PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mirko Filipovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Denis Rasic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Denis Rasic told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Filipovic
vs
Rasic

194 cm
20
242 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
21
245 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Intelligent

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mirko Filipovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Denis Rasic!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Reed Andrews and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Filipovic tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Filipovic fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rasic keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Filipovic scores with a hook to the body. Rasic takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Filipovic changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rasic tries to avoid it but Filipovic manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rasic to the ground. Rasic escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Filipovic connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Rasic momentarily.
Filipovic tries to clinch but Rasic moves out of range.
Rasic moves out of range of the strikes.

Rasic scores with a takedown into Filipovic's guard.
Filipovic working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rasic throws a big right hand that misses.
Rasic tries to free his leg and advance position but Filipovic is retaining full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rasic in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rasic throws and elbow that misses. Filipovic uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rasic's guard. Nice move by Filipovic!
Filipovic passes into half guard.
Filipovic trying to control the action but Rasic is working from the bottom.
Filipovic not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Filipovic is trying to control. Rasic wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Filipovic is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Rasic is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Rasic tries to get to full guard but Filipovic has control of the leg.

That's two 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.
Rasic is trying to maintain the position but Filipovic is very close to passing his half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rasic doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Filipovic counters with a series of strikes. Rasic will be more careful next time no doubt.
Rasic looks gassed!
Filipovic tries for a takedown but Rasic circles away easily

and Rasic counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mirko Filipovic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Filipovic is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Rasic drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Filipovic manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Rasic has Filipovic in his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rasic looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Filipovic puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Rasic is looking for a sweep. Filipovic is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rasic moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Rasic wants to sweep here but Filipovic controlling him for the moment.
Filipovic slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Rasic is looking to regain half guard here but Filipovic keeps moving and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
You can see the frustration on Rasic's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Filipovic is looking to take a break and control but Rasic is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rasic manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Filipovic is looking to advance position but Rasic won't allow it.
Rasic wants to get back to full guard.
Filipovic is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Rasic makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rasic.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mirko Filipovic will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rasic is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Filipovic's half guard.
Rasic missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Rasic winds up and cracks Filipovic with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Filipovic wants to get back to full guard.

Rasic looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Filipovic pushes Rasic off looking to stand but Rasic dives back in and keeps control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rasic working over Filipovic with some ground and pound. Filipovic looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Filipovic taking some punishment here, with Rasic in his half guard.
Filipovic trying to control but Rasic postures up.

Rasic is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Rasic seems to be looking for submissions.
Filipovic looks like he's trying to stand up.
Rasic seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Filipovic wants to get back to full guard.
Rasic lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Rasic working over Filipovic with some ground and pound. Filipovic looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Ground and pound from Rasic.
Rasic tries to pass the half guard into mount. Filipovic knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Filipovic trying to control from the bottom.
Rasic seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Filipovic is looking to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rasic working Filipovic over with strikes.
Filipovic is trying to stand.

Rasic seems to be looking for submissions.
Rasic controlling the action here.
Rasic thows a huge punch but Filipovic dodges it nicely.
Rasic is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Filipovic is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Rasic scores with a couple of nice shots.
Rasic trying to control from half guard but Filipovic is working away.
Filipovic wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rasic working Filipovic over with strikes.
Filipovic is trying to control but can't.
Rasic working the head and body with strikes.
Rasic wants to pass to mount but Filipovic is defending the position.
Rasic thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rasic closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rasic lands in his opponent's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rasic stands up over Filipovic, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denis Rasic showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Rasic darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Rasic throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rasic throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Filipovic is pressing down on Rasic's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Rasic pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Filipovic is keeping the position for now.

Filipovic uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Filipovic is looking to slow Rasic down with leg kicks.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rasic shoots in and bounces Filipovic off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Rasic stops Filipovic from standing up.
Rasic is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Rasic in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rasic with a nice head shot there.
Filipovic has momentary wrist control but Rasic slips an elbow through the middle.
Rasic looking to sit in guard and control but Filipovic gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Rasic utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic wants to pass the guard but Rasic is keeping the position.
Rasic is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Filipovic is trying to stand.
Rasic working Filipovic over with strikes.
Ground and pound from Rasic.
Rasic missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Filipovic taking some punishment here, with Rasic in his half guard.
Rasic scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Filipovic blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rasic.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rasic thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Rasic thows a huge punch but Filipovic dodges it nicely.
Filipovic is trying to control but can't.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Filipovic misses with a takedown

and Rasic counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Filipovic's guard now.
Rasic landing some decent shots from guard.
Rasic throws and elbow that misses. Filipovic uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rasic's guard. Nice move by Filipovic!
Filipovic preventing the sweep.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Filipovic accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic connects with a couple of short punches.
Rasic bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Filipovic's guard.
Filipovic preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rasic missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rasic working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Filipovic's head.
Rasic trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rasic is looking to work some ground and pound but Filipovic has wrist control.
Rasic is in close to Filipovic's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Filipovic will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Rasic content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Filipovic trying to control the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Filipovic tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

And that's the end of the fight!
Denis Rasic comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rasic has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 28:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Denis Rasic!