PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Will Shuler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zeljko Mavrovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shuler has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Will Shuler has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Shuler
vs
Mavrovic

200 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

203 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

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 Amsterdam, Will Shuler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Zeljko Mavrovic!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Radbod Blank and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mavrovic clinches up against the cage.
Mavrovic tries to pull guard but Shuler holds him up against the cage and eventually Mavrovic drops back down to his feet.
Shuler is trying to push Mavrovic away but Mavrovic has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Shuler is breathing heavily.
Mavrovic lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Mavrovic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Mavrovic gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Shuler can't break the clinch.
Shuler has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Shuler tries to stall but Mavrovic uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Mavrovic.

Mavrovic jumps guard.
Mavrovic wants to sweep but no luck.
Shuler is looking to work some ground and pound but Mavrovic has wrist control.
Mavrovic really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Shuler. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Shuler trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shuler wants to control from the top but Mavrovic keeps moving.

Mavrovic has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Shuler off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Mavrovic drives through and clinches with Shuler against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mavrovic has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Shuler uses from the top position.
Shuler with a flurry of punches that miss.
Mavrovic wants to get back to his feet but Shuler is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Shuler is fighting to break Mavrovic's control of his arms but Mavrovic is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Mavrovic throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Shuler is fighting to break Mavrovic's control of his arms but Mavrovic is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Mavrovic is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two 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.
Mavrovic is controlling Shuler's posture.

Mavrovic working for a triangle but Shuler defends it easily.

Mavrovic pushes Shuler off and scrambles back to his feet.
Mavrovic throws a series of strikes that have Shuler backpedaling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Decent striking displayed by Mavrovic there.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Mavrovic.
Shuler struggling a bit here.
Mavrovic cracks Shuler with an elbow. That is naaassty.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mavrovic tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Mavrovic postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Mavrovic tries to stand but Shuler is controlling his head.
The ground and pound from Mavrovic seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Mavrovic throwing shots but missing, from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zeljko Mavrovic dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Mavrovic shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Mavrovic sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Shuler defending well though.
Shuler has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mavrovic is working away from the top position though.
Mavrovic seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Mavrovic is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Shuler defends it well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mavrovic not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Mavrovic keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's two 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.
Mavrovic tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Nice strikes from Mavrovic there.

Mavrovic seems to be looking for submissions.
Mavrovic seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shuler tries to kick Mavrovic off but Mavrovic keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Mavrovic performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's four 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.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Zeljko Mavrovic.

Mavrovic moves into the clinch.
Mavrovic is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Mavrovic is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Mavrovic works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Mavrovic is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Shuler can't break the clinch.
Shuler keeps control of Mavrovic as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Mavrovic lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Shuler backwards.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mavrovic tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Shuler just stands there and leans against the cage.

Mavrovic is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Shuler can't fight it off and eventually Mavrovic manages to take the fight to the floor. Shuler looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Shuler keeping full guard, as Mavrovic tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zeljko Mavrovic showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Shuler rushes Mavrovic and presses him up against the cage.
Mavrovic has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Shuler avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Mavrovic lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Shuler.
The referee calls for Mavrovic to work.

Mavrovic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Mavrovic shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Shuler tries to lock up and control but Mavrovic gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Shuler is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Mavrovic trying to control but Shuler is having none of it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mavrovic controlling his opponent.
Let's hope that Mavrovic has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Mavrovic throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Mavrovic sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Mavrovic sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mavrovic unloads with some shots from mount but Shuler bucks and avoids them well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shuler is desperately trying to improve his position but Mavrovic has a good base and remains in mount.
Mavrovic takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Poor strikes thrown by Mavrovic there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Shuler tries to hold on but Mavrovic postures up.
Poor strikes thrown by Mavrovic there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

That's four 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.
Mavrovic pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

Mavrovic looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Shuler wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Mavrovic.
Zeljko Mavrovic is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mavrovic tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zeljko Mavrovic comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Mavrovic 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zeljko Mavrovic!