PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mirko Filipovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stephen White (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stephen White told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Filipovic
vs
White

190 cm
26
240 lbs
9 - 11 - 0

191 cm
25
271 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mirko Filipovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Stephen White!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Paul Aken and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
White tries for a takedown but Filipovic sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
White tries for a takedown but Filipovic circles away easily
and Filipovic counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Filipovic scoring well with a low kick there.
Nice jab there from Filipovic.
White shoots for a double leg takedown but Filipovic sprawls well. He's pushed White's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Mirko Filipovic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stephen White.
Filipovic defends well against a solid takedown attempt from White.
Filipovic scores with a leg kick.
Filipovic fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
White shoots in but no luck this time.
Filipovic lands a right hook to the body.

White closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Filipovic to the mat! Filipovic manages to get full guard.
White must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Filipovic has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
White preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
White lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
White postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
White wants to control from the top but Filipovic keeps moving.
White with a nice head shot there.
Filipovic wants to sweep but no luck.
Filipovic working a defensive guard here.
White trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Filipovic manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Filipovic in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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 White is keeping the position.

White wriggles free and stands up.
Filipovic connects with a nice looking jab.
White with a poor takedown
and Filipovic counters with a stiff right hand.
Filipovic throws a nice inside leg kick.
Filipovic stuffs the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic scores with a crisp jab that stopped White in his tracks.
White shoots in but no luck this time.
White closes the distance and clinches up with Filipovic, looking for a takedown. White pushes Filipovic against the cage but Filipovic circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
White shoots in and drives through. Filipovic sprawls well.
White is looking to clinch but Filipovic is avoiding it.
White looks for a takedown but Filipovic sprawls well.
Filipovic stuffs the takedown.
White looks gassed!
White shoots in but Filipovic avoids the takedown attempt easily.
White shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Filipovic as he avoids it easily.
A slapping leg kick lands for Filipovic.
White drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic keeps the fight on the outside.
Filipovic connects with a looping right hand.

White gets a double leg takedown into Filipovic's guard.
Filipovic trying to control the position.
White is in close to Filipovic's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Filipovic trying to keep a closed guard but White is proving a slippery customer.
White with a nice head shot there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
White throws a strike but Filipovic rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Stephen White will probably get the nod.
That's time! Filipovic's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Filipovic stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Filipovic wants it to stay on the feet.
A nice inside leg kick there by Filipovic. That's going to slow White down.
Filipovic scoring well with a low kick there.

Filipovic tries to sprawl but White drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Filipovic works his way to full guard. Good work.
White throwing strikes but missing.
Filipovic wants to sweep but no luck.
White loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
White loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Filipovic looking to hit a scissor sweep but White is one step ahead there.
White is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
White cracks Filipovic with a solid left hand.
White with a nice head shot there.
White wants to pass the guard but Filipovic is keeping the position.
Filipovic working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from White.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
White cracks Filipovic with a solid left hand.
White postures up and lands a big shot to Filipovic's brow.
White with a nice head shot there.
White with a flurry of punches that miss.
White postures up and lands a big shot to Filipovic's brow.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Filipovic avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
White trying to control but Filipovic is working from the bottom.
White cracks Filipovic with a solid left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
White distracts Filipovic with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
White throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Filipovic works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
White throws a big right hand that misses.
White working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
White postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
White thows a big elbow that misses.
White is in close to Filipovic's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Stephen White has got the better of the ground game so far.
White trying to control the position from guard on top but Filipovic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
White working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from White.
White connects with a couple of short punches.
White is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
White works over Filipovic with some ground and pound from guard.
White postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
White sitting in guard, not really doing much.
White chips away with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen White showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

White 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 White off to one side.
White shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Filipovic sprawls well. Filipovic wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. White gets slowly back to his feet.

Filipovic gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
White postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Filipovic is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Filipovic wants to sweep but no luck.
White trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Filipovic utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
White scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
White postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
White works over Filipovic with some ground and pound from guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells White's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Filipovic keeping full guard, as White tries to pass.
Filipovic preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
White postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
White in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as White accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
White throwing strikes but missing.
White trying to control the position from guard on top but Filipovic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
White sitting in guard here, content to control.
White working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
White landing with the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
White is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Filipovic avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
White with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
White cracks Filipovic with a solid left hand.
White keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Filipovic's head.
White keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Filipovic's head.
Mirko Filipovic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
White looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
White landing some decent shots from guard.
White is looking to work some ground and pound but Filipovic has wrist control.
White working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Filipovic's head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
White keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Filipovic's head.
White is working Filipovic over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
White lands a couple of digs.
White postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stephen White comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got White winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 26:30
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 26:30
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stephen White!