PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Axel Arlovski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Claire James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by angry cats talking. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Arlovski
vs
James

195 cm
23
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
270 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Axel Arlovski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Claire James!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Jeff Smith and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Arlovski throws a head kick but James moves out of range.

Arlovski lands a big head kick that sends James tumbling to the mat! Arlovski takes a step backwards and waves James back to his feet - he wants the finish!

It looks like Claire James has been cut.
Arlovski misses with a series of wild punches.
James tries to counter by closing the distance.
Arlovski tries to clinch there but James circles away.
Arlovski showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from James.
Arlovski looks to score with a jab to the body but James is just out of range.
A head kick misses from Arlovski.
A head kick misses from Arlovski.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
James connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
James with a body punch. A glancing blow.

Arlovski forces James back against the cage and clinches.
Arlovski blocks a punch to the side of the head.
James has a couple of punches blocked by Arlovski.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James letting Arlovski take a breather here.
James pushes Arlovski back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Arlovski prevents James from breaking the clinch.
Nice elbow from James.

It looks like Axel Arlovski has been cut.
Arlovski drops to a knee looking for a takedown but James gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Arlovski breaks from the clinch.
Both fighters circling a little - Arlovski finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
James looks winded!
James misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nice uppercut lands for Arlovski. That snapped James's head back.

Arlovski takes the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Arlovski breaks the clinch.
Arlovski smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
James fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Arlovski tries a head kick but it misses.
Despite the aggression on James's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Arlovski scores with a head kick. James tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

That has opened up Claire James's cut even more.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Arlovski takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Arlovski wants to clinch.
James displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Arlovski.
Arlovski changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arlovski connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between James's hands.
Arlovski shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Axel Arlovski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The fight stays on the outside here - Arlovski looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Claire James is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Arlovski shoots for a takedown but James saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A combination from Arlovski does no damage.
James tries to bum rush Arlovski with a series of wild strikes but Arlovski uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Nice uppercut there from Arlovski.
Arlovski throws a combination. James tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Arlovski is defended easily by James.
James throws a counter combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Arlovski instigates a clinch.

Arlovski escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Arlovski looking to land some kicks to the body here.
James displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Arlovski.
James fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Arlovski looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice shot by James.
No joy there for Arlovski, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Axel Arlovski dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

James avoids the head kick by Arlovski.
As Arlovski backs off James throws a huge counter combo but Arlovski manages to avoid it all.
James closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Axel Arlovski seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Arlovski takes the fight into the clinch.
Arlovski is looking to take this one to the mat.
James tries to circle away but Arlovski has him pinned against the cage.
Arlovski prevents James from breaking the clinch.
Arlovski tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Arlovski with a knee to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arlovski managing to block the knees to the body from James.
James is breathing heavily.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Arlovski.
James softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Arlovski drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James is looking to break free of the clinch but Arlovski has double underhooks.
Arlovski tries to pull guard but James won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Axel Arlovski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
James has a couple of punches blocked by Arlovski.
James gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Arlovski.
James swings wildly with an uppercut but Arlovski uses good head movement to avoid it.

Arlovski breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Arlovski tries to close the distance and clinch but James swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Arlovski will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Arlovski works over James's head and body with a nice combination.
Arlovski tries to clinch up but James circles away and keeps his distance.
Arlovski throws a head kick that half lands.

The cut above Claire James's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Arlovski shoots in for a takedown but James shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
James stalks Arlovski and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Arlovski's face. Arlovski staggers backwards, shaken.
James lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
James misses with the combination.
James rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Arlovski moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Arlovski gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and James counters with a straight right hand.
James closes the distance and lands a one-two.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Arlovski misses.
Axel Arlovski is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Arlovski is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Arlovski drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

Arlovski has closed the distance and engaged James in a clinch.
James misses with a hook from the clinch.

Arlovski decides to pull guard.

Arlovski is working an open guard so James takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
James swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Arlovski counters with a one-two to the body.
Sloppy strikes from James. Those never looked like landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Arlovski is defended easily by James.
Arlovski avoids a punch combination nicely.
Axel Arlovski is winning the standup battle so far.
Arlovski lands a head kick. James smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nice shot lands for Arlovski.
Arlovski shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts James as he jumps to the side.
James throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Arlovski.
Arlovski shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. James defends it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Claire James showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

A punch lands to the side of Arlovski 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Arlovski throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Arlovski has taken the fight to the clinch.
James prevents the takedown attempt.

Arlovski manages to break the clinch.
James throws a jab but it's blocked by Arlovski.

Arlovski clinches up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James is trying to push Arlovski away but Arlovski has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
James working aggressively here.
James struggles to land a body shot inside as Arlovski controls his hands.
James lands a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arlovski using the Thai plumb to throw knees but James has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
James misses with a short punch on the inside.
James will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Arlovski up against the cage.

Arlovski's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Arlovski gets the takedown into side control.

Arlovski decides to stand up, so the ref orders James to his feet.
James misses with a jab, cross combination.

Arlovski shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. James manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Arlovski trying to control but James is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arlovski trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but James manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Arlovski wants to stand but James is controlling the position.

James stands and steps away. Arlovski gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
James tries to bum rush Arlovski with a series of wild strikes but Arlovski uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Arlovski throws a nice looking combination but James bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arlovski shoots in and drives through. James sprawls well.
James looks to land a combination but Arlovski avoids it well.
Arlovski wants to clinch but James slips to the side
and James counters with a series of strikes. Arlovski will be more careful next time no doubt.
Arlovski is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Arlovski tries to score a power double leg takedown but James sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Arlovski somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Axel Arlovski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Arlovski misses with a body kick.
Arlovski wants to land a leg kick but James is out of range.
James swats away the attempt to clinch by Arlovski.
James swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arlovski misses with a few strikes there.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from James! But no joy.
James throws a nice looking combination but Arlovski bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Arlovski fails in his attempt to clinch.
James throws a nice looking combination but Arlovski bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Arlovski tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
James circles away from the clinch attempt.
Arlovski looks to land a combination but James avoids it well.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Arlovski.
Arlovski tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but James was well out of range. Poor timing from Arlovski.
Arlovski walks into a stiff left hand from James.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Claire James.
I think James 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 29:29
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 29:29
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!