PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Maksimilijan Luburic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Fernandes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Luburic comes to the cage accompanied by Bojna Čavoglave. This should be a great matchup!

Luburic
vs
Fernandes

170 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

185 cm
20
200 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Maksimilijan Luburic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Alexander Fernandes!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Marco Blurström and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Luburic throws a sloppy head kick and Fernandes moves out of range easily.
Fernandes walks into a left hand.
Fernandes avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Luburic circles away from the clinch attempt.
No luck for Luburic with that takedown attempt.

Fernandes has Luburic up against the cage in a clinch.

Fernandes gets control of Luburic's arms and successfully pulls guard. Fernandes will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Luburic stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Fernandes swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Luburic is looking to stand up but Fernandes won't let him.
Luburic trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Fernandes controlling Luburic's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luburic tries to stand but Fernandes is controlling from the bottom.

Luburic avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Fernandes looks gassed!
Luburic tries to free his leg and advance position but Fernandes is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Fernandes is adopting a defensive guard.
Luburic wants to control from the top but Fernandes keeps moving.
Luburic 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.
Fernandes has a closed guard, preventing Luburic from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fernandes pulls Luburic in close to prevent any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Luburic trying to control but Fernandes is working from the bottom.
Luburic wanted to stand there but Fernandes had control of the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Luburic trying to move into half guard but instead Fernandes has managed to sweep!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Maksimilijan Luburic will probably get the nod.
That's time! Luburic's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Luburic looks to clinch

and Fernandes counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Fernandes decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Fernandes throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Luburic tries a head kick but it misses.
Maksimilijan Luburic is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Luburic throws a lazy head kick

and Fernandes counters by clinching up.

Luburic manages to break the clinch.
Luburic misses with a head kick.
Luburic throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Luburic closes the distance looking to clinch

and Fernandes counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Fernandes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Luburic breaks the clinch.
Luburic tries to clinch but Fernandes is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernandes avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Fernandes moves in looking to clinch but Luburic pushes him off.

Fernandes tries to keep at a distance but Luburic has taken the fight into the clinch.

Luburic pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Fernandes blocks a head kick by Luburic.
Luburic scores with a jab. Fernandes acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Fernandes avoids the head kick by Luburic.
Luburic misses with a series of wild punches.

Fernandes instigates a clinch.
Luburic is trying to force a seperation but Fernandes has the dominant position.
Fernandes is leaning against Luburic and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Luburic landing knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fernandes decides to pull guard.
Luburic preventing the sweep.
Luburic stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Fernandes swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Fernandes seems keen to control Luburic's posture.
Luburic trying to control the position from guard on top but Fernandes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Luburic wants to stand but Fernandes is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luburic wants to stand and escape but instead Fernandes has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Fernandes postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Fernandes makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Luburic has momentary wrist control but Fernandes slips an elbow through the middle.
Luburic is looking to stand up but Fernandes isn't so interested in that idea.
Fernandes chips away with some ground and pound.
Fernandes postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Luburic avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Fernandes throwing strikes but missing.
Luburic utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Fernandes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Luburic looks to land a combination but Fernandes avoids it well.
Luburic wants to clinch but Fernandes slips to the side

and Fernandes counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Fernandes.
Fernandes keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Luburic's efforts to push away.
Luburic swings wildly with an uppercut but Fernandes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Luburic has had enough of the clinch but Fernandes keeps him there for the moment.
Fernandes tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Luburic smiles and moves away.
Luburic tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Fernandes counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Fernandes fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Luburic tries to pull guard but Fernandes won't allow it.
Luburic wants to get back to striking at distance but Fernandes won't allow it.
Fernandes jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Luburic walks away with a smile on his face. Fernandes gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Maksimilijan Luburic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Fernandes.
Nice takedown defense from Fernandes. No joy for Luburic on that attempt.
Fernandes fails with an attempt to clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Luburic closes the distance but Fernandes moves to the side

and Fernandes holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernandes tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Fernandes takes a knee right on the jaw!
Fernandes tries to pull guard but Luburic holds him up against the cage and eventually Fernandes drops back down to his feet.
Fernandes tries to pull guard but Luburic holds him up against the cage and eventually Fernandes drops back down to his feet.
Fernandes goes for a takedown attempt but Luburic pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Fernandes takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Luburic has his takedown stuffed

and Fernandes counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Fernandes.

Fernandes ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Fernandes no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Luburic trying to control but Fernandes is working from the bottom.
Fernandes looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luburic is looking to stand up but Fernandes won't let him.
Fernandes wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Luburic trying to control the position from guard on top but Fernandes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fernandes not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Fernandes keeping moving, preventing Luburic from controlling successfully.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Luburic.
Luburic waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Fernandes.

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.
Luburic tries a head kick but it misses.
Luburic throws a head kick but Fernandes moves out of range.

Fernandes has taken the fight to the clinch.
Luburic tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Fernandes pulls guard.
Fernandes keeping moving, preventing Luburic from controlling successfully.
Luburic wants to stand and escape but instead Fernandes has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Fernandes with a nice head shot there.
Fernandes stops Luburic from standing up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Fernandes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Fernandes 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Fernandes!