PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mirko Boban (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joey Bolten (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Boban comes to the cage accompanied by Ana Tijoux - 1977. Mirko Boban has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Boban
vs
Bolten

182 cm
23
184 lbs
15 - 2 - 0

188 cm
23
175 lbs
8 - 2 - 1

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mirko Boban!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Joey Bolten!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Winston Howard and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Boban tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Bolten manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Boban throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A head kick misses from Bolten.

Boban rushes Bolten and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Bolten tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Bolten unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Bolten tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Boban avoids it.
Bolten is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Boban lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Bolten putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Boban in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Boban creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Bolten's defenses.

It looks like Joey Bolten has been cut.
Boban on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Bolten tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Boban fails to pull guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Boban displaying some good clinch control by pressing Bolten up against the cage.
Bolten managing to block the knees to the body from Boban.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boban slows down the pace here.
Bolten with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Bolten is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Boban is defending well for now.
Bolten lands a good knee to the midsection. Boban won't want to take too many of those.
A knee to the head by Bolten.
Bolten throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Boban blocks it with crossed arms.
A knee to the head by Bolten.
Bolten landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Bolten tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Bolten tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Bolten lands a knee to the head.
Bolten with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Bolten connects with a knee to the head.
Boban has Bolten pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bolten is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Boban is defending well for now.
Bolten misses with a knee strike.
Boban displaying some good clinch control by pressing Bolten up against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Boban.
Bolten with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Boban lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Boban tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Bolten smiles and moves away.
Bolten throws a head kick that misses.
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!
Bolten throws a head kick that misses.
Bolten is looking to land body kicks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bolten fails in his attempt to clinch.
Boban looks to score with a jab to the body but Bolten is just out of range.
Bolten is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bolten checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Boban misses with a jab to the body

and Bolten counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Bolten.
Boban on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Bolten blocks an elbow strike from Boban.
Bolten misses with a knee strike.
Bolten lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Bolten lands a good knee to the midsection. Boban won't want to take too many of those.
Boban is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Bolten is keeping busy.
Boban managing to block the knees to the body from Bolten.
Boban lands an elbow inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bolten utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Boban on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Bolten connects with a knee to the head.
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!
Boban blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Boban is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Bolten pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mirko Boban. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Boban is breathing heavily.
Bolten tries a knee to the head but Boban blocks it.
Boban lands a nice elbow.
Boban is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Bolten gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Bolten tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Boban jumps guard but Bolten stands there with Boban around his waist. Boban gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A head punch on the inside from Boban fails to land.
Knees in the clinch landing for Bolten.
Bolten trying to land knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Bolten dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Joey Bolten's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Bolten tries to clinch up but Boban circles away and keeps his distance.
Bolten lands a head kick!
Bolten throws a head kick but Boban moves out of range.
Boban misses with a hook.
Boban keeps the fight on the outside.
Bolten tries to clinch but Boban is having none of it.
Bolten tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bolten misses with a head kick.
Boban shoots in for a takedown but Bolten shows good takedown defense.

Bolten instigates a clinch.
Boban jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Bolten walks away with a smile on his face. Boban gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Bolten sets himself and throws a head kick that knocks Boban to the ground! Bolten dives into full mount looking to finish!

Boban is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Boban tries to reverse the position but Bolten maintains control.
Oh Boban is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Bolten takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Boban is squirming around, avoiding Bolten's attempts to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bolten is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Boban can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Boban really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Boban seems to have got his legs back now.

Bolten goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Boban turns into him and now he's in Bolten's guard.
Boban throwing strikes but missing.
Boban won't allow Bolten to sweep him here.

Bolten throws his legs up looking for a submission but Boban uses it to pass to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bolten tries to improve position but can't.
Bolten gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Boban looking to control and managing it successfully.
Bolten is wriggling around trying to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bolten is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Boban sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bolten is working to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Boban with shots to the head and body - Bolten looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bolten is desperately trying to improve his position but Boban has a good base and remains in mount.
Boban controlling the pace for now.
Bolten is looking to improve his position but Boban isn't that keen on the idea.
Boban lands a big elbow.

Boban working for a submission but Bolten is keeping him at bay.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bolten is wriggling around trying to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Bolten showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Joey Bolten's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Horrible takedown by Boban or perhaps it was just good defense by Bolten which made him look bad.
Bolten wants to clinch up but Boban keeps it at a distance.
Bolten checks the leg kick nicely there.
Boban fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Boban blocks a head kick by Bolten.
Boban shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bolten but Bolten pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mirko Boban. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Boban avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Boban throws a nice head kick!
Bolten wants to clinch up but Boban keeps it at a distance.
Bolten misses with a body kick.
Bolten wants to clinch but Boban slips to the side
and Boban counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Boban changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Bolten tries to avoid it but Boban manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Bolten to the ground. Bolten escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bolten misses with a head kick.
Bolten feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Boban's calf.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bolten fails with an attempt to clinch.
Bolten tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Boban paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Boban cracks Bolten with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Bolten tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Boban manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Bolten is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bolten uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Boban.
Bolten fails with an attempt to clinch.
Bolten looks to clinch
letting Boban counter with a right hand.
Boban keeps the fight on the outside.
Bolten tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bolten rushes Boban and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Bolten misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Boban.
Bolten landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Boban missing with knees to the body.
Joey Bolten seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Bolten throws a knee to the head but misses.
Boban slowing the pace effectively.
Boban working aggressively here.
Bolten misses with a knee strike.
Boban is trying to maintain a safe position but Bolten gets an underhook and turns Boban into the cage.

Boban gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Bolten looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Bolten moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Bolten has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Boban is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Bolten.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bolten can't do much from the bottom here.
Boban wants to control but Bolten is keeping him busy.
Mirko Boban overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bolten taking a bit of punishment here - Boban scoring with strikes.
Bolten tries to control but Boban manages to take his back.

Bolten showing good submission defense here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bolten rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Bolten has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Boban escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Boban!
Bolten tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Boban wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Mirko Boban has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boban working away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bolten gets back to half guard.
Bolten works his way to full guard. Good work.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Joey Bolten.
I've got Bolten 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joey Bolten!