leg kick lands for Areeno.
Son Ii avoids the body shot from Areeno.
Steve Areeno is winning the standup battle so far.

Areeno shoots in and bounces Son Ii off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Son Ii looking to hit a scissor sweep but Areeno is one step ahead there.
Son Ii is breathing heavily.
Son Ii looking to control.
Areeno passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Areeno creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The ground and pound from Areeno seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Areeno trying to control the position but Son Ii is working away.
Areeno in side control lands a decent elbow.

Areeno tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Areeno has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Areeno is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Son Ii is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Son Ii wants to control but Areeno postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Areeno tries to score with some ground and pound. Son Ii controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ground and pound from Areeno seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
You can see the frustration on Son Ii's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
An elbow from Areeno crashes against the mat.

Areeno tries for a kimura but Son Ii is defending well.
Son Ii struggling a bit here.
Areeno wants to lay and pray for a moment but Son Ii keeps working.

Areeno is trying to get an arm triangle but Son Ii is defending well.
Areeno landing a few strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Son Ii can't do much from the bottom here.
Areeno looking to control but instead Son Ii has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Areeno is thwarting Son Ii's attempts to control the position.
Areeno is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Son Ii!

Areeno is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Son Ii has managed to escape the submission attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Son Ii is desperately trying to improve his position but Areeno has a good base and remains in mount.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Areeno looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Areeno dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Son Ii moves out of range of the strikes.
Son Ii fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Areeno stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Areeno is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Son Ii can do to turn this around?
Areeno throws a jab when Son Ii was well out of range.
Son Ii walks into a left hand.
Good work by Son Ii as he checks the leg kick.
Son Ii swings for the body but Areeno moves out of range.
Son Ii throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Areeno's waist but Areeno gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Son Ii off to one side.

Son Ii fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Areeno sprawls well initially but Son Ii persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Areeno looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Areeno has his hands clasped together around Son Ii's back. He's all about the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Areeno tries to roll over but Son Ii keeps him under control.
Son Ii wants to lay and pray for a moment but Areeno keeps working.
Son Ii is stalling here. Areeno is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Son Ii seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Areeno has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

Areeno thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Areeno is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Son Ii is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Areeno wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Son Ii, who protects the arm well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Son Ii's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Areeno creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Son Ii sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

Areeno is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Son Ii has escaped the position, nice work there.
Son Ii is trying to get back to half guard.
Steve Areeno overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Areeno thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Areeno misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Son Ii sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Son Ii moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Son Ii looking for a sweep. Not yet Son Ii, not yet.
Son Ii keeping full guard, as Areeno tries to pass.
Son Ii is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Son Ii keeping moving, preventing Areeno from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Son Ii looking to control.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Good leg kick by Areeno there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Areeno swings for the body but Son Ii moves out of range.

Areeno instigates a clinch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Areeno obliges.

Son Ii breaks the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Areeno, right into the meat.
Areeno takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Areeno lands the left hand.
A big left from Areeno misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A good leg kick by Areeno.
Areeno lands a glancing blow to the side of Son Ii's head.
Sam Son Ii has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Areeno connects with a leg kick. Son Ii looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Son Ii throws a big shot that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Areeno showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Areeno has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27

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