PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mirko Filipovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Eldridge (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Michael Eldridge is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Filipovic
vs
Eldridge

188 cm
21
213 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

188 cm
36
220 lbs
22 - 16 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Heavy handed

Sydney BEAST Clothing

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mirko Filipovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 16 - 0, fighting out of London, Michael Eldridge!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Ben Hemmingworth and Darius Henderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Filipovic checks a leg kick nicely.
Filipovic on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Eldridge pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Eldridge takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

It looks like Michael Eldridge has been cut.
Eldridge connects with a right hand. Filipovic shakes it off.
Eldridge's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Eldridge duly obliges.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Eldridge fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Filipovic checks it well.
Eldridge misses with a shot to the body
and Filipovic counters with a three punch combo that has Eldridge backing up. Eldridge nods at Filipovic to acknowledge the strikes.
Eldridge waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Filipovic.
Eldridge feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Filipovic's calf.
Filipovic throws a lazy head kick
and Eldridge counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Eldridge has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Eldridge throws a sloppy body shot
and Filipovic cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Filipovic throws a right and a left that Eldridge avoids nicely.
Filipovic looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Eldridge takes a swing at Filipovic's ribcage but misses.
Filipovic throws a lazy uppercut

and Eldridge counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Eldridge.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Eldridge.
Filipovic wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Eldridge throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Filipovics head.

Filipovic breaks from the clinch.
Filipovic throws a right and a left that both miss.
Eldridge throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Filipovic throws a series of punches but Eldridge moves out of range.
Eldridge misses with a body shot.
Eldridge fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Filipovic.
A solid leg kick lands there for Eldridge.
Eldridge misses with a body shot.
Filipovic throws a hook but Eldridge avoids it easily.
Filipovic misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Eldridge circles away quickly and effectively.
Eldridge tries to close the distance and clinch but Filipovic swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Eldridge scores with a hook to the body. Filipovic takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Eldridge slowing the pace effectively.
Filipovic wants to break free but Eldridge has control.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Eldridge just misses with a elbow thrown towards Filipovic's brow.

Filipovic breaks the clinch.
Filipovic misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Eldridge clinches up against the cage.
Filipovic tries to break the clinch but Eldridge is controlling the position.
Filipovic looking to slow down the pace here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Eldridge.
Eldridge working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Filipovic dodges an elbow strike from Eldridge.
Eldridge blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Eldridge avoiding damage.
Nice body punch from Eldridge - that landed with a thud.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Filipovic wants to break the clinch but can't.
Filipovic has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Eldridge pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Eldridge lands a damaging elbow.

It looks like Mirko Filipovic has been cut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Eldridge.
Filipovic wants to stall.
Eldridge avoiding damage.
Eldridge lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Eldridge misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Filipovic.
Filipovic wants to break free but Eldridge has control.
Filipovic is trying to break free.
Eldridge working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Mirko Filipovic's cut is getting worse.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A battle for position here, against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Eldridge just misses with a elbow thrown towards Filipovic's brow.
Eldridge makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Eldridge dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action!

Eldridge thows a leg kick but Filipovic checks it
and Filipovic counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Eldridge takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Eldridge will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Eldridge moves out of range of the strikes.
Filipovic lands with a cross.
A head kick by Filipovic misses

and Eldridge counters by clinching up.
Eldridge throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Filipovic avoiding damage as Eldridge throws knees to the body.
Filipovic wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Eldridge is leaning against Filipovic and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Filipovic on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Still in the clinch, Eldridge scores with a nice short uppercut.
Eldridge avoiding damage.
Filipovic is trying to push Eldridge away but Eldridge has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Filipovic looking to stall.
Eldridge missing with knees to the body.
Filipovic tries to break free but Eldridge pushes him back against the cage.
Filipovic has had enough of the clinch but Eldridge keeps him there for the moment.
Filipovic is trying to stall.
Eldridge is stalling here.
Eldridge has Filipovic pressed against the cage, preventing Filipovic from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Eldridge missing with knees to the body.
Filipovic is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Filipovic breaks from the clinch.
Nice shot by Eldridge.
Eldridge throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Filipovic lands a two punch combo.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Eldridge in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Filipovic throws a push kick but Eldridge slaps the foot to one side.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A head kick misses from Eldridge.
Eldridge is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Filipovic rather than just go for the knockout.
Nice shot lands for Eldridge.
A leg kick checked by Filipovic.
Filipovic misses with a straight left.
Eldridge ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Eldridge clinches.
Eldridge is working Filipovic over against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eldridge is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Eldridge using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Eldridge content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Filipovic wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Eldridge will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Filipovic up against the cage.
Filipovic looking to slow down the pace here.
Eldridge lands an elbow inside.
Eldridge just leaning against Filipovic, taking a breather.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Eldridge lands a left hand that snaps the head of Filipovic backwards.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Filipovic managing to block the knees to the body from Eldridge.
Eldridge stalling the fight.
Eldridge misses with a body punch.
Eldridge looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Filipovic is trying to stall.
Filipovic blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Eldridge keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Filipovic's efforts to push away.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Eldridge stalling in the clinch.

Filipovic breaks from the clinch.
Filipovic misses with a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Eldridge 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 minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Eldridge cracks Filipovic with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Eldridge showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Filipovic.
A looping hook to the body misses from Eldridge. Filipovic does a little dance to reset his feet.
Filipovic connects with a solid leg kick.
Filipovic misses with a double jab
and Eldridge counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Eldridge on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Filipovic tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Eldridge throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Eldridge lands an overhand right.
Eldridge takes a swing at Filipovic's ribcage but misses.
Nice straight punches there by Filipovic. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Filipovic.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Eldridge.
Filipovic takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Michael Eldridge seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Filipovic bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Eldridge's head backwards.

Eldridge darts in and clinches Filipovic up against the cage.
Eldridge misses with an elbow strike.
Eldridge keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Filipovic's efforts to push away.
Filipovic is looking to control Eldridge's arms but Eldridge gets an underhook and turns him. Now Filipovic has his back to the cage.
Eldridge keeps control of Filipovic as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Filipovic blocks an elbow strike.
A short right from Filipovic.
Eldridge lands an elbow just above Filipovic 's eye.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eldridge creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Eldridge pushes off an throws an elbow but Filipovic leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Eldridge crunches a lovely knee into Filipovic's ribcage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Eldridge utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Eldridge misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Filipovic.
Eldridge gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Mirko Filipovic's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Eldridge leaning his opponent against the cage.
Eldridge lands a knee to the body.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Eldridge.

Jeez, Mirko Filipovic's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Eldridge keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Filipovic's efforts to push away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eldridge stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Filipovic blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Filipovic is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Eldridge lands a left hand that snaps the head of Filipovic backwards.
Eldridge lands a nice elbow.
Filipovic tries to stall but Eldridge uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Eldridge lands a damaging elbow.

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

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Michael Eldridge!
After the big win, Michael Eldridge made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors [EVO] Koffin Inc. *92% Laundry NOT Available* and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.