PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jure Maksic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Avi Vilo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Maksic
vs
Vilo

225 cm
18
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jure Maksic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Avi Vilo!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Jonathan Paton and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maksic connects with a jab.
Maksic doesn't manage to clinch there - Vilo circles away.
Maksic changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Vilo tries to avoid it but Maksic manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Vilo to the ground. Vilo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
No luck for Maksic with that takedown attempt.

Vilo shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Maksic is trying to defend but Vilo finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vilo missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Vilo is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Maksic sees it coming and defends easily.
Vilo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Vilo stalling.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maksic is pressing down on Vilo's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Vilo wants to control from the top but Maksic keeps moving.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Avi Vilo hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Vilo tries to clinch there but Maksic circles away.
Maksic shoots in and drives through. Vilo sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jure Maksic. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maksic closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Vilo to the mat! Vilo manages to get full guard.
Maksic preventing the sweep.

Vilo working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Maksic has passed into half guard!
Vilo is trying to get back to full guard.
Vilo is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Maksic tries to stand but can't do so whilst Vilo controls his leg.
Vilo is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maksic keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Maksic thows a huge punch but Vilo dodges it nicely.
Vilo is looking for a sweep. Maksic is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Vilo landing strikes from the bottom.
Maksic wants to take a breather but Vilo is having none of it.
Maksic really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Maksic is taking a breather. Vilo says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

We're going to have a standup here because Jure Maksic wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Vilo looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Vilo looks winded!

Maksic is looking for a triangle here but Vilo uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maksic manages to get back to half guard.
Vilo not doing much here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maksic tries to roll over but Vilo keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Avi Vilo will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Vilo feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Maksic trying to keep a closed guard but Vilo is proving a slippery customer.
Maksic looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Maksic is looking to sweep but instead, Vilo has passed into half guard.
Maksic trying to control here.
Vilo with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maksic on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Maksic has hold of Vilo's hands but Vilo slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Maksic makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Maksic.
Maksic working a defensive guard but Vilo passes into half guard.
Maksic wants to control but Vilo is keeping busy.
Maksic tries to get to full guard but Vilo has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vilo tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Maksic.
Vilo seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Maksic does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Maksic trying to hold on to Vilo's head to control him but Vilo postures up.
Maksic tries to roll over but Vilo keeps him under control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Vilo shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Maksic's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vilo not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Vilo wants to stand but Maksic has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vilo wants to control from the top but Maksic keeps moving.
Vilo content to stall in guard here.

Avi Vilo has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Vilo fails to land with a series of punches.

Maksic darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Maksic prevents Vilo from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maksic throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Vilo wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maksic trying to control the action but Vilo is working from the bottom.
Vilo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maksic is trying to control the action in half guard but Vilo is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Avi Vilo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Maksic is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Vilo is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Avi Vilo 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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Vilo circles away from the clinch attempt.
Vilo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Maksic looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Vilo drives through with a takedown into guard.
Maksic working a defensive guard here.
Vilo is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Vilo's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Maksic is looking to stand up but Vilo isn't so interested in that idea.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Avi Vilo wasn't active enough on the ground.

Vilo has Maksic up against the cage in a clinch.

Vilo has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Maksic uses from the top position.
Maksic wanted to stand there but Vilo had control of the position.
Vilo is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Vilo looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Vilo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Maksic won't allow Vilo to sweep him here.

Maksic avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Maksic wants to control from the top but Vilo keeps moving.
Maksic is looking to stand up but Vilo won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maksic wants to pass the guard but Vilo is keeping the position.
Vilo lands a decent punch to the body there.

Vilo looking for a guillotine here but Maksic defends easily.
Maksic wants to control from the top but Vilo keeps moving.
Maksic slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maksic wants to lay and pray for a moment but Vilo keeps working.
Maksic wants to stand but Vilo has his arm trapped.
Vilo tries to bench press Maksic off him but Maksic keeps the position.
Maksic working away.

Maksic tries for a kimura but Vilo is defending well.
Maksic throws a strike aimed at the side of Vilo's head but Vilo avoids it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Avi Vilo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Vilo 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Avi Vilo!