PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kirill Filipovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Rathburn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Filipovic
vs
Rathburn

178 cm
22
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

150 cm
18
175 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Dangerous GnP
Brawler
Heavy handed

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kirill Filipovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, John Rathburn!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rathburn misses with a kick to the body.
Filipovic throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Rathburn throws a half hearted mid kick.
Filipovic keeps the fight on the outside.
Rathburn jabs Filipovic right on the nose. Filipovic blinks but takes it well.
Rathburn wants to clinch up but Filipovic keeps it at a distance.
Filipovic closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Rathburn is looking to land body kicks.

Filipovic changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rathburn looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Rathburn manages to work his way to half guard, despite Filipovic's best efforts.
Rathburn controlling the position well.
Rathburn tries to kick Filipovic off but Filipovic keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Filipovic prevents Rathburn from improving his position.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Rathburn has eaten all the pies!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rathburn has one foot on Filipovic's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Rathburn wants to clinch up but Filipovic keeps it at a distance.
Rathburn throws a body kick that misses.
Rathburn throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Rathburn throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Rathburn moves in looking to clinch but Filipovic pushes him off.
Rathburn wants to clinch.
Rathburn looks gassed!
Filipovic blocks the body kick.
Rathburn tries to clinch there but Filipovic circles away.
Filipovic avoids a kick to the body.
Rathburn tries to clinch but Filipovic moves out of range.
Rathburn looks to land a body kick but Filipovic moved away.

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.

Filipovic shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Filipovic avoids the attempt from Rathburn to control.

Filipovic stands up from mount. Strange move.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Filipovic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rathburn tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Filipovic cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Filipovic stalks Rathburn and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Rathburn's face. Rathburn staggers backwards, shaken.

Filipovic drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rathburn wants to get back to his feet but Filipovic is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Filipovic is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Rathburn is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Rathburn has escaped and now he's on top!

Rathburn drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Filipovic manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Rathburn has Filipovic in his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic is looking to stand up but Rathburn won't let him.
Rathburn is trying to keep Filipovic in close.
Filipovic would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Filipovic gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Filipovic circles away from the clinch attempt
and Filipovic counters with a head kick. That will keep Rathburn thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rathburn tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Filipovic counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rathburn darts in trying to clinch
and Filipovic counters with a series of strikes. Rathburn will be more careful next time no doubt.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Filipovic.
Rathburn tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Filipovic scoring with punches and elbows.
Filipovic scores with a couple of short elbows.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rathburn is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Rathburn struggling a bit here.
Rathburn is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kirill Filipovic dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Filipovic lands with a slapping head kick.

Filipovic closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Filipovic will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Filipovic gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Rathburn tries to clinch up

and Filipovic counters by clinching up.

Filipovic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rathburn tries to clinch but Filipovic moves away
enabling Filipovic to counter with a crisp jab.
Rathburn misses with the body kick
and Filipovic counters with a series of strikes. Rathburn will be more careful next time no doubt.
Filipovic goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Rathburn tries to clinch
letting Filipovic counter with a right hand.
John Rathburn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rathburn tries to land a body kick

and Filipovic counters by moving into the clinch.
Rathburn is trying to break free.

Filipovic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rathburn clinches but Filipovic breaks the clinch

and Filipovic counters by moving into the clinch.

Filipovic breaks the clinch.
Rathburn tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Filipovic counters with a nice double leg into side control. Rathburn won't be happy with that.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rathburn struggling a bit here.
Filipovic working the ground and pound but Rathburn is defending the strikes.
Filipovic has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Filipovic is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Rathburn is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
I wouldn't like to be where Rathburn is right now.
Rathburn tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Filipovic scoring with punches and elbows.
Filipovic passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Rathburn!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Filipovic stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Kirill Filipovic is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rathburn closes the distance but Filipovic moves to the side
enabling Filipovic to counter with a crisp jab.
Rathburn throws a body kick the misses
and Filipovic counters with a head kick. That will keep Rathburn thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Filipovic moves out of range of the body kick.
Rathburn tries to clinch

and Filipovic counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Rathburn gets full guard.
Rathburn is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Filipovic postures up.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Rathburn holds on and takes a little breather.

Rathburn working for a triangle but Filipovic defends it easily.

Rathburn has his feet on Filipovic's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rathburn looks to clinch

and Filipovic counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Rathburn wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Filipovic has him pressed against the cage.

Filipovic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A lazy body kick from Rathburn
and Rathburn takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
John Rathburn is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rathburn gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Filipovic counters with a head kick. That will keep Rathburn thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Rathburn tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Filipovic counters with a nice leg kick.

Filipovic closes the distance and clinches.
Filipovic lands a knee to the body.

Filipovic manages to break the clinch.
Rathburn closes the distance but Filipovic moves to the side
and Filipovic counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Filipovic lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Filipovic.
Rathburn clinches but Filipovic breaks the clinch
and Filipovic counters with a big head kick but Rathburn shrugs it off.
Filipovic is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Rathburn gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Filipovic counters with a two punch combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rathburn wants to clinch
and Filipovic counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Rathburn tries to clinch
and Filipovic counters with a head kick.
Rathburn throws a body kick that misses.
A lazy body kick from Rathburn
and Filipovic counters with a head kick. That will keep Rathburn thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Rathburn closes the distance looking to clinch

and Filipovic decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rathburn's guard.
Rathburn trying to keep a closed guard but Filipovic is proving a slippery customer.
Rathburn is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Filipovic is controlling him.
Rathburn trying to control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rathburn is pulling down on Filipovic's head to control his posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kirill Filipovic dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Rathburn tries to clinch up
and Filipovic cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rathburn tries to clinch up
and Filipovic counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Rathburn wants to clinch but Filipovic slips to the side
and Filipovic counters with a three punch combo that has Rathburn backing up. Rathburn nods at Filipovic to acknowledge the strikes.
Rathburn throws a body kick, spinning off balance

so Filipovic counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Filipovic thows a big elbow that misses.

Filipovic gets to his feet - Rathburn follows without any prompting.
Filipovic throws a one two combo.
Rathburn closes the distance but Filipovic moves to the side
and Filipovic counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rathburn tries to land a body kick
and Filipovic counters with a three punch combo that has Rathburn backing up. Rathburn nods at Filipovic to acknowledge the strikes.
Rathburn throws a lazy body kick
and Filipovic counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Rathburn tries to clinch but Filipovic moves away
and Filipovic counters with a one-two to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rathburn throws a body kick the misses

and Filipovic counters with a shoot takedown. Rathburn fights it but they end up in guard.
Rathburn trying to keep a closed guard but Filipovic is proving a slippery customer.
Filipovic with a flurry of punches that miss.

Filipovic stands up and waves to Rathburn to follow him.
Filipovic bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.

Filipovic drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Rathburn is looking to regain half guard here but Filipovic keeps moving and retains side control.
Rathburn manages to work his way to half guard, despite Filipovic's best efforts.
Rathburn wants to get back to full guard.
Filipovic has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Filipovic misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Rathburn slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Filipovic works his way into full mount!
Rathburn has given up his back here.
Filipovic lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.

Filipovic is persistently looking for the submission but Rathburn is defending it well.
Filipovic controlling well, preventing Rathburn from escaping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic throwing sloppy strikes.
Filipovic avoiding Rathburn 's attempts to control his hands.
Rathburn wants to get back to his feet.

Filipovic has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Rathburn has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Rathburn trying to control the action but Filipovic just sinks the hooks in.
Rathburn tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Filipovic wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Filipovic won't let Rathburn get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Rathburn really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Filipovic gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
A lazy body kick from Rathburn

and Filipovic counters by clinching up.

Filipovic has picked Rathburn up - he's going for a ride! Filipovic dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Filipovic is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rathburn can do to turn this around?

Filipovic stands up out of the half guard.
Rathburn digs a good body shot into Filipovic's ribs.

Filipovic rushes Rathburn and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Rathburn avoiding damage as Filipovic throws knees to the body.
Filipovic wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Rathburn is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Rathburn is trying to break free.
Filipovic wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rathburn has him pressed against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Filipovic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rathburn clinches but Filipovic breaks the clinch
and Filipovic counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Rathburn is lucky that one didn't land flush.
John Rathburn has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A big right from Rathburn misses.
Filipovic circles away from the clinch attempt
and Filipovic counters with a three punch combo that has Rathburn backing up. Rathburn nods at Filipovic to acknowledge the strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kirill Filipovic showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Filipovic has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kirill Filipovic!