PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between frederico vernaco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Domagoj Kovacic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kovacic has chosen Wtihin Temptation-Memories as his entrance music. frederico vernaco has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

vernaco
vs
Kovacic

180 cm
20
200 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
23
208 lbs
0 - 6 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Decent elbows
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, frederico vernaco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Domagoj Kovacic!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Steven Brown and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kovacic steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from vernaco. That one must have hurt.
Kovacic looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Kovacic tries to work over vernaco's front leg with a kick but vernaco checks it.
Kovacic misses with a low kick as vernaco jumps back.

vernaco fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kovacic, pushing him back against the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for vernaco.
vernaco tries to pull guard but Kovacic holds him up against the cage and eventually vernaco drops back down to his feet.
vernaco is trying to drag Kovacic to the mat but Kovacic just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
vernaco looking to slow down the pace here.
Kovacic tries to circle away but vernaco has him pinned against the cage.
vernaco wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for frederico vernaco. That's going to take a lot out of him.
vernaco tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kovacic just stands there and leans against the cage.

vernaco has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Kovacic is trying to keep an underhook but vernaco manages to get the takedown into half guard.
vernaco is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
vernaco trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
vernaco wants to pass to mount but Kovacic is defending the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
vernaco not landing any meaningful shots this time.

vernaco is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Kovacic is refusing to be controlled, as vernaco sits in half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
vernaco tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kovacic swivels and escapes.
Kovacic keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Kovacic with a poor takedown

and vernaco counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
vernaco trying to stand up but can't free himself from Kovacic's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
vernaco working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
vernaco trying to control but Kovacic is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kovacic wants to get back to his feet but vernaco is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
vernaco wants to control from the top but Kovacic keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
vernaco won't allow Kovacic to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kovacic throws a leg kick that is checked
and vernaco makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Kovacic stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kovacic wants it to stay on the feet.

vernaco fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kovacic, pushing him back against the cage.
Kovacic tries to break free but vernaco pushes him back against the cage.
Kovacic trying to stall but vernaco improves his position.
vernaco jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kovacic walks away with a smile on his face. vernaco gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

vernaco closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
vernaco is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Kovacic reverses the position - he's now on top in vernaco's guard.
Kovacic would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

vernaco looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Kovacic stands up from vernaco's guard - Kovacic perhaps looking for a knockout.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovacic tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Kovacic avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A low kick from Kovacic misses

and vernaco counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kovacic's guard now.

Kovacic wriggles free and stands up.
vernaco lands a slapping body shot.
vernaco fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kovacic fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt vernaco.

vernaco scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
vernaco is just content to waste time from the top position. Kovacic takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovacic has a closed guard, preventing vernaco from standing up.
vernaco looking to pass the guard.
vernaco looking to sit in guard and control but Kovacic gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovacic is looking to stand up but vernaco won't let him.

vernaco looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
vernaco working a defensive guard here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kovacic rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but vernaco moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
vernaco connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
A low kick from Kovacic misses

so vernaco counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovacic wants to get back to his feet but vernaco is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
vernaco looking to sit in guard and control but Kovacic gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Kovacic stands up and waves to vernaco to follow him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kovacic throws a leg kick
and vernaco counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Domagoj Kovacic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kovacic closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Kovacic rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but vernaco moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kovacic throws a leg kick that is checked

and vernaco counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kovacic won't be happy with that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

frederico vernaco dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Kovacic throws a leg kick

and vernaco counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
vernaco trying to control the position from guard on top but Kovacic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

vernaco drops back looking for a leg! Kovacic is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kovacic manages to kick vernaco off! vernaco jumps back into Kovacic's guard.

vernaco gets to his feet - Kovacic follows without any prompting.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
vernaco chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Kovacic can pounce on him.
Kovacic misses with a leg kick

and vernaco counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Kovacic is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
vernaco trying to control but Kovacic is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovacic utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
vernaco wants to stand but Kovacic is controlling his posture from full guard.
vernaco trying to control but Kovacic is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
vernaco looking to sit in guard and control but Kovacic gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
vernaco controls Kovacic momentarily but Kovacic frees himself.
vernaco looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Kovacic.
Kovacic avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
vernaco tries to bum rush Kovacic with a series of wild strikes but Kovacic uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kovacic misses with a leg kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
vernaco shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kovacic as he avoids it easily.
vernaco cracks Kovacic with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
A nice leg kick lands there from Kovacic.

vernaco shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Kovacic napping and manages to drive through into side control!
vernaco throwing strikes but Kovacic manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!

Kovacic decides to stand back up.
Kovacic cracks the inside of vernaco's front leg.
Domagoj Kovacic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A low kick from Kovacic misses
and vernaco makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Kovacic really felt that one!
A head kick misses from vernaco.
vernaco shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kovacic lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
frederico vernaco is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
vernaco fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kovacic stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kovacic wants it to stay on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
frederico vernaco showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for vernaco, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... frederico vernaco!