PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Benoit Yoshiyuzida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vitali Arshavin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Yoshiyuzida
vs
Arshavin

184 cm
21
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Benoit Yoshiyuzida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Vitali Arshavin!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Ackerman and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Yoshiyuzida moves into range and clinches up with Arshavin.
Arshavin looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Arshavin tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Yoshiyuzida just stands there and leans against the ropes.

Yoshiyuzida breaks the clinch.
Yoshiyuzida moves in looking to clinch but Arshavin pushes him off.
Arshavin fails with the takedown.

Yoshiyuzida drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Yoshiyuzida loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Yoshiyuzida throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Arshavin works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Arshavin keeping moving, preventing Yoshiyuzida from controlling successfully.
Yoshiyuzida tries to free his leg and advance position but Arshavin is retaining full guard.
Yoshiyuzida trying to control the position from guard on top but Arshavin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yoshiyuzida trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Yoshiyuzida scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Yoshiyuzida shoots in looking for a takedown. Arshavin tries to sprawl out of it but Yoshiyuzida keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Arshavin manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Yoshiyuzida tries to close the distance and clinch but Arshavin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Arshavin takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yoshiyuzida fails with an attempt to clinch.
Arshavin takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yoshiyuzida shoots in for a double leg but Arshavin sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A nice combination there by Yoshiyuzida.
Yoshiyuzida has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benoit Yoshiyuzida. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yoshiyuzida shoots in and drives through. Arshavin sprawls well.

Yoshiyuzida gets a takedown into half guard.
Yoshiyuzida uses his free foot to push down on Arshavin's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Arshavin.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Yoshiyuzida looking to control but Arshavin is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arshavin trying desperately to get to his feet.

Yoshiyuzida swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Arshavin is now in Yoshiyuzida's guard. A big mistake from Yoshiyuzida there, giving up the dominant position!
Yoshiyuzida has a closed guard, preventing Arshavin from standing up.
Yoshiyuzida wants to get back to his feet but Arshavin is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Arshavin stands up and waves to Yoshiyuzida to follow him.
Arshavin scores with the left hand. Yoshiyuzida knows he should have avoided that one.
Yoshiyuzida scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Arshavin throws a good cross that connects.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yoshiyuzida with a poor takedown
and Arshavin counters with a series of strikes. Yoshiyuzida will be more careful next time no doubt.

Arshavin moves into the clinch.
Arshavin is trying to maintain a safe position but Yoshiyuzida gets an underhook and turns Arshavin into the ropes.
Arshavin wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Arshavin stuffs the takedown.
Vitali Arshavin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Yoshiyuzida rushes Arshavin and presses him up against the ropes.

Yoshiyuzida breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Arshavin stuffs the takedown attempt from Yoshiyuzida. Yoshiyuzida gets slowly back to his feet.
Arshavin misses with a kick to the body
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Arshavin swats away the attempt to clinch by Yoshiyuzida.
Arshavin keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benoit Yoshiyuzida. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yoshiyuzida lands a two punch combo.
Yoshiyuzida connects with a high kick.
Arshavin misses with a hook. Yoshiyuzida ducked under it nicely.
Arshavin circles away from the clinch attempt

and Arshavin counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Arshavin.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yoshiyuzida keeping full guard, as Arshavin tries to pass.
Yoshiyuzida wants to stand and escape but Arshavin is having none of it.
Arshavin postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Yoshiyuzida has his feet on Arshavin's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Yoshiyuzida scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Arshavin misses with a combination

and Yoshiyuzida counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yoshiyuzida landing some decent shots from guard.
Yoshiyuzida trying to control the position from guard on top but Arshavin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yoshiyuzida stopping the sweep attempt from Arshavin.

Arshavin escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Yoshiyuzida gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arshavin wants to stand up but Yoshiyuzida is controlling him.
Yoshiyuzida slips nicely into half guard.
Yoshiyuzida missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Arshavin wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Yoshiyuzida looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Yoshiyuzida closes the distance and pushes Arshavin back into the ropes.

Yoshiyuzida gets control of Arshavin's arms and successfully pulls guard. Yoshiyuzida will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Yoshiyuzida wants to sweep but no luck.
Yoshiyuzida looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Arshavin puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Yoshiyuzida works his way to full guard. Good work.
Arshavin wants to stand but Yoshiyuzida is controlling his posture from full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benoit Yoshiyuzida dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Arshavin gets caught flat footed, as Yoshiyuzida shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Yoshiyuzida missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Yoshiyuzida trying to control but Arshavin is working from the bottom.
Yoshiyuzida is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Arshavin is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Yoshiyuzida stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Arshavin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arshavin keeping moving, preventing Yoshiyuzida from controlling successfully.
Yoshiyuzida stops Arshavin from standing up.
Arshavin keeping full guard, as Yoshiyuzida tries to pass.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Arshavin tries a low kick but Yoshiyuzida avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Yoshiyuzida shoots in for a double leg but Arshavin sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Arshavin closes the distance and clinches.
Yoshiyuzida goes for a takedown in the clinch but Arshavin prevents it.
Yoshiyuzida looking to stall.
Arshavin is trying to break the clinch but Yoshiyuzida has him pressed against the ropes.

Yoshiyuzida breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Arshavin throws a one two combo.
Benoit Yoshiyuzida is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Yoshiyuzida tries to clinch up but Arshavin circles away and keeps his distance.

Yoshiyuzida closes the distance and clinches.
Arshavin pushes Yoshiyuzida back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Yoshiyuzida breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Arshavin stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benoit Yoshiyuzida. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Arshavin shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Yoshiyuzida as he jumps to the side.
Arshavin throws a hook but Yoshiyuzida blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yoshiyuzida gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Arshavin counters with a two punch combo.
Benoit Yoshiyuzida is winning the standup battle so far.
Arshavin misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Yoshiyuzida with a poor takedown
and Yoshiyuzida takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Yoshiyuzida wants to clinch.
Arshavin misses with a low kick.
Arshavin falls off balance throwing a combination
and Yoshiyuzida counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Yoshiyuzida showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Arshavin.

Yoshiyuzida has managed to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Yoshiyuzida wants to stall.
Yoshiyuzida has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Arshavin is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Arshavin is trying to maintain a safe position but Yoshiyuzida gets an underhook and turns Arshavin into the ropes.
Arshavin wants to break the clinch but can't.
Arshavin wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Yoshiyuzida has him pressed against the ropes.
Yoshiyuzida tries for a takedown. No joy.
Arshavin wants a takedown but no success here.
Arshavin tries to score a body lock takedown but Yoshiyuzida shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Yoshiyuzida tries for a takedown but Arshavin manages to get underhooks.
Arshavin prevents Yoshiyuzida from breaking the clinch.

Yoshiyuzida manages to break the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Arshavin shoots in and drives through. Yoshiyuzida sprawls well.
Yoshiyuzida ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Arshavin moves away.
Vitali Arshavin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Benoit Yoshiyuzida is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Yoshiyuzida slips under a jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Benoit Yoshiyuzida showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Yoshiyuzida 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Benoit Yoshiyuzida!