PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nebojsa Mihattovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Pembelton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mihattovic's entrance music is Geto Boys - Still. A fine choice. The crowd seem to be enjoying Pembelton's choice of entrance music: Hail Mary by Tupac. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Mihattovic
vs
Pembelton

177 cm
29
179 lbs
12 - 7 - 2

177 cm
36
179 lbs
29 - 23 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

TWGC Champion
Excellent boxer
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 12 - 7 - 2, fighting out of New York, Nebojsa Mihattovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 23 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Frank Pembelton!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Jonathan Paton and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pembelton throws a body punch but Mihattovic moves out of range.
Nebojsa Mihattovic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mihattovic fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Pembelton.
Mihattovic tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pembelton swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mihattovic scores with a crisp jab that stopped Pembelton in his tracks.
The fighters circling - Pembelton throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
An inside leg kick from Mihattovic misses.
Mihattovic has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Pembelton finds it's way round the side to connect with Mihattovic's head.
Pembelton shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mihattovic throws a low kick but it's checked well by Pembelton.
Pembelton shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mihattovic pinned against the cage. Mihattovic gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A telegraphed right hand from Pembelton misses the target.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Mihattovic, right into the meat.
Pembelton fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Pembelton uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Mihattovic.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mihattovic slips a straight right by Pembelton.
Pembelton dips to his left and cracks Mihattovic with an uppercut!
Pembelton throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Pembelton checks a low kick from Mihattovic.
Pembelton throws a series of punches but Mihattovic moves out of range.
Pembelton cracks Mihattovic with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Some bone on bone action there as Pembelton checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
A nice inside leg kick there by Mihattovic. That's going to slow Pembelton down.
Pembelton moves out of range as Mihattovic throws a body kick.
Pembelton misses with a straight left.
Good leg kick by Mihattovic there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
A nice leg kick lands there from Mihattovic.
Mihattovic throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mihattovic avoids the body shot from Pembelton.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mihattovic motions for Pembelton to come forward. Mihattovic throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A good leg kick by Mihattovic.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mihattovic slips a straight right by Pembelton.
Pembelton is trying hard to land a takedown here. Mihattovic sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Nebojsa Mihattovic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank Pembelton.

Pembelton scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Mihattovic is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Pembelton trying to control from half guard but Mihattovic is working away.
Mihattovic tries to get to full guard but Pembelton has control of the leg.
Mihattovic keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Pembelton has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Pembelton perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pembelton is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Mihattovic defends it well.
Mihattovic tries to get to full guard but Pembelton has control of the leg.
Mihattovic trying to control here.
Mihattovic gets full guard.
Pembelton trying to control the position from guard on top but Mihattovic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pembelton tries to free his leg and advance position but Mihattovic is retaining full guard.

Pembelton is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Mihattovic is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Mihattovic has escaped and now he's on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mihattovic stands up over Pembelton, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Pembelton trying to control the position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pembelton has momentary wrist control but Mihattovic slips an elbow through the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Nebojsa Mihattovic will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Pembelton thows a body shot but no joy.
Mihattovic tries a head kick but it misses.
Mihattovic throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Pembelton counters with a left to the body.
Mihattovic throws a shot from downtown. Pembelton moves away and avoids it.

Mihattovic drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Pembelton is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Mihattovic's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Pembelton is not content to let Mihattovic control the position.
Pembelton 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mihattovic moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Pembelton.
Pembelton avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Mihattovic.
Mihattovic trying to control the position but Pembelton is working away.
Mihattovic fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pembelton tries to improve position but can't.
Nebojsa Mihattovic overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Pembelton takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

Mihattovic has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Mihattovic connects with the punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pembelton connects with a single shot there.
Pembelton slips a straight right by Mihattovic.
Mihattovic misses with a takedown attempt - Pembelton sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Pembelton with a body punch. A glancing blow.

Pembelton gets tackled into the cage by Mihattovic. Mihattovic maintains the clinch.
Pembelton is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Mihattovic to keep the fight standing.
Pembelton tries to pull guard but Mihattovic won't allow it.
Mihattovic pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Pembelton is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Nebojsa Mihattovic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank Pembelton.
A right handed body shot lands from Mihattovic.
Mihattovic throws a head punch that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pembelton changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Mihattovic fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Mihattovic tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Pembelton was well out of range. Poor timing from Mihattovic.
Mihattovic ducks under a wild hook from Pembelton.
Mihattovic throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Nebojsa Mihattovic is winning the standup battle so far.
Mihattovic looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Mihattovic throws a sloppy head kick and Pembelton moves out of range easily.
Pembelton moves out of range of the body kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mihattovic drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Mihattovic looking to score a takedown here. Pembelton is defending well but Mihattovic drives through and ends up in Pembelton's guard.

Pembelton has an active guard here but Mihattovic has managed to pass into half guard.
Mihattovic trying to control the action but Pembelton is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nebojsa Mihattovic dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Pembelton misses with a body shot.
Mihattovic misses with an uppercut. Pembelton saw that one coming.
Pembelton will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Pembelton throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Mihattovic stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Pembelton shoots in for a takedown but Mihattovic shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Pembelton misses with a body shot.
Mihattovic displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Pembelton throws out the jab.
Good leg kick by Mihattovic there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Pembelton fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mihattovic manages to avoid it.
Mihattovic does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
A cross from Mihattovic lands.
Pembelton checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Pembelton fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mihattovic manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pembelton with a poor takedown
and Mihattovic counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Nebojsa Mihattovic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank Pembelton.
Pembelton takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Mihattovic - that will leave a mark!
Mihattovic is looking to land body kicks.
Mihattovic delivers a nice body kick.
Mihattovic scores with a nice head shot.
Pembelton swings for the body but Mihattovic moves out of range.
Pembelton takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Pembelton takes one on the button.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Pembelton looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Mihattovic wants to stand up but Pembelton is controlling him.
Mihattovic pulls Pembelton in close to prevent any damage.
Frank Pembelton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mihattovic not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Mihattovic preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Pembelton won't allow Mihattovic to sweep him here.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Mihattovic wants to stand but Pembelton is controlling the position.
Mihattovic looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pembelton is one step ahead there.
Pembelton trying to control the position from guard on top but Mihattovic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mihattovic has an active guard here but Pembelton has managed to pass into half guard.
Pembelton trying to advance position but Mihattovic counters by regaining guard.
Mihattovic trying to keep a closed guard but Pembelton is proving a slippery customer.
Pembelton postures up in Mihattovic's guard and throws a big left but Mihattovic blocks it.
Mihattovic trying to control the position.
Nebojsa Mihattovic is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pembelton missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Mihattovic throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Mihattovic looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pembelton is one step ahead there.
Pembelton postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mihattovic is really struggling to control Pembelton but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Pembelton lands a couple of elbows.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nebojsa Mihattovic showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Mihattovic has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 30:27
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nebojsa Mihattovic!
During a confident post fight interview, Nebojsa Mihattovic thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.