PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Xavier Rocca (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mirko Halilovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rocca's entrance music is ULTRAnumb by Blue Stahli. A fine choice. Xavier Rocca has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rocca
vs
Halilovic

210 cm
26
290 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

225 cm
25
300 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Powerful

GREEN!160

Instinct

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Xavier Rocca!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mirko Halilovic!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Wagner Zegers and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Halilovic shoots in and bounces Rocca off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Rocca manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Halilovic looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Rocca misses with a combination

and Halilovic counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Halilovic must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Halilovic throwing strikes but missing.
Rocca wants to stand and escape but Halilovic is having none of it.
Halilovic stands up over Rocca, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Halilovic is looking to work some ground and pound but Rocca has wrist control.
Rocca wants to get back to his feet but Halilovic is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Halilovic with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rocca wants to stand up but Halilovic is controlling him.
Halilovic lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Rocca on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Rocca tries to get out of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halilovic postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Halilovic throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Halilovic won't allow Rocca to get back to his feet.
Halilovic throws an elbow that misses. Rocca uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Halilovic's guard. Nice move by Rocca!

Halilovic lands with a heel strike from the guard.
Halilovic looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rocca is one step ahead there.

Rocca decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Halilovic shoots for a double leg takedown but Rocca sprawls well. He's pushed Halilovic's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rocca is looking to counter punch.
Rocca uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rocca misses with a double jab

and Halilovic counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Halilovic.

Rocca pushes Halilovic off and gets back to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Halilovic ducks under a wild hook from Rocca.
Halilovic drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Rocca defends it well.
Nice takedown defense from Rocca. No joy for Halilovic on that attempt.
We've been told by Rocca's head coaches at Bi-Polar Asylum LV's #1 Public Training Center that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Halilovic will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Xavier Rocca has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mirko Halilovic.
Rocca throws a jab but it's blocked by Halilovic.
Halilovic uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rocca.
Rocca throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Halilovic is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Rocca's half guard.
Ground and pound from Halilovic.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halilovic lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Rocca blocking the ground and pound attempt from Halilovic.
Rocca taking some punishment here, with Halilovic in his half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rocca wants to get back to his feet.
Halilovic working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Rocca is trying to stand back up but Halilovic is controlling him
Halilovic lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Rocca pushes Halilovic off looking to stand but Halilovic dives back in and keeps control.
Halilovic lands with a punch from half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Halilovic lands a nice short elbow.
Rocca has hold of Halilovic's hands but Halilovic slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halilovic winds up and cracks Rocca with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Halilovic slips a nice elbow through Rocca's hands, connecting with Rocca's forehead.
Rocca is breathing heavily.
Halilovic seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Halilovic connects with a nice short shot to Rocca's temple.

Rocca is rocked!
Rocca is trying to stand back up but Halilovic is controlling him
Oh Rocca is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rocca keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rocca seems to have got his legs back now.
Halilovic sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rocca defending well though.
Rocca wants to get back to his feet.
Rocca blocking the ground and pound attempt from Halilovic.
Halilovic thows a huge punch but Rocca dodges it nicely.
Halilovic throwing shots but Rocca is blocking nicely.
Halilovic thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rocca's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rocca misses with a double jab

and Halilovic counters with a single leg into guard. Rocca didn't expect that.
Rocca is looking to stand up but Halilovic isn't so interested in that idea.
Halilovic throws a strike but Rocca rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Halilovic looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Halilovic striking off his back, scoring a few points.
Halilovic throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Rocca decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Halilovic, up you get!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Halilovic fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Halilovic closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Rocca's guard.
Halilovic stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rocca swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Halilovic scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halilovic throwing strikes but missing.
Halilovic lands a couple of digs.
Halilovic throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Halilovic postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Halilovic is looking to work some ground and pound but Rocca has wrist control.
Halilovic landing with the ground and pound.
Halilovic has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Halilovic is in close to Rocca's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Rocca wants to stand up but Halilovic is controlling him.
Halilovic throws an elbow that misses. Rocca uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Halilovic's guard. Nice move by Rocca!

Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halilovic wants to sweep but no luck.
Rocca is looking to stand up but Halilovic won't let him.
Halilovic striking from the bottom here.
Rocca might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Halilovic throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Rocca preventing the sweep.
Halilovic trying to strike off his back.
Rocca wants to stand but Halilovic is controlling his posture from full guard.
Halilovic looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rocca is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halilovic throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Rocca throws a shot from downtown. Halilovic moves away and avoids it.
Halilovic tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Halilovic shoots in for a takedown but Rocca shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Xavier Rocca is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rocca misses with a wild body shot.
Rocca misses with a combination

and Halilovic counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Rocca taking some punishment here, with Halilovic in his half guard.
Halilovic not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Halilovic missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Nice strikes from Halilovic there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halilovic throwing shots but Rocca is blocking nicely.
Halilovic lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Halilovic not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Halilovic lands strikes from half guard.
Halilovic prevents Rocca from standing back up.
Halilovic with the ground and pound but Rocca uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Halilovic keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rocca's head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Halilovic keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rocca's head.
Halilovic throws an elbow that misses. Rocca uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Halilovic's guard. Nice move by Rocca!

Rocca won't allow Halilovic to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mirko Halilovic showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Donk. Rocca catches Halilovic right on the button with a cross.
Rocca throws a jab but it's blocked by Halilovic.
Rocca throws a right hand that misses

and Halilovic counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Halilovic.
Rocca wants to get back to his feet but Halilovic is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Rocca avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Halilovic working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Halilovic throws a big elbow that misses.
Halilovic throwing strikes from guard but Rocca blocks nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rocca has momentary wrist control but Halilovic slips an elbow through the middle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Halilovic distracts Rocca with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Halilovic throws a strike but Rocca rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocca preventing the sweep.
Halilovic throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Rocca gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Rocca throws a shot from downtown. Halilovic moves away and avoids it.
Halilovic drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Rocca defends it well.
Rocca swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Halilovic counters with a single leg into guard. Rocca didn't expect that.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Rocca manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Rocca is pressed up against the cage. Halilovic has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rocca down to the mat. Rocca avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Halilovic fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Rocca to the ground. Halilovic is now in Rocca's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Halilovic throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rocca works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Halilovic throwing strikes from guard but Rocca blocks nicely.
Halilovic throws a strike but Rocca rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Xavier Rocca has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halilovic throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Rocca throws a big right hand that misses.
Halilovic wants to sweep but no luck.
Rocca is looking to stand up but Halilovic won't let him.
Halilovic throws some shots to the body, keeping his opponent honest.
Halilovic doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Halilovic keeping busy, throwing shots from the bottom.
Halilovic throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Halilovic throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Halilovic really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rocca. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Halilovic looking for a sweep. Not yet Halilovic, not yet.
Halilovic striking off his back but it's not causing Rocca any problems.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halilovic thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Xavier Rocca seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Halilovic steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rocca.

Halilovic drives through with a takedown into Rocca's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Halilovic accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Halilovic throws an elbow that misses. Rocca uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Halilovic's guard. Nice move by Rocca!

Halilovic punching to the body, from the bottom.
Rocca wants to get up but he can't break Halilovic's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Halilovic throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Halilovic lands some strikes from the bottom.
Halilovic wants to sweep but no luck.
Halilovic will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Rocca is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halilovic punching from the bottom.
Halilovic lands a couple of shots from the bottom.
Rocca stopping the sweep attempt from Halilovic.
Rocca postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Halilovic trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Rocca throwing strikes but missing.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Rocca throws a combination that misses

and Halilovic counters with a single leg into guard. Rocca didn't expect that.
Halilovic is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Halilovic's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Mirko Halilovic is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Halilovic looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mirko Halilovic.
I've got Halilovic winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mirko Halilovic!