PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ante Filipovic (ranked 4566 p4p, 375 weight class) and Nick Strongoff (ranked 6366 p4p, 433 weight class). Nick Strongoff is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Filipovic
vs
Strongoff

190 cm
18
260 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

213 cm
22
269 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ante Filipovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nick Strongoff!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Cecil Peabody and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Strongoff scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

It looks like Ante Filipovic has been cut.

Filipovic darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Strongoff wants to control but Filipovic is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Strongoff gets back to full guard.
Filipovic trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Strongoff keeping moving, preventing Filipovic from controlling successfully.
Strongoff is looking to stand up but Filipovic isn't so interested in that idea.
Filipovic tries to free his leg and advance position but Strongoff is retaining full guard.
Strongoff wants to stand and escape but Filipovic is having none of it.
Filipovic postures up and lands a big shot to Strongoff's brow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Filipovic trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Strongoff trying to control the position.
Filipovic with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Filipovic wants to pass the guard but Strongoff is keeping the position.
Filipovic postures up in Strongoff's guard and throws a big left but Strongoff blocks it.
Filipovic trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Filipovic wants to control from the top but Strongoff keeps moving.
Filipovic could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Filipovic scoring with some ground and pound.
Strongoff is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Filipovic is controlling him.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Strongoff can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Filipovic throws a big right hand that misses.
Filipovic is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Strongoff scores with a head kick. Filipovic tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

Filipovic looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Filipovic is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Filipovic wants to pass the guard but Strongoff is defending well.
Strongoff regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Filipovic.
Strongoff working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Filipovic stops Strongoff from standing up.
Filipovic lands a couple of elbows.
Filipovic engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Filipovic throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Strongoff works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Filipovic drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Strongoff dives on top into guard.

Filipovic has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Strongoff off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Nice sprawl there from Strongoff as Filipovic shoots in.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Strongoff gets caught napping as Filipovic dives in and scores a takedown. Strongoff manages to retain guard.

Strongoff manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Strongoff looks winded!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Filipovic prevents Strongoff from breaking the clinch.

Strongoff escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Filipovic closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Strongoff did well to prevent Filipovic getting side control.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Filipovic looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Strongoff with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Filipovic tries to pass the half guard into mount. Strongoff knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Well, if Filipovic is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ante Filipovic will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ante Filipovic's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Filipovic tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Strongoff defends well and Filipovic ends up having to push Strongoff into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Strongoff misses with a kick to the body

and Filipovic counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Strongoff!
Sloppy strikes there by Filipovic.
Strongoff tries to buck Filipovic off but Filipovic is having none of it.
Filipovic with the ground and pound but Strongoff regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
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. Filipovic connects with a nice short shot to Strongoff's temple.
Strongoff has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Filipovic is working away from the top position though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strongoff is trying to stand.
Filipovic not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Filipovic is looking for a kimura but Strongoff is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Filipovic to get the leverage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Filipovic tries to pass to full mount but Strongoff defends it.
Nice strikes from Filipovic there.
Strongoff is breathing heavily.
Filipovic is looking to advance position but Strongoff won't allow it.

Filipovic is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Filipovic is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Strongoff reverses the position - he's now on top in Filipovic's guard.
Ante Filipovic overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Filipovic has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Strongoff can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strongoff stops Filipovic from standing up.
Filipovic controlling the position.
Strongoff stopping the sweep attempt from Filipovic.
Filipovic might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Strongoff being controlled here momentarily.
Strongoff preventing the sweep.
Filipovic is pulling down on Strongoff's head. It's preventing any offense from Strongoff, at least for the moment.
Strongoff trying to control but Filipovic is working from the bottom.
Filipovic working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Strongoff.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic pulls Strongoff in close to prevent any damage.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A combination from Strongoff does no damage.
Nice shot lands for Strongoff.
Strongoff lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Strongoff tries to clinch up but Filipovic circles away and keeps his distance.
Filipovic changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Strongoff tries to clinch but Filipovic is having none of it.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Strongoff lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Filipovic has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Filipovic and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Filipovic tries to counter with a takedown but Strongoff is quick to defend against it.
Strongoff misses with a combination

and Filipovic counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Strongoff!
Filipovic controls the position from side control.

Filipovic swings around for an armbar but Strongoff sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Filipovic's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Strongoff throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Filipovic works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Filipovic pulls Strongoff in to control the position.

Filipovic is looking for a triangle but Strongoff pushes his legs off easily.
Filipovic wants to sweep but no luck.
Filipovic working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Strongoff.
Filipovic tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Strongoff trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Filipovic looking for a sweep. Not yet Filipovic, not yet.

Strongoff gets to his feet. Filipovic looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Nick Strongoff will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Ante Filipovic's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Filipovic takes one on the button.

Strongoff shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Strongoff showed some decent athleticism there.

Filipovic kicks off Strongoff and gets to his feet.
Filipovic tries to close the distance and clinch but Strongoff swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Strongoff misses with a kick to the body.
Strongoff shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Filipovic is looking for a counter combo.
Strongoff fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Filipovic.
Strongoff takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Filipovic blocks a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strongoff throws a jab when Filipovic was well out of range.
Filipovic fails to land the takedown.
Ante Filipovic is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Filipovic avoids a punch combination nicely.
Filipovic tries to counter by clinching up but Strongoff breaks away and moves out of range.
Strongoff lands a lovely overhand right.
Strongoff throws a head kick that misses.
Filipovic drops down looking for a counter takedown but Strongoff sprawls and moves away.

Filipovic closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Strongoff did well to prevent Filipovic getting side control.
Filipovic trying to control the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic slips a nice elbow through Strongoff's hands, connecting with Strongoff's forehead.
Filipovic drops an elbow to the side of Strongoff's head.
Filipovic keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Filipovic scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Filipovic looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Strongoff with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Filipovic tries to pass to full mount but Strongoff defends it.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Filipovic lands a nice short elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Filipovic in particular looking to stall.
Ground and pound from Filipovic.

Filipovic is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Filipovic is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Filipovic seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Strongoff for as long as he can get away with.
Filipovic is looking to advance position but Strongoff won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Filipovic looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Filipovic is stalling here. Strongoff is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Filipovic seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Strongoff has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Filipovic is looking to reverse the position.
Filipovic stuck in half guard on the bottom here.

Strongoff is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Filipovic knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Filipovic tries to buck Strongoff off but Strongoff is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ante Filipovic.
I think Filipovic has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Ante Filipovic!