PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mikhail Filitov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mickey O Neil (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Filitov
vs
O Neil

169 cm
21
160 lbs
4 - 7 - 0

177 cm
25
163 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Cardio machine

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Kobra Clothing Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mikhail Filitov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mickey O Neil!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Igor Prikhodko and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
O Neil clobbers Filitov with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
O Neil misses with the combination.
Filitov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Filitov throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. O Neil was covering up waiting for the punch and Filitov finishes the takedown easily into guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
O Neil looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
O Neil keeping moving, preventing Filitov from controlling successfully.
Filitov would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Filitov trying to control but O Neil is working from the bottom.

We're going to have a standup here because Mikhail Filitov wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
O Neil misses with the combination.
Filitov fails with a takedown attempt.
Filitov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Filitov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from O Neil.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
O Neil misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Filitov.
A nice combination there by O Neil.
Filitov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from O Neil.
Filitov misses with a straight left.
Filitov's hands are dropping dangerously low here and O Neil connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Filitov scrambles back to his feet.
O Neil throws a right and a left that Filitov avoids nicely.
O Neil misses with a body shot.
O Neil scores with a one two! Filitov had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
O Neil throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
O Neil throws a series of punches but Filitov moves out of range.
O Neil's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and O Neil duly obliges.
O Neil fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Filitov on the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
No joy there for O Neil, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Filitov misses with a takedown
and O Neil counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mikhail Filitov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
O Neil throws a right and a left that both miss.
Filitov moves forwards but O Neil connects with a nice, crisp jab.
O Neil cracks Filitov with a right hand to the side of the head.
O Neil throws a series of punches but Filitov avoids them all with ease.
O Neil has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
O Neil connects with a nice looking jab.
Filitov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as O Neil sprawls well. O Neil wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Filitov gets slowly back to his feet.
O Neil lands with a cross.
A punch combination from O Neil misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
O Neil leaves Filitov with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
O Neil throws a series of punches but Filitov avoids them all with ease.
O Neil connects with a nice looking jab.
O Neil will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Filitov closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Filitov lands in his opponent's guard.
Filitov trying to control but O Neil is working from the bottom.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Filitov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mickey O Neil dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Filitov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from O Neil.
O Neil lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Filitov circles away quickly and effectively.
O Neil connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
O Neil stuffs the takedown attempt from Filitov. Filitov gets slowly back to his feet.
O Neil swinging wildly here.
O Neil throws a right hand that Filitov ducks under and follows up with a left that Filitov also avoids with ease.
O Neil throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Filitov.
A jab from O Neil misses.
Filitov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Filitov walks into a jab.
O Neil will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Filitov manages to get an easy takedown there - catching O Neil on his heels. He'll look to pass O Neil's guard now, I'm sure.
Filitov trying to control but O Neil is working from the bottom.

Filitov stands and steps away. O Neil gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
O Neil's corner calls for a 1-2. O Neil obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Filitov dodges the punch combination from O Neil.
Filitov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Filitov lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Filitov takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Mickey O Neil seems to be getting the better of the standup.
O Neil throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Filitov.
O Neil tests Filitov's chin there with a solid looking shot.
O Neil might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Filitov avoids a punch combination nicely.
O Neil throws a left and a right that both miss

and Filitov counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in O Neil's guard now.
Filitov trying to control the position from guard on top but O Neil is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Filitov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Filitov drops back looking for a leg! O Neil is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and O Neil manages to kick Filitov off! Filitov jumps back into O Neil's guard.
Filitov trying to control the position from guard on top but O Neil is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four 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.
Filitov prevents O Neil from getting back to his feet.
Filitov trying to control but O Neil is working from the bottom.
O Neil really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Filitov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Filitov stands up and waves to O Neil to follow him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Filitov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikhail Filitov dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

O Neil stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
O Neil scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Filitov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from O Neil.
A jab lands there for O Neil.
O Neil misses with a series of wild punches.
O Neil throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Filitov thows a body shot but no joy.
Filitov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Filitov shoots in for a takedown but O Neil shows good takedown defense.
O Neil shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Filitov eats them both and turns towards O Neil to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
O Neil fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Mickey O Neil is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Neil scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
A combination from O Neil does no damage.
O Neil misses the shot to the body.
Filitov closes the distance and clinches up with O Neil, looking for a takedown. Filitov pushes O Neil against the cage but O Neil circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
O Neil throws a left and a right that both miss
and Filitov makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
O Neil takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
O Neil swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Horrible takedown by Filitov or perhaps it was just good defense by O Neil which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mikhail Filitov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
O Neil throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
O Neil throws a series of punches but Filitov moves out of range.
Filitov looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
O Neil misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
O Neil fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Filitov manages to avoid it.
Filitov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around O Neil's waist but O Neil gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Filitov off to one side.
Filitov closes this distance looking for a takedown but O Neil circles away.
Mickey O Neil seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
O Neil works over Filitov's head and body with a nice combination.
O Neil scores with a sloppy right hand. Filitov should have avoided that one.
Filitov shoots in for a double leg but O Neil sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Filitov misses with a body kick.
O Neil throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Filitov makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
O Neil fails to land with a series of punches.
O Neil throws a right and a left that Filitov avoids nicely.
O Neil looks to score with a jab to the body but Filitov is just out of range.
Filitov throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Neil throws a right and a left that Filitov avoids nicely.
O Neil throws a left and a right that both miss
and Filitov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
O Neil stuffs the takedown attempt from Filitov. Filitov gets slowly back to his feet.
Filitov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? O Neil is fending him off so far but Filitov persists. Nope, O Neil circles away and we're back to standing.
O Neil throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Filitov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. O Neil manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Filitov shoots in for a takedown but O Neil shows good takedown defense.
O Neil displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
A swing and a miss from O Neil.
O Neil looks to land a combination but Filitov avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
O Neil looks to land a combination but Filitov avoids it well.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Filitov.
O Neil looks to land a left hand but Filitov moved out of range nicely.
Mickey O Neil is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
O Neil throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
O Neil looks to land a combination but Filitov avoids it well.
O Neil falls off balance throwing a combination
and Filitov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
O Neil scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Filitov shoots for a takedown but O Neil saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
O Neil swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mickey O Neil comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think O Neil 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mickey O Neil!