PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mirko Filipovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ruslano Saraevo (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
Saraevo

188 cm
22
250 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

200 cm
25
240 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mirko Filipovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ruslano Saraevo!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Fedor Mirinova and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Filipovic shoots for a double leg takedown but Saraevo sprawls well. He's pushed Filipovic's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Mirko Filipovic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Filipovic tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Saraevo swivels and escapes.
No joy there for Filipovic, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Saraevo leaves Filipovic with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mirko Filipovic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Filipovic throws a right hand that Saraevo ducks under and follows up with a left that Saraevo also avoids with ease.
Saraevo shoots in and drives through. Filipovic sprawls well.
Filipovic has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Filipovic there as he acknowledges the shot.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Saraevo.

Saraevo closes the distance and clinches.

Saraevo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Filipovic darts in trying to clinch
and Saraevo counters with an inside leg kick.
Filipovic is trying hard to land a takedown here. Saraevo sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Saraevo moves into the clinch successfully.
Saraevo tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Saraevo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saraevo fails with a takedown attempt.
Filipovic misses with a straight right.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Filipovic.
Filipovic is breathing heavily.
Nice takedown defense from Filipovic. No joy for Saraevo on that attempt.
Saraevo throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Filipovic's waist but Filipovic gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Saraevo off to one side.
Saraevo moves away from the strike by Filipovic.
Saraevo slaps away a takedown attempt from Filipovic, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Saraevo shoots for a double leg takedown but Filipovic sprawls well. He's pushed Saraevo's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Saraevo looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Filipovic is fending him off so far but Saraevo persists. Nope, Filipovic circles away and we're back to standing.
Saraevo fails with a takedown attempt.
Filipovic avoids the head kick by Saraevo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saraevo goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Saraevo closes the distance and clinches.
Saraevo tries to pull guard but Filipovic holds him up against the cage and eventually Saraevo drops back down to his feet.

Saraevo manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Saraevo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Saraevo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Saraevo trying to control the position.
Saraevo wants to sweep here but Filipovic controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saraevo keeping full guard, as Filipovic tries to pass.
Filipovic is working Saraevo over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Saraevo throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Saraevo keeping moving, preventing Filipovic from controlling successfully.
Saraevo really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Filipovic. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Saraevo rushes Filipovic and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Saraevo has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Filipovic avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Saraevo jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Filipovic walks away with a smile on his face. Saraevo gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Saraevo fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

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.
Saraevo moves in looking to clinch but Filipovic pushes him off.
Filipovic could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Filipovic closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Saraevo to the mat! Saraevo manages to get full guard.
Filipovic wants to control from the top but Saraevo keeps moving.
Saraevo looking to control.

Saraevo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Filipovic is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Filipovic with a nice head shot there.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Filipovic accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Filipovic is working Saraevo over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Saraevo shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Saraevo tries to pass the half guard into mount. Filipovic knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Filipovic avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Saraevo.
Filipovic avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Saraevo.
Saraevo tries to stand and escape but Filipovic is controlling the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Saraevo is looking to take a break and control but Filipovic is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saraevo might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Filipovic kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Saraevo wants to get back to his feet.
Saraevo seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Filipovic does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Filipovic might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Saraevo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Filipovic as he avoids it easily.
Filipovic takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Filipovic closes this distance looking for a takedown but Saraevo circles away.
Filipovic misses the jab.

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.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Saraevo.

Filipovic is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Saraevo's half guard.
Saraevo is looking for a sweep. Filipovic is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Filipovic performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Saraevo trying to control from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saraevo is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Filipovic is staying active.

Filipovic is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Saraevo has managed to free his arm - good work.

Saraevo actively working from the bottom here.
Saraevo is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Filipovic scores with a couple of nice shots.
Filipovic throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Saraevo misses with some strikes from the bottom.

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.
Saraevo is trying to maintain the position but Filipovic is very close to passing his half guard.
Filipovic not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Saraevo lands a head kick!

Saraevo gets caught flat footed, as Filipovic shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Saraevo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Saraevo is wriggling around but Filipovic manages to pass to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mirko Filipovic dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Saraevo shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Filipovic defends it nicely.
Filipovic falls off balance throwing a combination
and Saraevo counters with a head kick. That will keep Filipovic thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Filipovic shoots in but no luck this time.

Saraevo has taken the fight to the clinch.

Saraevo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Filipovic tries to clinch there but Saraevo circles away.
Saraevo tries for a takedown but Filipovic sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Filipovic tries to land a front kick but Saraevo steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Filipovic tries to keep at a distance but Saraevo has taken the fight into the clinch.

Saraevo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saraevo wants to clinch up but Filipovic keeps it at a distance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Saraevo tries to score a power double leg takedown but Filipovic sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Saraevo somewhat.
Mirko Filipovic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ruslano Saraevo.
Filipovic fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Saraevo gets a clinch.

Saraevo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Saraevo misses with a two punch combination.
Saraevo has his takedown stuffed
and Filipovic counters with a three punch combo that has Saraevo backing up. Saraevo nods at Filipovic to acknowledge the strikes.

Saraevo clinches with his opponent.

Saraevo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Saraevo but Saraevo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Filipovic throws a looping overhand right but Saraevo ducks down to avoid it.
Saraevo jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

Saraevo instigates a clinch.
Nice body punch from Saraevo.
Saraevo changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Filipovic fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Saraevo keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Filipovic tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Saraevo has Filipovic up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saraevo'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.

Saraevo jumps guard and drags Filipovic to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Saraevo seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Filipovic content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Filipovic preventing the sweep.
Saraevo working a defensive guard but Filipovic manages to pass into side control anyway.
Filipovic cracks Saraevo with an elbow. That is naaassty.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Filipovic trying to control the position but Saraevo is working away.
Filipovic working the ground and pound but Saraevo is defending the strikes.
Saraevo tries to buck Filipovic off but Filipovic is having none of it.
Saraevo wants to control but Filipovic postures up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Filipovic closes the distance and clinches up with Saraevo, looking for a takedown. Filipovic pushes Saraevo against the cage but Saraevo circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Saraevo fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Filipovic is looking to clinch but Saraevo is avoiding it.
Saraevo misses with a wild combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ruslano Saraevo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Saraevo 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ruslano Saraevo!