PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Josip Simunic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mario Maci (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mario Maci is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Simunic
vs
Maci

190 cm
27
155 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

195 cm
27
145 lbs
3 - 8 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Josip Simunic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mario Maci!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Colin Fotheringham and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maci has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Maci there as he acknowledges the shot.

Simunic drives through with a takedown into Maci's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Maci is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Simunic defends well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Simunic decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Maci, up you get!

Simunic scores with a takedown into Maci's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maci avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Maci throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Simunic trying to stand up but can't free himself from Maci's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simunic wants to pass the guard but Maci is keeping the position.

Simunic avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Simunic tries to stand but Maci is controlling from the bottom.
Simunic really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Maci manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simunic keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Simunic is trying to stand up.
Simunic tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simunic is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Simunic keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Maci throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Simunic because Maci loaded up on that one.
Simunic prevents any damage by holding on tight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simunic tries to hold on but Maci pushes him away.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Simunic is in all sorts of trouble here.
Maci with the ground and pound from mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Simunic is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josip Simunic dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Simunic throws a left and a right that both miss
and Maci connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Simunic scores with a takedown into Maci's guard.
Maci keeping moving, preventing Simunic from controlling successfully.
Simunic engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Simunic scores with a takedown into Maci's guard.
Simunic is looking to stand up but Maci won't let him.

Maci had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Simunic defends it easily.
Simunic trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simunic is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Maci is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Simunic is aware though and is defending well.
Simunic working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Simunic stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Crunch! Simunic slams his shin into Maci's torso.
Maci uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Simunic.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maci doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Maci is breathing heavily.

Simunic has Maci up against the cage in a clinch.

Simunic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Maci just misses with a punch to the body.
Simunic tries a head kick but it misses.
Simunic lands a nice looking kick to the body. Maci takes a step back to recover.

Simunic moves into the clinch successfully.
Maci is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Maci tries to break free but Simunic pushes him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Maci gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Simunic to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Maci working for a triangle but Simunic defends it easily.
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!
Simunic trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josip Simunic dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Simunic closes the distance and pushes Maci back into the cage.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Maci in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Maci tries a body shot but Simunic blocks it.
Simunic stalls.
A frustrated look appears on Maci's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Simunic misses with a short punch on the inside.
Maci prevents Simunic from breaking the clinch.
Simunic blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Simunic lands a nice elbow.

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

Simunic dives in and scores a takedown into Maci's guard.
Simunic wants to stand but Maci has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Maci throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simunic would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Maci not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Simunic has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Maci has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Simunic can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Maci throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maci has a closed guard, preventing Simunic from standing up.
Maci not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Maci throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Simunic trying to control the position from guard on top but Maci is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Maci throws a hook but Simunic blocks it.
Maci blocks a head kick by Simunic.
Mario Maci is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Simunic needs to keep his hands up - Maci had a free shot at his head there.
Maci keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simunic misses with a jab, cross combination.
Maci throws a shot from downtown. Simunic moves away and avoids it.
Simunic misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Simunic looking to score a takedown here. Maci is defending well but Simunic drives through and ends up in Maci's guard.
Simunic trying to control but Maci is working from the bottom.
Maci throws a couple of heel strikes.
Maci takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Maci throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Maci wants to stand up but Simunic is controlling him.
Josip Simunic is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maci manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Simunic holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Maci tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Simunic tries to hold on but Maci postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josip Simunic showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Simunic 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 James Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josip Simunic!
After the big win, Josip Simunic made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Nefarious Design House and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.