PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Maks Smirnov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mirko Filipovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maks Smirnov has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Smirnov
vs
Filipovic

210 cm
18
240 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
20
233 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Maks Smirnov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mirko Filipovic!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Johanna Lukiainen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Filipovic shoots in and bounces Smirnov off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smirnov looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Filipovic lands a couple of digs.
Filipovic trying to control the position from guard on top but Smirnov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Filipovic accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Filipovic's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Filipovic cracks Smirnov with a solid left hand.
Filipovic working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Filipovic trying to control the position from guard on top but Smirnov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smirnov will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Filipovic content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Filipovic distracts Smirnov with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Filipovic scoring with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Filipovic with a nice head shot there.
Filipovic scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Filipovic is stalling in the full guard.
Filipovic connects with a couple of short punches.
Filipovic won't allow Smirnov to get back to his feet.

Filipovic thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Filipovic is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Filipovic keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Smirnov's head.
Filipovic stands up over Smirnov, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic lands a couple of elbows.

Smirnov is working an open guard so Filipovic takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Filipovic shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Filipovic showed some decent athleticism there.
Filipovic content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Filipovic is working for a kimura but Smirnov is defending it quite comfortably.

Filipovic postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Smirnov to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov with a lazy takedown attempt

and Filipovic counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Filipovic stalling.
Filipovic working the head and body with strikes.
Smirnov taking some punishment here, with Filipovic in his half guard.
Filipovic working over Smirnov with some ground and pound. Smirnov looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Filipovic is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Smirnov tries to roll over but Filipovic keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic working over Smirnov with some ground and pound. Smirnov looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Filipovic working the head and body with strikes.
Filipovic scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Well, if Filipovic 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 working over Smirnov with some ground and pound. Smirnov looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Filipovic trying to control from half guard but Smirnov is working away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Smirnov is defending against the submission attempts here by Filipovic.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mirko Filipovic dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Filipovic looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Smirnov!
Filipovic is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Smirnov can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Filipovic scoring with strikes but Smirnov is staying in there.
Filipovic looking to control but Smirnov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Smirnov is wriggling around trying to escape.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Filipovic takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Filipovic scoring with strikes but Smirnov is staying in there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smirnov is in a horrible position here. Filipovic smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Filipovic cracks Smirnov with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Filipovic has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Smirnov's face.

Smirnov has left one of his arms exposed and Filipovic doesn't need a second invitation. He's isolated it and locked on a tight armbar. Smirnov screams and taps out, obviously in a lot of pain. Hopefully there isn't permanent damage to that arm.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:46 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Mirko Filipovic!