PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Raphael Antunes (ranked 23183 p4p, 269 weight class) and Andrey Arlovski (ranked 7221 p4p, 251 weight class). Raphael Antunes looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Antunes
vs
Arlovski

185 cm
28
290 lbs
9 - 12 - 0

218 cm
25
300 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

Basic striking
Experienced

Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 12 - 0, fighting out of London, Raphael Antunes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Andrey Arlovski!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Robert Twigg and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Arlovski moves out of range as Antunes strikes.
Arlovski is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Antunes with a body shot.
Arlovski tries to close the distance and clinch up but Antunes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Antunes takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Antunes takes a head kick and keeps coming.

It looks like Raphael Antunes has been cut.

Arlovski has taken the fight to the clinch.
Antunes taking a breather.
Arlovski doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Antunes is trying to maintain a safe position but Arlovski gets an underhook and turns Antunes into the ropes.

Arlovski breaks the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Antunes throws a sloppy head kick and Arlovski moves out of range easily.
Arlovski tries to clinch but Antunes moves out of range.
Antunes throws a series of punches but Arlovski moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Arlovski.
Antunes looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Arlovski is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arlovski tries to bum rush Antunes with a series of wild strikes but Antunes uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Antunes throws a hook but Arlovski avoids it easily.
A head kick misses from Antunes.
Antunes throws a leg kick but Arlovski sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Antunes throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Antunes misses with a hook.
Antunes misses with a few strikes there.

Arlovski has taken the fight to the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Antunes doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Arlovski lands a damaging elbow.
Antunes looking to slow down the pace here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Arlovski tries to stall but Antunes uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Antunes misses with a punch to the body.
Antunes with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Arlovski breaks from the clinch.
Antunes throws a front kick aimed at Arlovski's knee but Arlovski avoids it well.
Antunes tries to bum rush Arlovski with a series of wild strikes but Arlovski uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Arlovski throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Arlovski scores with a head kick. Antunes tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Arlovski looks winded!
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!
Arlovski just misses with a punch to the body.
Antunes throws the kick towards the body but Arlovski avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arlovski throws a nice head kick!
Arlovski throws a right and a left that Antunes avoids nicely.
Antunes fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Arlovski checks it well.
Antunes misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Antunes throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Arlovski tries to clinch there but Antunes circles away.
Antunes misses with a hook.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Arlovski.
Antunes swings away with a body shot that misses
letting Arlovski counter with a right hand.
Antunes pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Antunes misses with a hook
and Arlovski counters with a left and a right that stings Antunes.
Arlovski is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Antunes misses with a right hand

and Arlovski holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Arlovski blocks an elbow strike.
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!

Arlovski escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Antunes throws a predictable looking body shot
and Arlovski counters with a head kick. That will keep Antunes thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Arlovski is looking to clinch.
Antunes is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Arlovski's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Antunes throws a push kick but Arlovski slaps the foot to one side.
Antunes misses with a wild combination.
Arlovski misses with a series of wild punches.
Arlovski tries to clinch there but Antunes circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrey Arlovski dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Raphael Antunes's cut.
That's time! Antunes's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Antunes misses with a combination
and Arlovski counters with a series of strikes. Antunes will be more careful next time no doubt.
Antunes misses with a jab, cross combination.
Antunes is looking to score with low kicks.
Antunes misses with a leg kick.
Antunes sets himself, and Arlovski steps forward looking for the clinch! Antunes avoids it this time.
Antunes misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Arlovski pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Antunes misses with the combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Arlovski forces Antunes back against the ropes and clinches.

Arlovski breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Arlovski is breathing heavily.

Arlovski clinches with his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Arlovski breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Andrey Arlovski seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Antunes misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Arlovski slips a straight right by Antunes.
Antunes throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Arlovski moves into the clinch.
Arlovski is trying to stall.
Antunes is trying to stall.
Arlovski looking to stall.

Arlovski manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Antunes misses with a kick to the body.
Arlovski is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Arlovski takes the fight into the clinch.
Arlovski trying to control the position but instead, Antunes has worked for underhooks and has pushed Arlovski into the ropes.
Antunes tries to throw a body punch but Arlovski avoids it by throwing Antunes back against the ropes.
Antunes trying to stall but Arlovski improves his position.
Arlovski blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Antunes throws a head punch that misses.
Arlovski taking a breather.
Arlovski has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Arlovski tries to land knees in the clinch but Antunes avoids the damage to the body.
Antunes is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Antunes misses with a body punch.

Arlovski breaks from the clinch.
Antunes throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Antunes throws a leg kick that is checked
and Arlovski counters with a left and a right that stings Antunes.
Raphael Antunes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A looping hook to the body misses from Arlovski. Antunes does a little dance to reset his feet.
Arlovski goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Some wild striking there from Arlovski.
Antunes is looking for a counter combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arlovski avoids the head kick by Antunes.
Antunes tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Arlovski closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Antunes is trying to push Arlovski away but Arlovski has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Antunes looking to stall.

Arlovski pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Arlovski closes the distance and pushes Antunes back into the ropes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Arlovski on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Arlovski blocks an uppercut.
Arlovski landing knees to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrey Arlovski showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Raphael Antunes's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Arlovski wants to slow Antunes down by chopping away at his legs.

Arlovski clinches.
Arlovski scores with a knee to the head.

Arlovski breaks the clinch.
Arlovski wants to clinch.
Arlovski scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Antunes throws a leg kick but Arlovski sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Arlovski lands with a right hand.
Arlovski takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Antunes throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Antunes throws a head kick but Arlovski moves out of range.
Arlovski tries to clinch up.
Antunes pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Antunes tries to bum rush Arlovski with a series of wild strikes but Arlovski uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Arlovski instigates a clinch.
Arlovski digs a right hand into Antunes's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Antunes's gas tank.
Arlovski lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Antunes tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Arlovski goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Arlovski can't find room to land a body shot as Antunes controls the action.
Antunes fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Arlovski is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Antunes is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Antunes looking to stall.

Arlovski manages to break the clinch.
Arlovski checks the leg kick nicely there.
Arlovski follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Arlovski blocks a head kick by Antunes.
Arlovski uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Antunes.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Arlovski! But no joy.

Arlovski pushes Antunes up against the ropes in a clinch.
Antunes doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Arlovski has Antunes pressed against the ropes, preventing Antunes from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Arlovski's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Arlovski tries to close the distance and clinch up but Antunes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A looping hook to the body misses from Antunes. Arlovski does a little dance to reset his feet.
Arlovski tries to counter with a clinch but Antunes shakes him off and moves away.
Antunes misses with a low kick.
Antunes throws a right hand that Arlovski ducks under and follows up with a left that Arlovski also avoids with ease.
Arlovski moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Antunes avoids a punch combination nicely.
Raphael Antunes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Antunes misses with a wild body shot.
Arlovski keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Antunes throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arlovski throws a nice outside leg kick.
Antunes rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Arlovski moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Arlovski lands a high kick!
Arlovski fails in his attempt to clinch.
Antunes misses with a wild body shot.

Arlovski moves into the clinch.
Arlovski avoiding damage as Antunes throws knees to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Antunes avoiding damage as Arlovski throws knees to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Arlovski escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Antunes throws an overhand right that lands on Arlovski's shoulder, as Arlovski tries to avoid the shot.
Raphael Antunes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Andrey Arlovski is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Antunes swats away the attempt to clinch by Arlovski.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andrey Arlovski comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Arlovski 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andrey Arlovski!