PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anto Mrvelj (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jorik Vartanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Anto Mrvelj could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Jorik Vartanov's chin.

Mrvelj
vs
Vartanov

194 cm
21
226 lbs
1 - 0 - 1

190 cm
35
250 lbs
13 - 22 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Anto Mrvelj!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 22 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jorik Vartanov!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Robert Twigg and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mrvelj lands an overhand right.
Vartanov has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Mrvelj finds it's way round the side to connect with Vartanov's head.
Mrvelj cracks Vartanov with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Mrvelj!
Vartanov has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Vartanov there as he acknowledges the shot.

Mrvelj drives through and clinches with Vartanov against the cage.

Mrvelj breaks the clinch.
Vartanov walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Mrvelj ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Mrvelj tries to bum rush Vartanov with a series of wild strikes but Vartanov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Anto Mrvelj seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jab, jab by Mrvelj - just one landing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mrvelj throws out a powerful jab.
Mrvelj pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mrvelj lands a nice hook to Vartanov's body. Vartanov takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Mrvelj cracks Vartanov with a right hand to the side of the head.
Mrvelj lands with a nice combination. Vartanov backs away looking to recover.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mrvelj throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Mrvelj scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
A slow jab from Vartanov misses its intended target.
Mrvelj throws a combination. Vartanov tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Mrvelj connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
A jab from Mrvelj finds it's way through Vartanov's defenses.
Mrvelj smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Mrvelj checks a low kick from Vartanov.
Mrvelj throws a shot to the body.
Vartanov walks into a stiff left hand from Mrvelj.
The crowd cheers as Mrvelj lands an impressive looking overhand right. Vartanov doesn't seem phased though.
Vartanov is looking to clinch.
Mrvelj misses with the combination.
Mrvelj tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mrvelj scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Vartanov moves to clinch but Mrvelj breaks away
and Mrvelj counters with a nice uppercut.
Mrvelj with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Mrvelj looks to land a combination but Vartanov avoids it well.
Vartanov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Vartanov looks to clinch
and Mrvelj counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Vartanov misses with a body kick.
Vartanov closes the distance but Mrvelj moves to the side
and Vartanov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Mrvelj punishes Vartanov's body with a nice straight punch.
A right-left combo lands from Mrvelj.
Vartanov tries to land a leg kick but Mrvelj saw it coming and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mrvelj checks a low kick from Vartanov.
Mrvelj throws a one two combo.
Vartanov doesn't manage to clinch there - Mrvelj circles away.
Mrvelj connects with a good right hand that stumbles Vartanov. Vartanov circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

Mrvelj rushes Vartanov and presses him up against the cage.

Mrvelj breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mrvelj lands a really nice looking cross but Vartanov seems unphased.
Vartanov takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Vartanov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mrvelj paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mrvelj lands with a cross.
Mrvelj looks to land a combination. Vartanov sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Nice shot by Mrvelj.
Mrvelj lands a glancing blow to the side of Vartanov's head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Vartanov has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vartanov takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Nice shot lands for Mrvelj.
The crowd cheers as Mrvelj lands an impressive looking overhand right. Vartanov doesn't seem phased though.
Vartanov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Vartanov has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Vartanov looks winded!
Mrvelj lands with a kick to the temple. Vartanov shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Vartanov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Mrvelj keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mrvelj is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Mrvelj jabs Vartanov right on the nose. Vartanov blinks but takes it well.
Nice cross by Mrvelj.
Mrvelj scores with a nice right hand.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Vartanov on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Mrvelj moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Mrvelj is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Mrvelj with a body punch. A glancing blow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Vartanov tries to close the distance and clinch but Mrvelj swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mrvelj lands with an overhand left.
Mrvelj cracks Vartanov with a good jab.
Mrvelj lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Mrvelj works over Vartanov's head and body with a nice combination.
Vartanov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Vartanov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Mrvelj manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Vartanov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Vartanov is looking to clinch but Mrvelj is avoiding it.
Mrvelj scores with a leg kick.
Mrvelj lands a head kick. Vartanov smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Mrvelj is working the combinations to good effect here.
Vartanov tries to bum rush Mrvelj with a series of wild strikes but Mrvelj uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Vartanov is breathing heavily.
Mrvelj avoids the head kick by Vartanov.
Mrvelj lands a nice shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mrvelj connects with a looping right hand.
Mrvelj works the jab nicely.
Mrvelj listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Vartanov takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Vartanov wants to clinch but Mrvelj slips to the side

and Mrvelj counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Vartanov is trying to push Mrvelj away but Mrvelj has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Vartanov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mrvelj smiles and moves away.
Mrvelj with a hook.
Vartanov takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Mrvelj smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Vartanov misses with a few strikes there.
Mrvelj lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mrvelj moves into range and connects with a jab.
Mrvelj feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Vartanovs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Vartanov on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Jab, jab by Mrvelj - just one landing.
Mrvelj lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Vartanov walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Vartanov throws a series of punches but Mrvelj moves out of range.
Mrvelj throws a good cross that connects.
Vartanov tries to clinch
and Mrvelj counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Vartanov thinking.

Mrvelj clinches.
Vartanov is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Mrvelj pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Vartanov wants to break free but Mrvelj has control.
Mrvelj just leaning against Vartanov, taking a breather.
Mrvelj is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Vartanov can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mrvelj manages to break the clinch.
Mrvelj fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Mrvelj uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Mrvelj throws a series of strikes that have Vartanov backpedaling.
Mrvelj throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Vartanov gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Mrvelj lands with a cross.
Mrvelj scores with a jab.
Vartanov misses with a hook. Mrvelj ducked under it nicely.
Mrvelj connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Vartanov's hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheers as Mrvelj lands an impressive looking overhand right. Vartanov doesn't seem phased though.
Vartanov is looking to clinch.
Mrvelj tests Vartanov's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Vartanov closes the distance looking to clinch
letting Mrvelj counter with a right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vartanov throws a leg kick but Mrvelj checks it.
Anto Mrvelj is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Vartanov is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Mrvelj.
Mrvelj throws a one two combo.
Mrvelj scores with a head kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A kick lands to the mid section there for Mrvelj.
Vartanov moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Mrvelj lands with a slapping head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anto Mrvelj dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Mrvelj throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Vartanov's head.
Mrvelj lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Mrvelj.
Mrvelj bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Vartanov's head.
Mrvelj keeps the fight on the outside.
Mrvelj moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Mrvelj connects with a good right hand that stumbles Vartanov. Vartanov circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Mrvelj connects with a crisp jab.
Mrvelj works over Vartanov's head and body with a nice combination.
The fight stays on the outside here - Vartanov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Vartanov misses with a double jab.
Mrvelj fails to land with a series of punches.
Mrvelj throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Vartanov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Vartanov fails to land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vartanov is looking to clinch but Mrvelj is avoiding it.

Mrvelj moves into range and clinches up with Vartanov.
Mrvelj stalls.
Vartanov fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Mrvelj's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mrvelj avoids a kick to the body.
Mrvelj keeps the fight on the outside.

Mrvelj clinches up against the cage.
Mrvelj prevents Vartanov from breaking the clinch.
Mrvelj wants a takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mrvelj's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mrvelj looks to land a combination but Vartanov avoids it well.
Anto Mrvelj is winning the standup battle so far.
A nice inside leg kick there by Mrvelj. That's going to slow Vartanov down.
Mrvelj throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Vartanov on the side of the head.
Mrvelj connects with a crisp jab.
Mrvelj scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Vartanov has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Vartanov there as he acknowledges the shot.
Vartanov takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mrvelj keeps the fight on the outside.
Vartanov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Mrvelj misses with a jab, cross combination.
Mrvelj scores with a nice strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vartanov throws a right and a left that Mrvelj avoids nicely.
Vartanov moves in looking to clinch but Mrvelj pushes him off.

Mrvelj fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Vartanov, pushing him back against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Mrvelj - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Mrvelj breaks the clinch.
Vartanov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Mrvelj throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Mrvelj lands an overhand right.
Mrvelj with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Nice shot lands for Mrvelj.
Mrvelj throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Mrvelj misses with a series of wild punches.
Anto Mrvelj is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Vartanov 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Decent striking displayed by Mrvelj there.
Mrvelj throws a series of strikes that have Vartanov backpedaling.
Vartanov tries to clinch but Mrvelj moves away
and Mrvelj makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Vartanov takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
A head kick from Mrvelj lands but Vartanov takes it in his stride.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Vartanov walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Mrvelj throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mrvelj misses with a few strikes there.
Jorik Vartanov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mrvelj thuds his right hand into Vartanov's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Vartanov moves forwards but Mrvelj connects with a nice, crisp jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anto Mrvelj showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Mrvelj has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anto Mrvelj!