PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nenad Jovanovic (ranked 532 p4p, 72 weight class) and Jean Lucroy (ranked 1048 p4p, 139 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Jovanovic
vs
Lucroy

188 cm
22
185 lbs
10 - 1 - 0

182 cm
21
204 lbs
8 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Park Place Pharmaceutical
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Urban Fighter
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nenad Jovanovic!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jean Lucroy!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lucroy tries to score a power double leg takedown but Jovanovic sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Lucroy somewhat.
Jovanovic stuffs the takedown attempt from Lucroy. Lucroy gets slowly back to his feet.

Lucroy shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Lucroy showed some decent athleticism there.
Jovanovic tries to get to full guard but Lucroy has control of the leg.
Jovanovic has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Lucroy is working away from the top position though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jovanovic keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Lucroy slips a nice elbow through Jovanovic's hands, connecting with Jovanovic's forehead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jovanovic is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Lucroy is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Jovanovic still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Jovanovic has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!

Jovanovic is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Lucroy knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Jovanovic laying and praying for a moment but Lucroy takes advantage and regains half guard.

Jovanovic looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lucroy wants to get back to full guard.

Jovanovic is working for a submission of some sort.
Jovanovic is looking to take a break and control but Lucroy is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lucroy holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Jovanovic trying to control from half guard but Lucroy is working away.
Jovanovic is controlling the pace.
Lucroy is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Jovanovic looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Jovanovic is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Lucroy sees it coming and defends easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lucroy is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Jovanovic's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Jovanovic's back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jean Lucroy dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Lucroy takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Jovanovic gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Jovanovic working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Jovanovic lands with a short shot to the head.
A short right from Jovanovic on the inside.
Jovanovic works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Jovanovic stops a takedown attempt from Lucroy.
Jovanovic scores with a nice hook to the head.
Jovanovic prevents a takedown attempt there.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Jovanovic.
Jovanovic lands an uppercut.
Lucroy drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Jovanovic gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Nenad Jovanovic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jean Lucroy.
A short body shot lands from Jovanovic as the two fighters clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A nice right hand lands inside from Jovanovic.
Lucroy's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Jovanovic.
Lucroy is breathing heavily.
Lucroy fails to pull the fight into his guard.
A short uppercut from Jovanovic.
Lucroy drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Jovanovic gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lucroy goes for a takedown in the clinch but Jovanovic prevents it.
Jovanovic working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Lucroy has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Jovanovic after a bit of a struggle.
Jovanovic throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Lucroys head.
Jovanovic lands a body shot in the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Jovanovic.
Jovanovic lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Jovanovic lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Jovanovic lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Lucroy backwards.
Jovanovic lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Jovanovic lands a shoulder strike.
A nice right hand lands inside from Jovanovic.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lucroy's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Jovanovic lands a body punch.
Lucroy drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Jovanovic gets the underhooks and prevents it.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Jovanovic.
A nice right hand lands inside from Jovanovic.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jovanovic lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Lucroy backwards.
Jovanovic stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Jovanovic lands a nice uppercut.

Lucroy is rocked!
A short right from Jovanovic on the inside.
Lucroy is still on wobbly legs! Can Jovanovic finish him?
Jovanovic scores with a nice hook to the head.
Jovanovic dips a shoulder and cracks Lucroy with a mighty uppercut! Lucroy falls back against the cage and Jovanovic unloads with a barrage of strikes! Lucroy is completely out with his eyes open, only supported by the cage! Save him ref! Eventually the ref decides to do his job and jumps in - Jovanovic screams abuse at the incompetent official before going over to celebrate with his corner. Brutal stuff!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:22 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Nenad Jovanovic!
Nenad Jovanovic retains his middleweight title!
In his post fight interview, Nenad Jovanovic started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.