PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mirko Filipovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luke Rockhold (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Filipovic
vs
Rockhold

190 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

186 cm
20
200 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

{GTI} - HGH Nutrients

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mirko Filipovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Luke Rockhold !
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Daniel Blasius and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rockhold jabs at Filipovic's body.
Filipovic throws a head kick but Rockhold moves out of range.
Filipovic tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Rockhold .
Rockhold avoids the head kick by Filipovic.

Rockhold has Filipovic up against the cage in a clinch.
Filipovic misses with an elbow over the top.
A frustrated look appears on Filipovic's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Filipovic misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rockhold has had enough of the clinch but Filipovic keeps him there for the moment.

Filipovic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Filipovic tries a head kick but it misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Filipovic misses with a hook. Rockhold ducked under it nicely.
Rockhold misses with a wild body shot.
Filipovic tries to clinch up

and Rockhold counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Filipovic tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rockhold blocks an elbow strike.
Filipovic tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Filipovic tries a knee to the head but Rockhold blocks it.
Filipovic scores with a knee to the head.
Rockhold controlling the action here for a moment.
Rockhold wants to break free but Filipovic has control.
Rockhold 's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Filipovic with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rockhold stalling against the cage.

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.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Luke Rockhold .

Rockhold rushes Filipovic and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Filipovic changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rockhold fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Rockhold moves away from the strike by Filipovic.
Rockhold just misses with a punch to the body.
Rockhold throws a wild body kick that Filipovic sees coming a mile off.

Rockhold gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Filipovic throws a knee to the head but misses.
Filipovic looking to throw knees to the head but Rockhold is blocking nicely.
Filipovic is breathing heavily.
Filipovic tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rockhold holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Rockhold has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Rockhold wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic tries a knee to the head but Rockhold blocks it.
Rockhold is stalling here.
Filipovic swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rockhold effectively controlling the action here.
Filipovic trying to land knees to the body.
Rockhold displaying some good clinch control by pressing Filipovic up against the cage.

Rockhold 's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rockhold circles away from the clinch attempt
and Rockhold counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's four 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 throws a combination that misses

and Rockhold counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Rockhold .
Filipovic misses with some punches.
Rockhold has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Rockhold pressing his opponent against the cage.
Filipovic tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rockhold is stalling here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Luke Rockhold .
Filipovic tries a head kick but it misses.
Filipovic closes the distance looking to clinch

and Rockhold counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Rockhold .
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Filipovic lands with a slapping head kick.
Rockhold looks to land a body kick but Filipovic moved away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Rockhold breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rockhold misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Filipovic.
Filipovic throws a leg kick
and Rockhold counters with a left to the body.
Filipovic closes the distance looking to clinch

and Rockhold moves into the clinch.
Filipovic doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Filipovic is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rockhold is defending well for now.
Rockhold stalling.

Filipovic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rockhold showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Filipovic.
Rockhold looks to land a body kick but Filipovic moved away.
Mirko Filipovic is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rockhold showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Filipovic.
Mirko Filipovic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Filipovic misses with a double jab.
Filipovic tries to clinch up

and Rockhold counters by moving into the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Rockhold 's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Rockhold wants to break the clinch but can't.
Filipovic tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Filipovic has Rockhold pressed against the cage, preventing Rockhold from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Filipovic tries for a takedown but Rockhold manages to get underhooks.
Filipovic misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rockhold blocks an elbow strike.
A looping hook to the body misses from Filipovic. Rockhold does a little dance to reset his feet.

Rockhold darts in and clinches Filipovic up against the cage.

That's two 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.

Filipovic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Rockhold drives through and clinches with Filipovic against the cage.
Filipovic is looking to control Rockhold 's arms but Rockhold gets an underhook and turns him. Now Filipovic has his back to the cage.
Rockhold is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Filipovic tries to pull guard but Rockhold won't allow it.
Filipovic misses with a knee to the head.
Rockhold is pushing Filipovic up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
A frustrated look appears on Filipovic's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic tries to stall but Rockhold uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Filipovic missing with knees to the body.
Filipovic tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mirko Filipovic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Filipovic lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Rockhold backwards.
Rockhold is trying to force a seperation but Filipovic has the dominant position.
Filipovic works on Rockhold 's body with a couple of short punches.
Rockhold blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rockhold has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Filipovic misses with a knee to the head.
Filipovic pushes Rockhold back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Stalling in the clinch from Rockhold .
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rockhold is trying to force a seperation but Filipovic has the dominant position.
Rockhold stalling in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Filipovic prevents Rockhold from breaking the clinch.
Filipovic has a couple of punches blocked by Rockhold .
Rockhold wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Rockhold breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Filipovic misses with a head kick.
Rockhold misses with a body kick.

Rockhold clinches up against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Rockhold 's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Filipovic tries to break free but Rockhold pushes him back against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Filipovic's face as he tries to break the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rockhold is trying to force a seperation but Filipovic has the dominant position.
Filipovic tries to pull guard but Rockhold won't allow it.
Filipovic tries to break the clinch but Rockhold is controlling the position.
Filipovic has had enough of the clinch but Rockhold keeps him there for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luke Rockhold showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Filipovic scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Rockhold throws a half hearted mid kick.

Rockhold gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rockhold has Filipovic pushed against the cage.
Filipovic misses with a knee strike.
Filipovic tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rockhold is trying to force a seperation but Filipovic has the dominant position.
Rockhold tries to circle away but Filipovic has him pinned against the cage.
Rockhold stalling in the clinch.
Filipovic tries a knee to the head but Rockhold blocks it.
Filipovic lands an elbow inside.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Filipovic wants to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rockhold breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Filipovic takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Rockhold closes the distance and clinches.
The referee calls for Rockhold to work.
Filipovic tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Filipovic misses with the head strike.
Filipovic digs a right hand underneath Rockhold 's ribcage. Rockhold let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Filipovic misses with a knee to the head.
Filipovic drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rockhold wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rockhold just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mirko Filipovic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Filipovic tries to land a knee to the head but Rockhold blocks with his arms.
Filipovic throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rockhold blocks it with crossed arms.
Filipovic is working for takedown but Rockhold is calmly controlling the position for now.
Rockhold is trying to break free.
Rockhold wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Filipovic has him pressed against the cage.
Rockhold has Filipovic pushed against the cage.
Rockhold is trying to break the clinch but Filipovic is controlling him.
Rockhold stalling.
Filipovic trying to control the position but instead, Rockhold has worked for underhooks and has pushed Filipovic into the cage.
Rockhold is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rockhold prevents Filipovic from breaking the clinch.
Filipovic using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rockhold has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rockhold has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Rockhold is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Filipovic is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Rockhold is keeping busy.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Filipovic using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rockhold has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Filipovic with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rockhold effectively controlling the action here.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Luke Rockhold .
Filipovic tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Rockhold counters with a solid body kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Rockhold .
Filipovic moves out of range as Rockhold throws a body kick.

Rockhold moves into the clinch successfully.
Mirko Filipovic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Filipovic using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rockhold has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Rockhold breaks from the clinch.

Rockhold moves into the clinch.
Rockhold wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Filipovic tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Filipovic is trying to stall.
Luke Rockhold is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Filipovic misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rockhold .

And that's the end of the fight!
Luke Rockhold comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rockhold has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luke Rockhold !