PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Domagoj Kovacic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stephen Dean (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stephen Dean is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Kovacic
vs
Dean

180 cm
22
200 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

150 cm
23
208 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Vicious Nutrition (159 Recovery With Proof)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Domagoj Kovacic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Stephen Dean!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Chris Edwards and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dean slaps away a takedown attempt from Kovacic, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Kovacic looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Dean swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kovacic looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Dean drives through and clinches with Kovacic against the cage.
Kovacic tries to break the clinch but Dean is controlling the position.

Dean breaks from the clinch.

Dean shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Dean has eaten all the pies!
Dean keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Dean is pressing down on Kovacic's thigh, looking to free his foot. Kovacic is holding on for now.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dean tries to pass to full mount but Kovacic defends it.
Dean has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Dean avoids the attempt from Kovacic to control.
Kovacic keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Dean lands a nice shot to the head.
Dean unloading with bombs!
Dean looking to finish Kovacic with some ground and pound. This is bad for Kovacic!
Dean lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Dean working Kovacic over with strikes here.
Dean controlling from mount.
Kovacic is bucking up trying to escape but Dean cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dean looking to control and managing it successfully.

Dean looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Dean tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Kovacic looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Kovacic takes a big shot to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good control from Dean.
Dean's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Dean lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Dean.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dean lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.

Dean is working the back position looking for the choke. Oh, he's slid into an armbar! Beautiful transition and Kovacic taps out! Fantastic Jiu Jitsu from Dean.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Stephen Dean!