PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joe Whitney (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 better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Whitney
vs
Filipovic

187 cm
25
265 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

188 cm
25
244 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart

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 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Joe Whitney!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mirko Filipovic!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Saam Ante and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Whitney shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Filipovic defends it nicely.

Filipovic takes the fight into the clinch.
Filipovic is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Filipovic's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Filipovic displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Whitney.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Whitney. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Filipovic closes the distance and pushes Whitney back into the cage.

Filipovic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Filipovic leaves Whitney with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Whitney is breathing heavily.
Whitney tries to clinch but Filipovic is having none of it.
Filipovic moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

It looks like Joe Whitney has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Filipovic clinches with his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Filipovic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Filipovic clinches up with Whitney and pushes him back against the cage.

Filipovic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Whitney is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Filipovic forces Whitney back against the cage and clinches.
Whitney drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Filipovic gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Filipovic utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

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

Filipovic gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Filipovic is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whitney has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Filipovic is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Knees to the body from Filipovic.

Filipovic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
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 shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Whitney as he avoids it easily.
Filipovic keeps the fight on the outside.
Whitney shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Filipovic moves into the clinch.

Filipovic pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Whitney tries to clinch up.
Filipovic leaves Whitney with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Filipovic fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Whitney, pushing him back against the cage.

Filipovic breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Filipovic closes the distance and clinches.
Whitney tries to score a body lock takedown but Filipovic shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Filipovic is stalling here.

Filipovic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Filipovic moves into the clinch.

Filipovic manages to break the clinch.

Filipovic forces Whitney back against the cage and clinches.

Filipovic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Filipovic takes the fight into the clinch.
Filipovic lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Filipovic.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic lands a nice knee to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Filipovic landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Filipovic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Whitney tries to keep at a distance but Filipovic has taken the fight into the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Filipovic.
Whitney takes a knee right on the jaw!
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Filipovic takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Filipovic breaks from the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Filipovic clinches up with Whitney and pushes him back against the cage.

Filipovic jumps guard and drags Whitney to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mirko Filipovic dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Joe Whitney's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Filipovic throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Whitney's waist but Whitney gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Filipovic off to one side.

Filipovic tries to sprawl but Whitney drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Filipovic is trying to get back to full guard.
Filipovic is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Filipovic is trying to control but can't.
Filipovic gets back to full guard.
Filipovic preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Filipovic trying to control the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Whitney won't allow Filipovic to get back to his feet.
Whitney lands a couple of elbows.
Whitney missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitney scoring with punches to the head and body.

Whitney has gone for a leg lock! Filipovic slips out almost immediately though and dives into Whitney's guard.

Whitney working for a triangle but Filipovic defends it easily.
Filipovic really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Whitney. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Filipovic gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Filipovic clinches.
Knees to the body from Filipovic.
Filipovic taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

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

Filipovic has managed to clinch.
Whitney takes a knee to the side of the body.
Filipovic unloads a knee to the mid-section. Whitney lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Filipovic unloads a knee to the mid-section. Whitney lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Knees to the body from Filipovic.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Filipovic pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Filipovic is trying hard to land a takedown here. Whitney sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Filipovic misses with a takedown attempt - Whitney sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Joe Whitney has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mirko Filipovic.
Whitney tries for a takedown but Filipovic sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Filipovic has taken the fight to the clinch.

Filipovic breaks from the clinch.
Whitney shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Filipovic as he jumps to the side.
Filipovic looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Whitney is fending him off so far but Filipovic persists. Nope, Whitney circles away and we're back to standing.
Filipovic looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Whitney is fending him off so far but Filipovic persists. Nope, Whitney circles away and we're back to standing.

Filipovic instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Filipovic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Filipovic gets a clinch.
Filipovic with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Filipovic's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Whitney doesn't manage to clinch there - Filipovic circles away.
Whitney walks into a left hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Whitney gets tackled into the cage by Filipovic. Filipovic maintains the clinch.
Whitney has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Filipovic after a bit of a struggle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Filipovic manages to pull guard.
Whitney missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Filipovic preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
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.
The cut man is working on Joe Whitney's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Whitney looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Filipovic is fending him off so far but Whitney persists. Nope, Filipovic circles away and we're back to standing.

Whitney gets tackled into the cage by Filipovic. Filipovic maintains the clinch.
Filipovic scores with a knee to the head.

Filipovic manages to break the clinch.

Filipovic gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Filipovic prevents the takedown attempt.

Filipovic pulls guard.
Filipovic is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Filipovic throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Filipovic had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Whitney defends it easily.
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.
Whitney throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitney won't allow Filipovic to get back to his feet.
Filipovic preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Whitney in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Whitney trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Whitney trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Filipovic looking for a sweep. Not yet Filipovic, not yet.
Whitney postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Filipovic working a defensive guard here.
Whitney stops Filipovic from standing up.
Filipovic has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Whitney throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Filipovic working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whitney throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Whitney loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Whitney in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Whitney content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Whitney postures up in Filipovic's guard and throws a big left but Filipovic blocks it.
Filipovic controlling the position.
Filipovic lands a decent shot there.
Whitney postures up.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Whitney connects with a couple of short punches.
Filipovic wants to sweep but no luck.
Filipovic trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitney stands up over Filipovic, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Whitney is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Whitney accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Whitney accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Whitney postures up in Filipovic's guard and throws a big left but Filipovic blocks it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Whitney accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Whitney throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Filipovic works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Joe Whitney overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Filipovic wants to sweep but no luck.

Whitney is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Whitney is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Whitney is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Filipovic is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Filipovic has escaped and now he's on top!
Filipovic trying to control the position from guard on top but Whitney is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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 Joe Whitney.
I think Filipovic 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 28:30
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 26:30

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