PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Christopher Irwin (ranked 2182 p4p, 3375 weight class) and Veljko Bakocevic (ranked 247 p4p, 344 weight class). Veljko Bakocevic looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Irwin
vs
Bakocevic

150 cm
26
148
3 - 0 - 0

177 cm
23
154
3 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Christopher Irwin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Veljko Bakocevic!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, John Kavanagh and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bakocevic closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Bakocevic lands in his opponent's guard.
Irwin is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Irwin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Irwin is working hard here to advance position.
Irwin has his hands on Bakocevic's head, controlling the position.
Irwin keeping full guard, as Bakocevic tries to pass.
Irwin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Irwin has Bakocevic pulled in close to control his posture.
Bakocevic won't allow Irwin to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Irwin holds on and takes a little breather.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Irwin is on top in guard.

Irwin might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Irwin tries to free his leg and advance position but Bakocevic is retaining full guard.
Irwin engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Bakocevic is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Irwin is aware though and is defending well.
Irwin really is a fat lump.
Irwin engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Irwin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bakocevic swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Irwin sitting in guard here, content to control.
Bakocevic tries to strike from the bottom.
Irwin's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Bakocevic keeping full guard, as Irwin tries to pass.

Bakocevic has an active guard here but Irwin has managed to pass into half guard.
Irwin performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Irwin wants to pass the guard but Bakocevic is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Irwin content to control rather than advance.
Irwin seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Bakocevic for as long as he can get away with.
Bakocevic trying to control from the bottom.
Irwin seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
We've been told by Irwin's head coaches at Outlier Martial Arts that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Bakocevic leaves Irwin with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Irwin.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Bakocevic enables Irwin to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Bakocevic manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Irwin looking to pass the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Irwin engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Bakocevic is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Irwin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Irwin 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.

Bakocevic is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Irwin is aware though and is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Christopher Irwin dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Bakocevic is looking to clinch.

Bakocevic is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Irwin's half guard.
Irwin wants to get back to full guard but Bakocevic has mounted him!
Irwin is in all sorts of trouble here.
Irwin tries to hold on but Bakocevic postures up.
Irwin regains half guard.
Irwin moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Irwin keeping moving, preventing Bakocevic from controlling successfully.
Irwin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bakocevic is fighting to break Irwin's control of his arms but Irwin is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Bakocevic looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Irwin has his hands on Bakocevic's head, controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Irwin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Irwin pulls Bakocevic in to control the position.
Irwin has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Irwin is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Bakocevic wants to control but Irwin is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Irwin controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bakocevic tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Irwin performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Irwin prevents Bakocevic from improving his position.
Irwin performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bakocevic won't allow Irwin to pass to mount.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Christopher Irwin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Irwin looks for a takedown but Bakocevic sprawls well.
Veljko Bakocevic is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Irwin shoots in for a takedown but Bakocevic shows good takedown defense.
Irwin shoots in but Bakocevic avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Christopher Irwin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Irwin has his takedown stuffed
and Bakocevic counters with a left and a right that stings Irwin.
Bakocevic stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bakocevic wants it to stay on the feet.
Bakocevic has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Irwin drives through with a takedown into guard.
Irwin is stalling in the full guard.
Irwin prevents Bakocevic from getting back to his feet.
Irwin tries to free his leg and advance position but Bakocevic is retaining full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Irwin showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Veljko Bakocevic will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Irwin closes the distance and clinches up with Bakocevic, looking for a takedown. Irwin pushes Bakocevic against the cage but Bakocevic circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Bakocevic throws a counter combo.
Irwin shoots in looking for a takedown. Bakocevic tries to sprawl out of it but Irwin keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Bakocevic manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Irwin tries for a takedown but Bakocevic sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Christopher Irwin. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Bakocevic gets a takedown into half guard.
Bakocevic wants to pass to mount but Irwin is defending the position.
Irwin wants to get back to full guard.
Irwin keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bakocevic is trying to control. Irwin wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Irwin wants to improve his position but Bakocevic is controlling well.
Bakocevic tries to pass the half guard into mount. Irwin knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Irwin is trying to get back to full guard.
Irwin is not content to let Bakocevic control the position.
Irwin holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Irwin wants to improve his position but Bakocevic is controlling well.
Bakocevic is looking to take a break and control but Irwin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Irwin is doing well to control the position and prevent Bakocevic from advancing to side control.
Bakocevic trying to control from half guard but Irwin is working away.
Irwin moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Bakocevic stopping the sweep attempt from Irwin.

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.
Irwin wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Irwin shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Bakocevic napping and manages to drive through into side control!
You can see the frustration on Bakocevic's face as Irwin controls the position.

Irwin decides to stand back up. Irwin steps back and let's Bakocevic get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bakocevic shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Bakocevic slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Bakocevic takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Irwin struggling a bit here.
Irwin holds on to Bakocevic's head and controls the position momentarily.
Bakocevic wants to lay and pray for a moment but Irwin keeps working.
Irwin is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bakocevic trying to control the action but Irwin is working from the bottom.
Bakocevic controls the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bakocevic has control of an arm but Irwin manages to advance to Bakocevic's back!
Irwin controls the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Veljko Bakocevic.
I think Bakocevic has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Veljko Bakocevic!