PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Luss Rittle (ranked 5289 p4p, 403 weight class) and William Jaktic (ranked 6095 p4p, 440 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rittle
vs
Jaktic

200 cm
25
245 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

195 cm
20
256 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Luss Rittle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, William Jaktic!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Ryoma Takatsuka and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Jaktic shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rittle's guard.
Jaktic postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Rittle is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Jaktic slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rittle accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rittle won't allow Jaktic to get back to his feet.
Jaktic wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Jaktic kicks Rittle off and gets to his feet.

Jaktic manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Rittle on his heels. He'll look to pass Rittle's guard now, I'm sure.
Jaktic has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rittle looking for a sweep. Not yet Rittle, not yet.
Jaktic's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Rittle wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Jaktic is now in half guard.

Rittle looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jaktic is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Jaktic controlling the action here.
Jaktic works his way into side control.
A lull in the action here.
It looks like Jaktic might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Jaktic tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Jaktic has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Rittle is being controlled here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jaktic lands some shots froms side control.
Jaktic happy to just control the position for now.
Jaktic scores with a couple of short elbows.
Jaktic lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Jaktic cracks Rittle with a big right hand but Rittle just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Rittle is trying to escape the position but Jaktic is controlling the position.
Jaktic creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jaktic takes a little break here. Rittle wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Rittle takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rittle is letting Jaktic control him for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

William Jaktic dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Jaktic shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rittle's guard.
Jaktic controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Jaktic wants to control from the top but Rittle keeps moving.
Jaktic slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Jaktic pushes down on Rittle's leg and manages to get into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rittle is trying to stand back up but Jaktic is controlling him

Rittle is defending against the submission attempts here by Jaktic.
We've been informed that Jaktic has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
William Jaktic has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rittle is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jaktic slips a nice elbow through Rittle's hands, connecting with Rittle's forehead.
Rittle lands with a few short shots to the body.
Jaktic is taking a breather. Rittle says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Rittle is looking to escape.
Jaktic is taking a breather. Rittle says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Jaktic seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

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.
Jaktic not doing much here.
Rittle tries to kick Jaktic off but Jaktic keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Jaktic content to control rather than advance.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rittle throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Jaktic drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Rittle defends it well.

Jaktic drives through with a takedown into guard.
Jaktic looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Jaktic content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jaktic landing with the ground and pound.
Jaktic showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Jaktic stands up over Rittle, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Jaktic's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Jaktic is continuing to stall.
Rittle throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Rittle throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Jaktic's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Jaktic has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

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.
Jaktic lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Jaktic showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Rittle throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Jaktic's waist but Jaktic gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rittle off to one side.
Rittle tries to clinch but Jaktic is having none of it.

Jaktic fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Rittle sprawls well initially but Jaktic persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Jaktic is thwarting Rittle's attempts to control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Jaktic controlling the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

William Jaktic showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Jaktic darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Jaktic controlling the pace.
Rittle throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Jaktic is controlling the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jaktic prevents Rittle from standing back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jaktic lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Jaktic looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Rittle is trying to maintain the position but Jaktic is very close to passing his half guard.
Rittle missing with punches from the bottom.
Rittle is in trouble now - Jaktic has advanced to mount!
Jaktic is in the full mount, landing strikes.
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.
Jaktic content just to control the position here.
Jaktic raining down shots from the mount!
Jaktic lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Jaktic scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Rittle?
Jaktic controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rittle throwing hammer fists to the chest of Jaktic. What's that going to do exactly?
Jaktic controlling his opponent.
Jaktic lands a couple of good shots and Rittle has given up his back, trying to escape the position!

Rittle is rocked!
A helpless look comes across Rittle 's face. He knows he's trapped as Jaktic lands a series of unanswered strikes. The ref steps in to stop the fight and this one is in the books!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). William Jaktic!