PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mirko Filipovi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Soldier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Filipovi kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Engel- Rammstein. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Filipovi
vs
Soldier

188 cm
25
217 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

186 cm
21
213 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mirko Filipovi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mike Soldier!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Johanna Lukiainen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Filipovi misses with a wild body shot.
Filipovi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Filipovi tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Soldier counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Filipovi fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Soldier, pushing him back against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Soldier will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Filipovi up against the cage.
Soldier misses with an elbow over the top.
Soldier looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Soldier lands a good knee to the midsection. Filipovi won't want to take too many of those.
Filipovi tries to land a knee to the head but Soldier blocks with his arms.
Filipovi is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Soldier misses with an elbow strike.
Soldier lands an elbow inside.
Filipovi tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Filipovi misses with a knee strike.
Soldier missing with knees to the body.
Soldier creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Filipovi with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Mike Soldier has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Filipovi breaks the clinch.
Filipovi tries to clinch
and Soldier cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Filipovi attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Filipovi checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Soldier throws a body kick the misses

and Filipovi moves into the clinch.
Filipovi using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Soldier has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Filipovi blocks an elbow strike from Soldier.
Soldier blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Soldier creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Filipovi tries to land a knee to the head but Soldier blocks with his arms.
Filipovi is breathing heavily.
Filipovi is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Soldier is defending well for now.
Filipovi tries to land knees in the clinch but Soldier avoids the damage to the body.
Filipovi managing to block the knees to the body from Soldier.
Filipovi is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Soldier throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Soldier throws an elbow that misses.
Soldier lands an elbow that stopped Filipovi in his tracks for a moment.

Filipovi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Filipovi connects with a single shot there.
Soldier throws a leg kick that misses.
Soldier tries to land a leg kick but Filipovi saw it coming and moves away.
Soldier throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Soldier - that will leave a mark!
Filipovi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Soldier paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Soldier throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

It looks like Mirko Filipovi has been cut.
Soldier moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Filipovi checks the leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soldier is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A slapping body kick lands there for Soldier.
Mirko Filipovi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Soldier looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Soldier tries to close the distance and clinch but Filipovi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Soldier lands a head kick. Filipovi smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Soldier pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Soldier thuds his right hand into Filipovi's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Filipovi takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Soldier plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Filipovi takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
A shot to the liver by Soldier. Beautiful body shot.
Soldier lunges at Filipovi with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Filipovi's hand.
Soldier moves in looking to clinch but Filipovi pushes him off.
Filipovi avoids the head kick by Soldier.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Filipovi takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Soldier throws a leg kick which misses Filipovi's front leg but catches the back leg as Filipovi tries to avoid it.
Soldier scores with a kick to the body.
Soldier lands a leg kick that knocks Filipovi off balance momentarily.
Filipovi misses with a shot to the body
and Soldier counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Soldier connects with a body shot that sends Filipovi's belly button to the back.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice body kick from Soldier.
Soldier fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Soldier misses with a head kick.
Soldier scores with a spinning back kick!
Filipovi has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Soldier.
Soldier fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Filipovi's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Soldier connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Filipovi scrambles back to his feet.
Soldier looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Soldier buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Filipovi on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Soldier. Soldier obviously looking to wear him down.
Soldier scores with a jab.
Soldier feints and then cracks Filipovi's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Filipovi down.
An inside leg kick from Soldier misses.
Soldier fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Filipovi.
Soldier tries to work over Filipovi's front leg with a kick but Filipovi checks it.
Soldier throws a head kick that misses
and Filipovi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Soldier swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Filipovi throws a big shot that misses.

Filipovi takes the fight into the clinch.
Nice elbow from Soldier.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Filipovi takes an elbow to the forehead.

Mirko Filipovi's cut is getting worse.
Filipovi wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Soldier has him pressed against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Soldier.
Soldier is trying to stall.

Soldier escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Soldier dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Soldier throws the kick towards the body but Filipovi avoids it.
Filipovi tries to clinch but Soldier moves out of range.
Filipovi doesn't manage to clinch there - Soldier circles away.
Filipovi darts in trying to clinch
and Soldier counters with a slapping leg kick.
Filipovi has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Filipovi wants to clinch
and Soldier counters with a stiff right hand.
Soldier keeps the fight on the outside.
Filipovi closes the distance but Soldier moves to the side
and Soldier counters with a leg kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Soldier, right into the meat.
Soldier throws a right and a left that both miss.
Soldier misses with a low kick as Filipovi jumps back.
Soldier chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Filipovi tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soldier is looking to clinch but Filipovi is avoiding it.
Soldier throws a low kick but it's checked well by Filipovi.
Filipovi gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Soldier has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Soldier throws a push kick but Filipovi slaps the foot to one side.
Soldier connects with a leg kick. Filipovi looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Soldier lands a head kick!
Soldier throws a nice outside leg kick.
Filipovi takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Soldier scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Filipovi avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Soldier turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Soldier is looking to chop away at Filipovi's legs.
Soldier throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Soldier looks to land a body kick but Filipovi moved away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soldier throws a low kick but Filipovi avoids it.
Soldier misses with a body kick.

Soldier takes the fight into the clinch.

Soldier breaks from the clinch.
Soldier lands a nice leg kick that just misses Filipovi's sensitive parts.
Soldier misses with a head kick.
Soldier swats away the attempt to clinch by Filipovi.
Soldier looks to land a body kick but Filipovi moved away.
Filipovi chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Soldier can pounce on him.
Soldier throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Soldier lands a nice leg kick that just misses Filipovi's sensitive parts.
Filipovi takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Soldier throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Mike Soldier seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Soldier instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soldier lands an elbow just above Filipovi 's eye.
Filipovi will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Soldier lands an elbow that stopped Filipovi in his tracks for a moment.
Nice elbow from Soldier.
With the fighters up against the cage, Soldier throws an elbow but misses.
Soldier misses with an elbow over the top.

Soldier breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Filipovi is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Soldier lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Soldier scores with a kick to the body.

Soldier closes the distance and clinches.
Soldier creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Filipovi's defenses.

Mirko Filipovi's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Filipovi blocks an elbow strike.
Soldier creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Filipovi's defenses.
Soldier is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Filipovi is defending well for now.
Soldier creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Filipovi's defenses.
Filipovi trying to land knees to the body.
Filipovi avoiding damage as Soldier throws knees to the body.
Filipovi managing to block the knees to the body from Soldier.
Soldier scores a nice knee to the body.
Filipovi avoids a wild elbow strike from Soldier.
Filipovi takes an elbow to the forehead.
Soldier lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Soldier breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Filipovi takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soldier connects with an inside leg kick.
Soldier throws out a leg kick but Filipovi moves out of range and Soldier only half commits.
Soldier dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Soldier.
Soldier feints and then cracks Filipovi's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Filipovi down.
Soldier throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Soldier feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Filipovi's calf.
Soldier throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Soldier lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Soldier throws a wild body kick that Filipovi sees coming a mile off.
Soldier scores with a jab. Filipovi acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Jeez, Mirko Filipovi's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Filipovi sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Soldier cracks the inside of Filipovi's front leg.
Soldier throws a head kick that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Soldier showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Soldier.
Soldier clobbers Filipovi with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Soldier tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Soldier lands a head kick!
Soldier wants to slow Filipovi down by chopping away at his legs.
Filipovi slips a straight right by Soldier.
Filipovi moves in looking to clinch but Soldier pushes him off.
Soldier fails with an attempt to clinch.
An inside leg kick lands from Soldier.
Filipovi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Soldier fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Filipovi is out of range.
Soldier lands with a slapping head kick.
Soldier tries to clinch up but Filipovi circles away and keeps his distance.
Soldier tries to clinch but Filipovi is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soldier throws a chopping leg kick but Filipovi manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Filipovi misses with a combination

and Soldier counters by clinching up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Filipovi blocks an elbow strike.
Filipovi throws a knee to the head but misses.
Soldier pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Filipovi takes an elbow to the forehead.
Soldier on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Filipovi wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Soldier has him pressed against the cage.
Soldier gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Soldier creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Filipovi's defenses.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Mirko Filipovi's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:40 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Mike Soldier!