PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michal Materla (ranked 4060 p4p, 4015 weight class) and Pete Erceg (ranked 0 p4p, 475 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Materla
vs
Erceg

212 cm
18
212
0 - 0 - 0

198 cm
23
205
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Michal Materla!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Pete Erceg!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Donatello Bradman and Darius Henderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Erceg throws a nice inside leg kick.
Materla looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Erceg is fending him off so far but Materla persists. Nope, Erceg circles away and we're back to standing.
Materla shoots for a takedown but Erceg saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Materla really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Materla blocks a head kick by Erceg.
Erceg stuffs the takedown attempt from Materla. Materla gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michal Materla. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Erceg moves into the clinch.
Erceg blocks an elbow strike from Materla.

Erceg breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Materla has Erceg up against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Erceg breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Erceg lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Materla shoots in for a takedown but Erceg shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Erceg changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Erceg pushes Materla up against the cage in a clinch.
Erceg taking a breather.

Erceg's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Erceg pushes Materla up against the cage in a clinch.
Erceg tries for a takedown. No joy.
Good body shot from Erceg.
Erceg drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Materla gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Erceg breaks from the clinch.
A chopping leg kick lands by Erceg.
Erceg takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Erceg - that will leave a mark!
Erceg fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Materla avoids the head kick by Erceg.
Materla wants to clinch but Erceg slips to the side

and Erceg counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Materla has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Erceg is on him like a limpet, forcing Materla back against the cage.
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!
A right hand to the body from Erceg.
Materla misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Erceg.
The referee is keeping an eye on Materla - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Erceg gets control of Materla's arms and successfully pulls guard. Erceg will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Materla wants to control from the top but Erceg keeps moving.
Materla throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
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.
Erceg wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Materla is now in half guard.
Materla is keen to just control but Erceg is a slippery customer.
Erceg makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Erceg.
Erceg is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Materla wants to control from the top but Erceg keeps moving.

Erceg throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Erceg looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Erceg uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Materla shoots in for a double leg but Erceg sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Erceg throws a counter combo.
Materla shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Erceg counters with a head kick.
A head kick by Erceg misses
and Materla counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Pete Erceg dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Erceg misses with a kick to the body.
Materla avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Erceg.
Erceg has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Erceg dives in and grabs Materla's left leg, looking for a takedown. Materla pushes down on Erceg's head and hops out.
Materla shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Erceg counters with a one-two to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Erceg darts in and clinches Materla up against the cage.
Materla drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Erceg just misses with a punch to the body.
Materla looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Erceg is fending him off so far but Materla persists. Nope, Erceg circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michal Materla. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Materla darts in and clinches Erceg up against the cage.
Erceg is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Erceg tries to pull guard but Materla forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Materla is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Erceg to keep the fight standing.
Materla is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Erceg is breathing heavily.
Materla has a couple of punches blocked by Erceg.
Materla is trying to push Erceg away but Erceg has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

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

Erceg closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Erceg changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Materla fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Materla has managed to clinch.
Erceg prevents a takedown attempt there.

Erceg pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Materla fails with a takedown attempt.
Materla fails with the takedown.
Despite the aggression on Erceg's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Erceg throws a nice outside leg kick.
Erceg fails with a takedown attempt.
Materla appears to be looking for a big counter.
Michal Materla is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Materla fails with the takedown.

Erceg gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Erceg has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Materla is trying to pull guard but Erceg turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Erceg drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Erceg is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Erceg tries for a takedown but Materla manages to get underhooks.
Erceg is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Materla tries to score a body lock takedown but Erceg shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Erceg wants a takedown.
Erceg stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Materla wants to take the fight to the mat but Erceg manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Erceg lands an elbow inside that Materla shrugs off.
Erceg tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Materla just stands there and leans against the cage.
Erceg misses with a shot to the kidneys.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Pete Erceg showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Materla shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Erceg sprawls well. Erceg wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Materla gets slowly back to his feet.

Materla tries to keep at a distance but Erceg has taken the fight into the clinch.
Materla is trying to pull guard but Erceg turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Erceg is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Materla to keep the fight standing.
Materla is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michal Materla. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Materla struggles to land a body shot inside as Erceg controls his hands.

Erceg manages to pull guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Erceg tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Materla trying to control but Erceg is working from the bottom.
Erceg looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Erceg trying to keep a closed guard but Materla is proving a slippery customer.
Erceg tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Erceg bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Materla's guard.

Materla is controlling Erceg's posture.
Erceg trying to control the position from guard on top but Materla is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Materla will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Erceg stops Materla from standing up.

Materla scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Erceg throws a series of punches but Materla moves out of range.
Erceg swats away the attempt to clinch by Materla.
Erceg shapes to counter with a head kick.
Erceg comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

Erceg closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Materla goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Erceg breaks the clinch.
Materla tries to clinch up but Erceg circles away and keeps his distance.
Sloppy strikes from Erceg. Those never looked like landing.
Erceg takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Materla tries to close the distance and clinch but Erceg swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Materla scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Materla pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Horrible takedown attempt by Erceg or perhaps it was just good defense by Materla, which made it look bad.
Materla comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Erceg scores with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Erceg swinging wildly here.
Materla shoots in but no luck this time.
Erceg appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Materla throws a head kick that misses
and Erceg counters with a low kick, right behind Materla 's knee.
Erceg throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Materla.
Erceg displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Materla.
Pete Erceg is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
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!
Erceg looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Materla goes for a double leg but Erceg avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Erceg continues to drive forward.

Erceg escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Michal Materla has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Materla showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Erceg.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pete Erceg comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Erceg has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Darius Henderson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pete Erceg!