PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yamen Lelo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mirko Filipovic (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.

Lelo
vs
Filipovic

180 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
23
205 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 Sydney, Yamen Lelo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mirko Filipovic!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Summer Carpenter and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lelo tries to clinch up but Filipovic circles away and keeps his distance.
Lelo fails with the takedown

and Filipovic decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Lelo's guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Filipovic trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Lelo 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 works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Filipovic decides to stand and escape the position.
Lelo misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A right-left combo lands from Filipovic.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lelo tries to score a power double leg takedown but Filipovic sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Lelo somewhat.
Filipovic is looking to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Filipovic looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Lelo is looking to improve his position.
Filipovic wants to pass the guard but Lelo is defending well.
Filipovic controlling the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Filipovic working the head and body with strikes.
Filipovic not doing much here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic wants to pass to mount but Lelo is defending the position.
Lelo could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Lelo flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Filipovic is nestled in close to Lelo, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Filipovic not doing much here.
Filipovic lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Lelo is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lelo moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lelo keeping full guard, as Filipovic tries to pass.
Filipovic is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Filipovic decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Lelo, up you get!
Lelo throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Lelo doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Filipovic counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yamen Lelo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lelo won't allow Filipovic to pass to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic trying to control the pace.
Filipovic working over Lelo with some ground and pound. Lelo looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Lelo trying to control from the bottom.
Filipovic tries to pass to full mount but Lelo defends it.
Lelo is trying to get back to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Filipovic is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Filipovic seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mirko Filipovic dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Lelo doesn't manage to clinch there - Filipovic circles away.
Filipovic is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lelo is looking to clinch.
Lelo wants to clinch up but Filipovic keeps it at a distance.
Lelo misses with a takedown

and Filipovic counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Lelo's guard now.
Lelo being controlled here, momentarily.
Filipovic throws a big right hand that misses.
Filipovic preventing the sweep.
Lelo looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lelo is working an open guard so Filipovic takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Filipovic fails with an attempt to clinch.
Yamen Lelo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Filipovic throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Lelo tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Filipovic is in Lelo's guard.

Filipovic decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Filipovic wants to clinch
and Lelo counters with a nice uppercut.

Lelo gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Filipovic advances position into side control!
Filipovic is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Lelo's shoulder. That is not cool.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic advances to mount.
Filipovic with shots to the head and body - Lelo looks very uncomfortable down there.

Filipovic is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Lelo is surviving well by controlling Filipovic's body position as best he can.
BOOM! Filipovic connects with a massive shot to the dome!

Filipovic is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Lelo is surviving well by controlling Filipovic's body position as best he can.
Filipovic controlling from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Filipovic swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Lelo is now in Filipovic's guard. A big mistake from Filipovic there, giving up the dominant position!
Filipovic tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Filipovic is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Mirko Filipovic has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lelo wants to stand and escape but instead Filipovic has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Filipovic pushing down on Lelo's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Filipovic not doing much here.
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. Filipovic connects with a nice short shot to Lelo's temple.
Filipovic lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Lelo wants to improve his position but Filipovic is controlling well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Filipovic content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Lelo is trying to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mirko Filipovic showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Lelo misses with a jab to the body

and Filipovic decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Lelo's guard.

Lelo 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 advances to half guard.
Filipovic controlling the action here.
Lelo tries to get to full guard but Filipovic has control of the leg.
Filipovic looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Lelo with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lelo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lelo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lelo shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Filipovic counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Filipovic gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Filipovic has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Filipovic throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Lelo was covering up waiting for the punch and Filipovic finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Filipovic is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
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 with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic stands and throws Lelo's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Filipovic decides to stand back up.
Filipovic tries a head kick but it misses.

Filipovic closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Lelo did well to prevent Filipovic getting side control.
Lelo is looking for a sweep. Filipovic is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Filipovic looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Filipovic seems to be working for a kimura but Lelo defends the submission attempt.
Lelo wants to get back to full guard but Filipovic has passed into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Filipovic wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Lelo, who protects the arm well.
Filipovic is staying tight to Lelo's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Lelo is looking for a sweep.
Lelo wants to control but Filipovic postures up.
Filipovic scoring with punches from side control.

Filipovic is trying to get an arm triangle but Lelo is defending well.
Filipovic advances nicely into full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic cracks Lelo with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Filipovic sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Lelo tries to improve his position but instead Filipovic has taken his back!
Lelo tries to roll but Filipovic sticks to his back.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Lelo preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Filipovic.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Filipovic biding his time, controlling Lelo.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mirko Filipovic comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Filipovic 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mirko Filipovic!