PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between chong li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mirko Jr Filipovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mirko Jr Filipovic will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

li
vs
Jr Filipovic

190 cm
25
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
23
225 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Enjoys gardening

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 Tokyo, chong li!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mirko Jr Filipovic!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Shigeki Sano and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Filipovic gets a clinch.
li pushes off an throws an elbow but Filipovic leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Filipovic's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Filipovic ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Filipovic no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
li stops Filipovic from standing up.
li pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Filipovic is keeping the position for now.
Filipovic really doesn't want to stay on the ground with li. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
li prevents Filipovic from getting back to his feet.

li stands up and waves to Filipovic to follow him.
li rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Filipovic moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
li scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
li defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Filipovic.
li digs a good hook to Filipovic's body.
Filipovic looks gassed!
li will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

li drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

li decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
A solid body kick from li.
li lets loose with a powerful body kick. Filipovic will feel that in the morning.
li cracks a nice hook into Filipovic's ribs.
Filipovic is on the wrong end of a nice combination from li.
This has been an exciting period of action!

li shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

li stands up from guard. Let's bang!

li rushes Filipovic and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

li breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

li has Filipovic up against the cage in a clinch.

li has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Filipovic uses from the top position.
li wants to sweep here but Filipovic controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

li looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Filipovic postures up and lands a big shot to li's brow.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Filipovic accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Filipovic stands up and waves to li to follow him.
li takes a kick to the side of the head.
Filipovic scores with a decent looking hook.
Filipovic connects with a crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and li counters with a nice double leg into side control. Filipovic won't be happy with that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Filipovic is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Filipovic is not content to let li control the position.

li decides to stand back up.
Filipovic looks for the body kick but li saw that one coming.
Filipovic avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
li avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic shoots in but no luck this time.
li misses with a double jab.
Filipovic throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Filipovic looks to land a body kick but li moved away.

li forces Filipovic back against the cage and clinches.
Filipovic holding his opponent close, against the cage.
li avoiding damage as Filipovic throws knees to the body.

li's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Filipovic throws a head kick but li moves out of range.
li tries a head kick but it misses.
li avoids the head kick by Filipovic.

li moves into the clinch successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

chong li dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

li shoots in but no luck this time.

li looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Filipovic punching from the bottom.
Filipovic is trying to stand back up but li is controlling him
Filipovic gets back to full guard.
li wants to stand but Filipovic has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Filipovic is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst li is controlling him.

Filipovic is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. li is aware though and is defending well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Filipovic trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Filipovic has momentary wrist control but li slips an elbow through the middle.
Filipovic working a defensive guard here.
li content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
li postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
li throws a right and a left that both miss.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Filipovic.
Filipovic shoots in for a takedown but li shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Filipovic tries to clinch up

and li moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
li has Filipovic pressed against the cage, preventing Filipovic from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
li looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
li keeps control of Filipovic as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
li wants a takedown.

Filipovic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Filipovic wants to clinch but li slips to the side

and li counters with a shoot takedown. Filipovic fights it but they end up in guard.
li trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
li won't allow Filipovic to sweep him here.
li looking to pass the guard.
li wants to control from the top but Filipovic keeps moving.
Filipovic wants to get back to his feet but li is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
li loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Filipovic throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
chong li overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Filipovic being controlled here, momentarily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Filipovic is looking to clinch.
Filipovic scores with a kick to the body.
li avoids the head kick by Filipovic.
Filipovic slaps away a takedown attempt from li, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for chong li. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Filipovic bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic lands a decent elbow from side control.
li struggling a bit here.
Filipovic wants to lay and pray for a moment but li keeps working.
li sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
li avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Filipovic.

li kicks Filipovic off and gets back to his feet.

li looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Filipovic wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

chong li dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Filipovic leaves li with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Filipovic tries to close the distance and clinch up but li swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Filipovic throws a push kick but li slaps the foot to one side.
chong li is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Filipovic looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

li forces Filipovic back against the cage and clinches.
li jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Filipovic walks away with a smile on his face. li gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Filipovic moves forwards but li connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Mirko Jr Filipovic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
li will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
li throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
li steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Filipovic. That one must have hurt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Filipovic scores with a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Filipovic keeps li at a distance using the push kick.
li has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Filipovic.
chong li is winning the standup battle so far.
Filipovic bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Filipovic thuds his shin into the meat of li's side.
Filipovic doesn't manage to clinch there - li circles away.
Crunch! Filipovic slams his shin into li's torso.
Filipovic shoots in and drives through. li sprawls well.
li fails with the takedown
and Filipovic counters with a nice kick to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for chong li. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Filipovic connects with a high kick.
Filipovic moves out of range as li throws a body kick.
li fails in his attempt to clinch.
Filipovic doesn't succeed with the takedown
and li counters with a two punch combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic tries a head kick but it misses.
Filipovic bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.

li forces Filipovic back against the cage and clinches.
Filipovic has had enough of the clinch but li keeps him there for the moment.

Filipovic manages to break the clinch.

li closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - li lands in his opponent's guard.
li is looking to work some ground and pound but Filipovic has wrist control.

li stands up from Filipovic's guard - li perhaps looking for a knockout.
This has been an exciting period of action!
li takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from li misses.
Nice body kick there by Filipovic.
Filipovic throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
li connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Filipovic momentarily.
li takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
li shoots in for a double leg but Filipovic sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Filipovic throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Filipovic misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
li thuds a left hand into Filipovic's body.
Filipovic tries a head kick but it misses.
li swats away the attempt to clinch by Filipovic.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
li ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
chong li is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
li avoids the head kick by Filipovic.

li has taken the fight to the clinch.
li on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
li keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Filipovic's efforts to push away.
A frustrated look appears on Filipovic's face as he tries to break the clinch.

li works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
li prevents Filipovic from getting back to his feet.
li trying to control but Filipovic is working from the bottom.
Mirko Jr Filipovic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

li decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mirko Jr Filipovic.
Well li 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... chong li!