PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Josip Miocic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pesho Mahlenski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Josip Miocic has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Miocic
vs
Mahlenski

175 cm
25
164 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
20
160 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Josip Miocic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Pesho Mahlenski!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Josh West and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Miocic tries a head kick but it misses.
Miocic lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Miocic misses with a series of wild punches.
Mahlenski has a takedown stuffed.
Miocic throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Miocic works over Mahlenski's head and body with a nice combination.
Mahlenski shoots in but Miocic avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Mahlenski closes the distance and clinches up with Miocic, looking for a takedown. Mahlenski pushes Miocic against the cage but Miocic circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Josip Miocic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pesho Mahlenski.
Mahlenski closes this distance looking for a takedown but Miocic circles away.
Miocic lands a body shot.
Miocic comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Miocic fails to land with a series of punches.
Miocic throws a sloppy head kick and Mahlenski moves out of range easily.
Mahlenski tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Josip Miocic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mahlenski shoots in for a takedown but Miocic shows good takedown defense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mahlenski takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Mahlenski takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Josip Miocic is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Miocic lands a jab to the head.
Miocic throws a right and a left that both miss.
Miocic lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Mahlenski dives in and grabs Miocic's left leg, looking for a takedown. Miocic pushes down on Mahlenski's head and hops out.
Mahlenski's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Miocic connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Mahlenski scrambles back to his feet.
Mahlenski dodges the punch combination from Miocic.
Miocic lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Miocic moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Some wild striking there from Miocic.
Miocic misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miocic swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Miocic is breathing heavily.
Mahlenski dives in and grabs Miocic's left leg, looking for a takedown. Miocic pushes down on Mahlenski's head and hops out.
Miocic lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Mahlenski shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Miocic defends it nicely.
Miocic lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Mahlenski dodges the punch combination from Miocic.
Miocic thuds his right hand into Mahlenski's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Miocic throws a head kick but Mahlenski moves out of range.
Miocic connects with a single shot there.

Mahlenski shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Miocic is trying to defend but Mahlenski finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Mahlenski is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mahlenski wants to lay and pray for a moment but Miocic keeps working.
Miocic wants to get back to his feet.
Mahlenski wants to take a breather but Miocic is having none of it.

That's four 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.
Miocic wants to control but Mahlenski is keeping busy and won't allow it.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Miocic scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Mahlenski shoots in looking for a takedown but Miocic manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Mahlenski's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Jab from Miocic.
Miocic scores with a one two! Mahlenski had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Some wild striking there from Miocic.
Mahlenski misses with a takedown attempt - Miocic sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mahlenski tries to score a power double leg takedown but Miocic sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mahlenski somewhat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josip Miocic dominated that round.
That's time! Miocic's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Miocic scores with a three punch combo!
Josip Miocic is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Miocic scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Miocic goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Miocic looks to land a combination. Mahlenski sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Miocic misses with a head kick.
Sloppy strikes from Miocic. Those never looked like landing.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Miocic. Mahlenski shrugs it off though.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Miocic moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Miocic fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Miocic misses with a few strikes there.

Mahlenski dives in and scores a takedown into Miocic's guard.
Miocic is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mahlenski can do to turn this around?
Miocic is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miocic trying to control the position.
Miocic keeping moving, preventing Mahlenski from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mahlenski stays in close to Miocic's body and controls the position.
Miocic keeping moving, preventing Mahlenski from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Mahlenski is in close to Miocic's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Miocic is trying to hold Mahlenski in close to prevent damage but Mahlenski has managed to pass into half guard.
Mahlenski passes the guard and advances to mount!
Mahlenski trying to control but Miocic is having none of it.
Mahlenski working Miocic over with strikes here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mahlenski is landing with some decent strikes but Miocic is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Mahlenski can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Miocic is looking to escape.
You get the feeling that Miocic really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Mahlenski with good strikes from the mount here!
Mahlenski looking to ground and pound but Miocic is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Miocic defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Mahlenski.
Mahlenski trying to control but Miocic is having none of it.
Mahlenski in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Mahlenski looking to control but Miocic is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Miocic tries to lock up and control but Mahlenski gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Josip Miocic will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Mahlenski tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mahlenski slips a jab and a cross from Miocic.
Miocic throws a head kick but Mahlenski moves out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Mahlenski misses the target.
Miocic fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Mahlenski has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Miocic throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Miocic shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Mahlenski eats them both and turns towards Miocic to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Mahlenski takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Miocic scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Miocic misses with a double jab.
Danga de danga de dang - Miocic scores with a four punch combination!
Miocic throws a series of punches but Mahlenski avoids them all with ease.
Mahlenski misses with a takedown attempt - Miocic sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Mahlenski closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miocic is not content to let Mahlenski control the position.
Mahlenski is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Mahlenski is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Miocic defends it well.
Miocic blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mahlenski.
Josip Miocic is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.
Mahlenski sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Miocic defending well though.
Mahlenski is pressing down on Miocic's thigh, looking to free his foot. Miocic is holding on for now.
Miocic on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Miocic is not content to let Mahlenski control the position.
Mahlenski working over Miocic with some ground and pound. Miocic looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Mahlenski stops Miocic from getting back to his feet.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Miocic.
Miocic connects with a nice looking jab.
Mahlenski slips a jab and a cross from Miocic.
A head kick misses from Miocic.
Mahlenski fails with an attempt to clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mahlenski is defended easily by Miocic.
Miocic throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Mahlenski has a takedown stuffed.
Josip Miocic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pesho Mahlenski.
Miocic misses with the combination.
Mahlenski fails to land the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mahlenski shoots in for a double leg but Miocic sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Miocic moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Miocic throws a right and a left that both miss.
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!
Miocic goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Pesho Mahlenski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Miocic throws a head kick that misses.
Mahlenski shoots in looking for a takedown but Miocic manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Mahlenski's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A good leg kick by Miocic.
A shot to the liver by Miocic. Beautiful body shot.

Mahlenski fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Miocic sprawls well initially but Mahlenski persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Mahlenski missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josip Miocic showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Miocic, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 29:28
Judge Josh West scores the fight 30:26
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josip Miocic!