PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Luka Mrtic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ace Centura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Centura has chosen Digital Summer - Just Run as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mrtic
vs
Centura

176 cm
23
167 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

180 cm
26
165 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Luka Mrtic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ace Centura!
The judges for this bout are Topper Green, Chris Dean and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Centura tries to clinch but Mrtic is having none of it.
Mrtic changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Centura tries to avoid it but Mrtic manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Centura to the ground. Centura escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Mrtic avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Centura tries to clinch up.
Centura fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Mrtic, right into the meat.
Mrtic throws a sloppy head kick and Centura moves out of range easily.

Mrtic instigates a clinch.
Mrtic lands a damaging elbow.
Centura fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Mrtic blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Centura stops a takedown attempt from Mrtic.
Centura avoids the elbow strike from Mrtic, against the cage.
Centura misses with a punch on the inside.
Mrtic definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Mrtic can't break the clinch.
Mrtic pushes off an throws an elbow but Centura leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Centura avoids a wild elbow strike from Mrtic.
Centura swings wildly with an uppercut but Mrtic uses good head movement to avoid it.
Centura misses with a short punch on the inside.
Mrtic blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Mrtic blocks an uppercut.
Centura tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Centura lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Mrtic looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A head punch on the inside from Centura fails to land.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Centura.
Centura throws a punch but it's blocked by Mrtic.
Centura scores with a shoulder strike.
Centura throws a punch but it's blocked by Mrtic.
Mrtic gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Mrtic looking to throw knees to the head but Centura is blocking nicely.

Mrtic pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Centura tries to close the distance and clinch but Mrtic swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mrtic tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Centura has closed the distance and engaged Mrtic in a clinch.
Mrtic blocking some punches.
Mrtic blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Centura misses with some punches.
Mrtic blocking some punches.
Centura swings wildly with an uppercut but Mrtic uses good head movement to avoid it.
A head punch on the inside from Centura fails to land.
Mrtic trying to control the position but instead, Centura has worked for underhooks and has pushed Mrtic into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Mrtic.

Mrtic manages to break the clinch.

Mrtic clinches.
Mrtic blocking some punches.
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!
Centura misses with a hook from the clinch.
Centura has a couple of punches blocked by Mrtic.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Centura.
Mrtic blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Centura misses with the head strike.

Mrtic manages to break the clinch.
Centura tries to clinch up but Mrtic circles away and keeps his distance.
Centura is looking to clinch but Mrtic is avoiding it.
Centura wants to clinch but Mrtic slips to the side
and Mrtic finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Mrtic tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Centura is able to avoid easily.

Mrtic moves into the clinch.
Centura misses with a short punch on the inside.

Mrtic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mrtic fakes the leg kick and cracks Centura in the body.
Ace Centura is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Mrtic.
A solid body kick from Mrtic.
Jab by Mrtic.
Mrtic misses with a kick to the body.

Mrtic clinches up with Centura and pushes him back against the cage.
Centura misses with a punch on the inside.
Mrtic blocks an uppercut.
Centura lands with a left to the head.
We've been informed that Centura has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Mrtic throws an elbow but it misses.
Centura throws a head punch that misses.
Centura working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Mrtic throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Mrtic with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Centura blocks an elbow strike from Mrtic.
A head punch on the inside from Centura fails to land.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mrtic tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Centura avoids it.
Centura misses with the head strike.
Centura swings wildly with an uppercut but Mrtic uses good head movement to avoid it.
Centura misses with some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Centura fails to land.
Mrtic blocks an uppercut.
Mrtic throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Mrtic misses with an elbow over the top.
Centura misses with the head strike.
Mrtic has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Centura avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luka Mrtic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mrtic landing some nice looking knees to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Centura fails to land.
Mrtic stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Mrtic comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Centura throws a punch but it's blocked by Mrtic.
Mrtic blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Mrtic is looking for a takedown.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Centura.
Mrtic blocks an uppercut.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Centura being controlled against the cage.

Mrtic's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mrtic lands a right hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luka Mrtic dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Centura tries to clinch but Mrtic moves out of range.

Centura closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Centura gets through Mrtic's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Mrtic's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Mrtic blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Centura takes an elbow to the temple.
Mrtic has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Centura avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Mrtic pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Mrtic lands a damaging elbow.
Mrtic is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Centura is defending well for now.
Centura misses with some punches.
Mrtic is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Centura is keeping busy.
Centura lands a nice uppercut.
Centura throws a punch but it's blocked by Mrtic.
With the fighters up against the cage, Mrtic throws an elbow but misses.
Centura throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Mrtics head.
Mrtic blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Mrtic has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Centura is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Mrtic blocking some punches.
Centura swings wildly with an uppercut but Mrtic uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Centura prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luka Mrtic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mrtic throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Centura misses with a punch on the inside.
Mrtic wants a takedown.
A head punch on the inside from Centura fails to land.
Mrtic tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Mrtic lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
A short uppercut from Centura.
Mrtic lands an elbow inside that Centura shrugs off.
Centura misses with some punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Centura.
Centura working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Mrtic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mrtic throws a leg kick
and Centura counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Centura closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Ace Centura seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Mrtic blocks an uppercut.
Mrtic blocks an uppercut.
Centura swings wildly with an uppercut but Mrtic uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mrtic blocks an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mrtic lands an elbow inside.
Mrtic leaning his opponent against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Centura throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Mrtics head.
Centura misses with a short punch on the inside.
Mrtic blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Mrtic blocking some punches.
Centura has a couple of punches blocked by Mrtic.
Centura misses with some punches.
Mrtic goes for a takedown attempt but Centura pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Centura tries to clinch but Mrtic moves out of range.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Centura takes a knee right on the jaw!
Centura softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mrtic blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Mrtic lands a damaging elbow.
A short left from Centura.
Centura lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Centura managing to block the knees to the body from Mrtic.
Mrtic blocking some punches.
Mrtic tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Mrtic creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Centura has a couple of punches blocked by Mrtic.
A head punch on the inside from Centura fails to land.
Mrtic unloads a knee to the mid-section. Centura lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
A head punch on the inside from Centura fails to land.
Centura working aggressively here.
Centura lands a shoulder strike.
Centura misses with a hook from the clinch.
Mrtic misses with an elbow over the top.

Mrtic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mrtic circles away from the clinch attempt
and Mrtic counters with a nice kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mrtic moves into the clinch successfully.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mrtic connects with a knee to the head.
Mrtic blocks an uppercut.
Centura throws a punch but it's blocked by Mrtic.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Mrtic.

Mrtic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Centura is looking to clinch but Mrtic is avoiding it.
Centura wants to clinch but Mrtic slips to the side
and Mrtic makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Mrtic lands with a thumping leg kick.
Centura tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mrtic swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Centura tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Mrtic manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Mrtic misses with a low kick as Centura jumps back.
Mrtic keeps the fight on the outside.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A solid leg kick lands there for Mrtic.
Centura tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mrtic paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mrtic bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Centura's head.

Centura is rocked!
Mrtic chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Centura is still on wobbly legs! Can Mrtic finish him?
Mrtic with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Mrtic swats away the attempt to clinch by Centura.
Centura seems to have recovered his senses.
Mrtic keeps the fight on the outside.
Mrtic throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Centura.
Mrtic throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Mrtic swats away the attempt to clinch by Centura.
Mrtic throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Centura.
Mrtic cracks the inside of Centura's front leg.
Mrtic throws a leg kick but Centura moved away.
Centura tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mrtic swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mrtic throws a sloppy head kick and Centura moves out of range easily.
Centura's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Mrtic throws a head kick but Centura moves out of range.
Mrtic misses with a low kick.
Mrtic wants to slow Centura down by chopping away at his legs.
A slapping leg kick lands for Mrtic.
Mrtic throws a sloppy head kick and Centura moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Centura tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Mrtic counters with a good low kick that Centura was not able to check.
Centura moves to clinch but Mrtic breaks away
and Mrtic counters with a left to the body.
Centura wants to clinch but Mrtic slips to the side

and Mrtic counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Mrtic.
Centura misses with a punch on the inside.
Mrtic lands an elbow inside that Centura shrugs off.
Centura misses with a punch on the inside.
Centura misses with a hook from the clinch.
Centura takes an elbow to the temple.
Centura avoids a wild elbow strike from Mrtic.
Mrtic goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Mrtic misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Centura.
Mrtic blocking some punches.
Centura misses with a punch on the inside.
Centura working aggressively here.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Mrtic.
Mrtic pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Mrtic pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Centura misses with a punch on the inside.
Centura blocks an elbow strike from Mrtic.
Centura tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Mrtic tries to circle away but Centura has him pinned against the cage.
Mrtic blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Centura misses with a hook from the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mrtic misses with an elbow over the top.
Nice elbow from Mrtic.
Centura misses with a punch on the inside.
Mrtic takes a shot to the head.
Mrtic tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Centura as Mrtic tries to tie him up.
Mrtic throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Mrtic tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Centura avoids it.

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

Centura moves into the clinch.
Centura throws a punch but it's blocked by Mrtic.
Centura misses with some punches.
Centura throws a head punch that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Mrtic.
Centura swings wildly with an uppercut but Mrtic uses good head movement to avoid it.
Centura avoiding damage as Mrtic throws knees to the body.
Mrtic is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Centura is defending well for now.
Centura tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Mrtic blocking some punches.
Centura misses with some punches.
Centura misses with some punches.
Centura misses with the head strike.
Mrtic comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Centura misses with the head strike.
Centura throws a head punch that misses.
Mrtic is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Centura is keeping busy.
Mrtic lands an elbow inside that Centura shrugs off.
Centura blocks an elbow strike.
Centura misses with a punch on the inside.

Mrtic breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Centura tries to clinch but Mrtic moves out of range.
Centura darts in trying to clinch
and Mrtic counters with a lovely shot to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Centura looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Centura checks a leg kick.
Centura moves in looking to clinch but Mrtic pushes him off.
Mrtic circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mrtic throws a quick inside leg kick.
Mrtic looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed 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!
Centura tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mrtic swats him away and circles back towards the center.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Mrtic.
Mrtic throws a leg kick that is checked
and Centura counters with a left to the body.
Ace Centura has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Luka Mrtic is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Centura misses with a jab to the body
and Mrtic counters with an inside leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luka Mrtic showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Mrtic, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Topper Green scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luka Mrtic!
A relieved looking Luka Mrtic thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.