PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Milovan Rakic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luciano DuranEspino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rakic
vs
DuranEspino

189 cm
21
220 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

180 cm
23
210 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Milovan Rakic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Luciano DuranEspino!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Fedor Mirinova and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
DuranEspino tries to clinch but Rakic is having none of it.
DuranEspino tries to close the distance and clinch but Rakic swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
DuranEspino fails with a takedown attempt.
DuranEspino moves in looking to clinch but Rakic pushes him off.
DuranEspino tries to clinch up but Rakic circles away and keeps his distance.
Luciano DuranEspino seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
DuranEspino lands a glancing blow to the side of Rakic's head.

It looks like Milovan Rakic has been cut.
The fight stays on the outside here - DuranEspino looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
DuranEspino tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The fight stays on the outside here - DuranEspino looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nice sprawl there from Rakic as DuranEspino shoots in.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rakic shoots in and drives through. DuranEspino sprawls well.
The fight stays on the outside here - DuranEspino looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
DuranEspino with a poor takedown

and Rakic counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rakic.
Milovan Rakic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luciano DuranEspino.
Rakic trying to control but DuranEspino is working from the bottom.

Rakic drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rakic jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Rakic drops back looking for a leg! DuranEspino is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and DuranEspino manages to kick Rakic off! Rakic jumps back into DuranEspino's guard.

Rakic drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rakic jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rakic stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. DuranEspino swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Rakic thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Rakic is breathing heavily.
DuranEspino wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
DuranEspino wants to clinch

and Rakic counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
DuranEspino is trying to control the position but Rakic postures up.

Rakic is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if DuranEspino can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
DuranEspino utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
DuranEspino tries to land a sweep but no joy.
DuranEspino not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rakic accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rakic stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. DuranEspino swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rakic trying to control the position from guard on top but DuranEspino is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
DuranEspino really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rakic. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rakic shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says DuranEspino as he avoids it easily.
Rakic leaves DuranEspino with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
DuranEspino wants to clinch but Rakic slips to the side

and Rakic counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Rakic prevents DuranEspino from improving his position.
Rakic wants to pass to mount but DuranEspino is defending the position.

Rakic is working for a kimura but DuranEspino is defending it quite comfortably.
Rakic prevents DuranEspino from improving his position.
DuranEspino trying to hold on to Rakic's head to control him but Rakic postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Milovan Rakic dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Milovan Rakic's cut.
That's time! Rakic's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

DuranEspino looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rakic is fending him off so far but DuranEspino persists. Nope, Rakic circles away and we're back to standing.
Rakic stuffs the takedown attempt from DuranEspino. DuranEspino gets slowly back to his feet.
Rakic fails with a takedown attempt.
Rakic circles away from the clinch attempt

and Rakic counters with a nice double leg into guard.
DuranEspino wants to get back to his feet but Rakic is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Rakic is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rakic looking to pass the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
DuranEspino is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
DuranEspino looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rakic wants to control from the top but DuranEspino keeps moving.
DuranEspino keeping full guard, as Rakic tries to pass.

Rakic drops back looking for a leg! DuranEspino is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and DuranEspino manages to kick Rakic off! Rakic jumps back into DuranEspino's guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rakic fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
DuranEspino misses with a takedown attempt - Rakic sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Milovan Rakic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luciano DuranEspino.
Rakic fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
DuranEspino tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Rakic counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for DuranEspino!
DuranEspino tries to lock up and control but Rakic gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Rakic has hold of DuranEspino's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and DuranEspino manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
DuranEspino wants to hold on but Rakic pushes him away.
DuranEspino wants to try and get back to his feet.
DuranEspino tries to lock up and control but Rakic gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
DuranEspino tries to reverse the position but Rakic maintains control.
DuranEspino takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Rakic lands a big shot there that rocks DuranEspino but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
DuranEspino is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Rakic trying to control but DuranEspino is having none of it.
DuranEspino tries to hold on but Rakic pushes him away.

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.
DuranEspino is trying to escape the mount.

Rakic working for a submission but DuranEspino is keeping him at bay.

Rakic looking for a guillotine from mount but DuranEspino is having none of it.
DuranEspino tries to hold on but Rakic postures up.

Rakic is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, DuranEspino has managed to escape the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Milovan Rakic dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Milovan Rakic's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

DuranEspino tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rakic paws at him with a jab and circles away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rakic.
DuranEspino tries to clinch up

and Rakic counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
DuranEspino avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rakic.
DuranEspino wants to get back to his feet.
DuranEspino wants to control but Rakic is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rakic 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.
DuranEspino is trying to get back to full guard.

Rakic is looking for a kimura here.
DuranEspino preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rakic shoots for a takedown but DuranEspino saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rakic.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Milovan Rakic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rakic leaves DuranEspino with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
DuranEspino tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Rakic counters with a takedown into side control.
DuranEspino tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Rakic wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rakic throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

Rakic tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
DuranEspino struggling a bit here.
DuranEspino tries to improve position but can't.
Rakic creates some space and throws a big elbow, but DuranEspino sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

Rakic is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, DuranEspino has escaped the position, nice work there.
You can see the frustration on DuranEspino's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

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

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
DuranEspino tries to clinch there but Rakic circles away.

DuranEspino closes the distance and clinches.
DuranEspino prevents the takedown attempt.
Rakic is trying to work for a single leg takedown but DuranEspino pulls him back up using the underhooks.
DuranEspino is trying to stall.
DuranEspino lands a knee to the head.

DuranEspino breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
DuranEspino fails with a takedown attempt.
Milovan Rakic is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
DuranEspino closes the distance and clinches up with Rakic, looking for a takedown. DuranEspino pushes Rakic against the cage but Rakic circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Milovan Rakic showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rakic, 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Milovan Rakic!