PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Szakul Ikswogor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mirko Filipovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Filipovic has chosen wild boyz as his entrance music. Mirko Filipovic has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Ikswogor
vs
Filipovic

185 cm
23
220 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

188 cm
25
243 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Szakul Ikswogor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mirko Filipovic!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Saam Ante and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Filipovic closes the distance and clinches.
Ikswogor is looking to take this one to the mat.

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

Ikswogor closes the distance and pushes Filipovic back into the cage.
Ikswogor is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Filipovic is defending well for now.
Filipovic is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Filipovic gets underhooks to prevent Ikswogor's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Szakul Ikswogor. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Filipovic wants the takedown. Ikswogor is fighting it off but Filipovic persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Ikswogor's guard against the cage.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Ikswogor looking for a sweep. Not yet Ikswogor, not yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Filipovic's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Ikswogor looking for a guillotine here but Filipovic defends easily.
Filipovic throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Filipovic won't allow Ikswogor to sweep him here.
Ikswogor keeping moving, preventing Filipovic from controlling successfully.
Ikswogor looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Filipovic accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ikswogor 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.
Ikswogor trying to control the position.
Filipovic throwing strikes from guard but Ikswogor blocks nicely.
Ikswogor keeping full guard, as Filipovic tries to pass.
Ikswogor keeping moving, preventing Filipovic from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mirko Filipovic was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Ikswogor shoots in looking for a takedown but Filipovic manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ikswogor's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Filipovic leaves Ikswogor with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Ikswogor shoots in looking for a takedown but Filipovic manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ikswogor's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Filipovic bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Ikswogor is breathing heavily.
Filipovic controls the position.
Filipovic advances nicely into full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ikswogor is working to get back to half guard.
Filipovic throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Filipovic stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

Ikswogor fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Filipovic sprawls well initially but Ikswogor persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ikswogor is stalling here. Filipovic is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Ikswogor seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Filipovic has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

Filipovic decides to stand back up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Filipovic looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mirko Filipovic dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Filipovic takes the fight into the clinch.
Ikswogor tries to pull guard but Filipovic forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Filipovic tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Ikswogor has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Filipovic uses from the top position.
Filipovic wants to control from the top but Ikswogor keeps moving.
Ikswogor is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Filipovic is controlling him.
Ikswogor on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Ikswogor tries to get out of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Filipovic trying to control but Ikswogor is working from the bottom.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Mirko Filipovic hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Filipovic closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Ikswogor did well to prevent Filipovic getting side control.
Filipovic is just content to waste time from the top position. Ikswogor takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Ikswogor looking for a sweep. Not yet Ikswogor, not yet.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ikswogor is on top in guard.
Ikswogor trying to control but Filipovic is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ikswogor stays in close to Filipovic's body and controls the position.

Filipovic looking for a guillotine here but Ikswogor defends easily.
Ikswogor has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Filipovic is breathing heavily.

Filipovic working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ikswogor doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ikswogor manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Ikswogor sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Szakul Ikswogor just wasn't active enough.
Ikswogor fails with a takedown attempt.

Filipovic rushes Ikswogor and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic slowing the pace effectively.

Filipovic gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Ikswogor regains guard.

Filipovic avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ikswogor is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Ikswogor throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Filipovic throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ikswogor works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mirko Filipovic will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Ikswogor drives through with a takedown into guard.
Filipovic avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ikswogor prevents Filipovic from getting back to his feet.
Filipovic keeping moving, preventing Ikswogor from controlling successfully.
Ikswogor is really struggling to control Filipovic but he's trying to hold on to the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Szakul Ikswogor.
Filipovic stuffs the takedown attempt from Ikswogor. Ikswogor gets slowly back to his feet.

Filipovic closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Filipovic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Filipovic should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Filipovic closes the distance and clinches.

Ikswogor wants the takedown. Filipovic is fighting it off but Ikswogor persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Filipovic's guard against the cage.
Ikswogor looking to sit in guard and control but Filipovic gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ikswogor is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Ikswogor bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Filipovic's guard.
Filipovic can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ikswogor controls the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ikswogor trying to control the position from guard on top but Filipovic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Szakul Ikswogor has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Filipovic stuffs the takedown.

Filipovic closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Filipovic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Filipovic shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Ikswogor's guard.
Ikswogor is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ikswogor keeping moving, preventing Filipovic from controlling successfully.

Filipovic is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Ikswogor is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Ikswogor has escaped and now he's on top!
Ikswogor sitting in guard here, content to control.
Filipovic bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ikswogor's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ikswogor wants to sweep but no luck.
Filipovic controlling from the top position.
Szakul Ikswogor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ikswogor is looking to stand up but Filipovic isn't so interested in that idea.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Filipovic moves into the clinch.
Mirko Filipovic is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Filipovic tries to break the clinch but Ikswogor is controlling the position.
Ikswogor misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Filipovic.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Szakul Ikswogor.
Well Filipovic has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 28:29
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29

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