PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rajko Mijatovic (ranked 2879 p4p, 1481 weight class) and Vladimir Plusnin (ranked 362 p4p, 200 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mijatovic
vs
Plusnin

190 cm
25
210
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
26
220
4 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Knockout power

Underpant Gnomes

Highland 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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Rajko Mijatovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Vladimir Plusnin!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Bart Greer and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Plusnin avoids the body shot from Mijatovic.
Plusnin slips a straight right by Mijatovic.
Plusnin throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Plusnin moves forwards but Mijatovic connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Plusnin shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Plusnin was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Plusnin tries for a kimura but Mijatovic is defending well.

Plusnin is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Mijatovic has escaped the position, nice work there.

Plusnin working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Plusnin wants to control but Mijatovic is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Plusnin is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Mijatovic is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Plusnin is trying to get an arm triangle but Mijatovic is defending well.
Mijatovic definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Plusnin tries to move to full mount but Mijatovic actually manages to regain half guard.

Mijatovic is defending against the submission attempts here by Plusnin.
Mijatovic is concentrating on defense, preventing Plusnin from advancing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Plusnin wants to work for an arm triangle but Mijatovic is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Plusnin works his way into full mount!
Plusnin has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Monkey Business. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Plusnin throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Mijatovic because Plusnin loaded up on that one.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Plusnin thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

Plusnin jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Mijatovic is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Mijatovic and Plusnin has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Plusnin trying to control the action but Mijatovic is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Plusnin working the ground and pound.

Plusnin is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Mijatovic has escaped the position, nice work there.

Plusnin tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Plusnin has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Plusnin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mijatovic keeps working.
Mijatovic managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Plusnin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Plusnin wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Mijatovic, who protects the arm well.
Mijatovic is not content to let Plusnin control the position.

Plusnin is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Mijatovic has escaped the position, nice work there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Plusnin trying to control the position but Mijatovic is working away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Plusnin dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Mijatovic misses with a wild body shot.
Plusnin looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Mijatovic looks to land a right hand but Plusnin moved out of range.
Plusnin looks to score with a jab to the body but Mijatovic is just out of range.
Mijatovic moves out of range of the strikes.
Plusnin throws a shot from downtown. Mijatovic moves away and avoids it.
Mijatovic looks to score with a jab to the body but Plusnin is just out of range.
It seemed like Plusnin was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Nice shot lands for Plusnin.
Mijatovic looks to land a combination but Plusnin avoids it well.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mijatovic. Plusnin does a little dance to reset his feet.
Plusnin shoots and misses
and Mijatovic counters with a stiff right hand.
Plusnin ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mijatovic throws a body shot but no joy.
Mijatovic ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Plusnin moves away.
Plusnin scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Plusnin scores with a jab. Mijatovic acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Plusnin darts in looking for a takedown but Mijatovic gets double underhooks and turns Plusnin into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Plusnin shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Mijatovic defends it nicely.
Rajko Mijatovic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vladimir Plusnin.
Plusnin slips a straight right by Mijatovic.
Plusnin on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Mijatovic throws a shot from downtown. Plusnin moves away and avoids it.
Plusnin has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Mijatovic finds it's way round the side to connect with Plusnin's head.
Plusnin looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Plusnin swings widly with a right hand
and Mijatovic counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Plusnin thinking.
Plusnin changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mijatovic tries to avoid it but Plusnin manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mijatovic to the ground. Mijatovic escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Mijatovic looks to land a right hand but Plusnin moved out of range.
Rajko Mijatovic is winning the standup battle so far.
Good shot there by Mijatovic.
Nice defenses there by Mijatovic.
Plusnin shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Mijatovic defends it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Plusnin throws a poor cross that misses
enabling Mijatovic to counter with a crisp jab.
Plusnin lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Plusnin throws out a loose jab but Mijatovic uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mijatovic throws out a powerful jab.
Mijatovic swings for the body but Plusnin moves out of range.
Plusnin looks to land a left hand but Mijatovic moved out of range nicely.
Plusnin might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
A slow jab from Mijatovic misses its intended target.
Plusnin uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Mijatovic.
Plusnin lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Plusnin moves forwards but Mijatovic connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Plusnin misses with a hook. Mijatovic ducked under it nicely.
Mijatovic is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
A slow jab from Mijatovic misses its intended target.
Plusnin takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Plusnin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mijatovic.
Plusnin keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mijatovic.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mijatovic uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Plusnin.
Mijatovic uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Plusnin.
A little feinted left hand from Mijatovic on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Mijatovic tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Plusnin was well out of range. Poor timing from Mijatovic.
Mijatovic scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Plusnin is defended easily by Mijatovic.
Mijatovic was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Mijatovic looks to land a right hand but Plusnin moved out of range.
Plusnin scores with a jab.
Mijatovic lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Plusnin slips under a jab from Mijatovic.
Plusnin takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Plusnin goes for a double leg but Mijatovic avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Mijatovic continues to drive forward.
Plusnin throws out a loose jab but Mijatovic uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mijatovic moves out of range as Plusnin strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mijatovic looks to land a right hand but Plusnin moved out of range.
Nice uppercut there from Plusnin.
Mijatovic lands a head shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Plusnin throws a body punch but Mijatovic moves out of range.
Plusnin bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Mijatovic bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Plusnin misses with a looping right.
Mijatovic throws a looping overhand right but Plusnin ducks down to avoid it.
Mijatovic loads up on a big right hand but Plusnin slips the punch.
Mijatovic misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Plusnin counters with a nice double leg into side control. Mijatovic won't be happy with that.
Plusnin passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Mijatovic!

Plusnin is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Mijatovic to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Mijatovic shrugs it off.
Mijatovic wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Plusnin.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rajko Mijatovic dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Mijatovic keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mijatovic was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Nice body punch from Mijatovic.
Mijatovic scores with a hook to the body. Plusnin takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Mijatovic misses with a straight right.
Plusnin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mijatovic.
Mijatovic bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Mijatovic tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Plusnin was well out of range. Poor timing from Mijatovic.
Mijatovic throws a looping overhand right but Plusnin ducks down to avoid it.
Plusnin swings widly with a right hand
and Mijatovic counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
The fighters circling - Plusnin throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mijatovic throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Plusnin gets a double leg takedown into Mijatovic's guard.

Plusnin 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.
Mijatovic is adopting a defensive guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mijatovic keeping moving, preventing Plusnin from controlling successfully.
Mijatovic trying to control the position here.
Plusnin forces his way into half guard.
Mijatovic on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Mijatovic tries to get out of the position.

Plusnin maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Mijatovic could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but Plusnin has cracked it and Mijatovic is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by Plusnin!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Vladimir Plusnin!
A relieved looking Vladimir Plusnin thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.