PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gavin Douglas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Goja Filipovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Douglas
vs
Filipovic

175 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
19
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Gavin Douglas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Goja Filipovic!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, James Ackerman and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A nice combination there by Filipovic.

It looks like Gavin Douglas has been cut.
Douglas takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Filipovic scores with a one two! Douglas had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Douglas moves into the clinch.
Douglas is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Filipovic gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Douglas is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Filipovic pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Filipovic is trying to drag Douglas to the mat but Douglas just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Filipovic is looking to control Douglas's arms but Douglas gets an underhook and turns him. Now Filipovic has his back to the cage.
Douglas could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Filipovic tries for a takedown but Douglas manages to get underhooks.

Douglas lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Douglas prevents Filipovic from standing back up.
Filipovic desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Filipovic wants to get back to his feet.
Filipovic really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Douglas. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Douglas working the head and body with strikes.
Filipovic tries to roll over but Douglas keeps him under control.
Douglas throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Douglas connects with a nice short shot to Filipovic's temple.
Douglas prevents Filipovic from improving his position.
Filipovic trying to control from the bottom.
Douglas stops Filipovic from getting back to his feet.
Douglas slips a nice elbow through Filipovic's hands, connecting with Filipovic's forehead.
Douglas controlling the pace.
Douglas prevents Filipovic from improving his position.

Douglas is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Filipovic sees it coming and defends easily.
Douglas is breathing heavily.
Filipovic wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Douglas tries to pass to full mount but Filipovic defends it.
Douglas has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Well, if Douglas is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Filipovic is refusing to be controlled, as Douglas sits in half guard.
Filipovic is trying to stand up here but Douglas is controlling him well.
Filipovic wants to control but Douglas is keeping busy.
Filipovic tries to kick Douglas off but Douglas keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Douglas wants to lay and pray for a moment but Filipovic keeps working.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Filipovic throws a sloppy head kick and Douglas moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Douglas shoots in and bounces Filipovic off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Douglas is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Filipovic looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Douglas might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Douglas throwing strikes from guard but Filipovic blocks nicely.
Douglas is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Douglas landing with the ground and pound.
Douglas postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic trying to keep a closed guard but Douglas is proving a slippery customer.

Douglas 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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Filipovic rushes Douglas and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Filipovic breaks from the clinch.
Filipovic swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Filipovic throws a right and a left that both miss.
Filipovic swinging wildly here.

Douglas shoots in and bounces Filipovic off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Filipovic keeping moving, preventing Douglas from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Goja Filipovic will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Gavin Douglas's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Douglas keeps the fight on the outside.
Filipovic tries to clinch but Douglas moves away

and Douglas counters with a single leg into guard. Filipovic didn't expect that.

Filipovic is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Douglas is aware though and is defending well.

Douglas drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Douglas jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Douglas sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Filipovic wants to stand and escape but Douglas is having none of it.
Douglas is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Douglas trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Douglas drops back looking for a leg! Filipovic is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Filipovic manages to kick Douglas off! Douglas jumps back into Filipovic's guard.
Filipovic wants to get back to his feet but Douglas is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Filipovic fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Douglas avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Filipovic.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Filipovic.

Filipovic gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Douglas to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Douglas tries to free his leg and advance position but Filipovic is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic has momentary wrist control but Douglas slips an elbow through the middle.

Douglas drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Douglas jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Filipovic will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Filipovic tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Douglas has gone for a leg lock! Filipovic slips out almost immediately though and dives into Douglas's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Filipovic working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Douglas's head.

Douglas escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Filipovic gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Filipovic is looking to stand up but Douglas won't let him.
Douglas thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Douglas is looking for a triangle but Filipovic pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Douglas has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Filipovic can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Filipovic would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Douglas looking for a guillotine here but Filipovic defends easily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Filipovic accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Filipovic wants to pass the guard but Douglas is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Filipovic trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

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

Douglas is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Filipovic wants to get up but he can't break Douglas's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Douglas throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Douglas is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Filipovic defends well.
Filipovic with a flurry of punches that miss.
Gavin Douglas overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Douglas looking to hit a scissor sweep but Filipovic is one step ahead there.
Filipovic looking to pass the guard.

Douglas looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gavin Douglas dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Gavin Douglas's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Some wild striking there from Filipovic.
Filipovic is looking to clinch but Douglas is avoiding it.

Douglas instigates a clinch.

Douglas gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Filipovic trying to control but Douglas postures up.
Douglas working over Filipovic with some ground and pound. Filipovic looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Filipovic avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Douglas.
Filipovic is looking for a sweep. Douglas is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Douglas controlling the pace.
Douglas prevents Filipovic from standing back up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Douglas is looking to take a break and control but Filipovic is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Filipovic taking some punishment here, with Douglas in his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Filipovic is trying to stand up here but Douglas is controlling him well.

Douglas in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Filipovic tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Douglas!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:31 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Gavin Douglas!