PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Darko Milicic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Markt Rabota (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Milicic kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genuis that is Navras, Juno Reactor. Darko Milicic has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Milicic
vs
Rabota

180 cm
18
175 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

180 cm
22
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Prefers ground

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Darko Milicic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Markt Rabota!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Milicic decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Rabota is trying to escape back to his feet but Milicic uses the scramble to pass into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Milicic tries to move into full mount but can't pass Rabota's legs.
Milicic wants to control but Rabota is keeping him busy.
Milicic is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Rabota is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Milicic tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Milicic trying to control the position but Rabota is working away.

Milicic tries for a kimura but Rabota is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rabota is looking for a sweep.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Milicic shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Rabota wants to get back to full guard.
Rabota won't allow Milicic to pass to mount.
Milicic is tying to control. Rabota wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Rabota is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Milicic's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Milicic's back!
Milicic staying busy and making it hard for Rabota to control.
Milicic trying to control but not successfully.
Milicic is trying to break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Milicic fending off the submission attempt from Rabota.

Milicic showing good submission defense here.
Milicic manages to reverse the position and now he's in Rabota's guard. Nice work there by Milicic.
Milicic passes into half guard.
Rabota looks gassed!
Milicic seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rabota does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Milicic missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Milicic wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rabota keeps working.

Milicic is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Rabota has managed to free his arm - good work.
Rabota is pressing down on Milicic's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Rabota is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rabota can't keep his opponent in guard - Milicic advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Milicic is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rabota defends it well.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rabota is staying active underneath Milicic, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Milicic throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rabota is trying to stand up here but Milicic is controlling him well.
Milicic trying to control the action but Rabota is working from the bottom.
Rabota wants to improve his position but Milicic is controlling well.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nice uppercut there from Rabota.
Milicic dodges the punch combination from Rabota.

Milicic closes the distance and clinches.
Rabota wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Milicic has him pressed against the cage.
Milicic keeps control of Rabota as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rabota can't break the clinch.
Rabota is trying to break the clinch but Milicic has him pressed against the cage.
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 Darko Milicic will probably get the nod.
That's time! Milicic's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Milicic shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Rabota is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Milicic looking to pass the guard.
Rabota manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Milicic manages to get himself to full guard.
Rabota wanted to stand there but Milicic had control of the position.

Milicic escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rabota gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rabota wants to control from the top but Milicic keeps moving.
Milicic managing to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Milicic keeping full guard, as Rabota tries to pass.

Rabota drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Milicic manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Rabota has Milicic in his guard.
Milicic in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Rabota is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rabota is breathing heavily.
Milicic passes Rabota's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Milicic wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rabota keeps working.

Milicic is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Rabota is defending against the submission attempts here by Milicic.

Rabota actively working from the bottom here.

Milicic is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Rabota is just riding it out for now. Milicic eventually gives up the hold.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Milicic wants to pass to mount but Rabota is defending the position.
Rabota is refusing to be controlled, as Milicic sits in half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

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

Milicic is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Rabota looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Rabota is refusing to be controlled, as Milicic sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rabota trying to control here.
Rabota pushes Milicic off looking to stand but Milicic dives back in and keeps control.
Rabota is trying to control but can't.
Rabota is trying to get back to full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rabota misses with a series of wild punches.

Milicic shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Milicic showed some decent athleticism there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rabota is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darko Milicic dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Milicic closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Milicic goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Rabota rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Milicic's guard! Nice work there by Rabota!
Milicic looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Rabota puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Milicic is holding on to half guard well.
Rabota wants to free his trapped foot but Milicic is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Milicic gets full guard.
Rabota pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Milicic is keeping the position for now.

Rabota has gone for a leg lock! Milicic slips out almost immediately though and dives into Rabota's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Rabota is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Milicic advances position into side control!
Rabota is not content to let Milicic control the position.
Milicic controls the position from side control.

Milicic looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Rabota is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Milicic thows a huge punch but Rabota dodges it nicely.
Milicic trying to pass the guard but Rabota defending well.
Milicic is tying to control. Rabota wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Milicic is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Rabota is just riding it out for now. Milicic eventually gives up the hold.
Milicic uses his free foot to push down on Rabota's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Rabota.

Milicic moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Rabota has worked his arm free - good work by Rabota!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rabota regains half guard.
Milicic wants to pass the guard but Rabota is defending well.
Rabota wants to control but Milicic is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Rabota looking for submissions off his back.

Rabota has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Milicic escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Milicic!
Darko Milicic overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rabota is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Milicic off and has taken his back!

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.

Rabota looking to break Milicic's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Milicic remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Rabota will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Rabota is trying to stick to Milicic's back but Milicic is turning into Rabota. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Rabota's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Milicic.

Milicic avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rabota looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rabota wants to get back to his feet but Milicic is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Milicic throws and elbow that misses. Rabota uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Milicic's guard. Nice move by Rabota!
Rabota pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Milicic is keeping the position for now.
Markt Rabota has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rabota postures up.

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 Darko Milicic.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Milicic, 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:28
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Darko Milicic!