PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Herman Mills (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mirko Filipovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mills
vs
Filipovic

213 cm
19
278 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

195 cm
20
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Herman Mills!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mirko Filipovic!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Filipovic shoots and misses
and Mills counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Filipovic thinking.
Filipovic goes for a double leg but Mills avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Mills continues to drive forward.
Mills gets underhooks to prevent Filipovic's takedown attempt.
Herman Mills has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mirko Filipovic.

Filipovic tightens his grip and picks Mills up, before dumping him to the ground. Mills manages to land in guard.
Filipovic stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mills swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mills has control of Filipovic's left arm, preventing Filipovic from doing any damage.
Filipovic wants to pass the guard but Mills is keeping the position.
Filipovic postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mills wants to control but Filipovic passes easily into half guard.
Mills tries to get to full guard but Filipovic has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Filipovic wants to free his trapped foot but Mills is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Mills is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Filipovic looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Filipovic wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mills keeps working.
Mills is controlling Filipovic's trapped leg to prevent Filipovic from advancing to side control.
Filipovic missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Mills is looking to control Filipovic's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Mills avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Mills is looking to improve his position.

Filipovic seems to be working for a kimura but Mills defends the submission attempt.
Filipovic wants to free his trapped foot but Mills is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mills holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Mills is looking to control Filipovic's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Mills avoid being mounted?
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Mills is pressing down on Filipovic's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Filipovic pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mills is keeping the position for now.
Filipovic wants to control from the top but Mills keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic throwing strikes from guard but Mills blocks nicely.
Filipovic is pushing down on Mills's leg trying to pass to half guard. Mills is fighting to maintain full guard but Filipovic has managed to sneak the leg through.

Filipovic is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Mills has managed to free his arm - good work.

Filipovic is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Filipovic controlling the pace.
Mills pushes Filipovic off looking to stand but Filipovic dives back in and keeps control.
Mills wants to control but Filipovic is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Mills is trying to stand.
Mills on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Filipovic wants to work for an arm triangle but Mills is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic wants to take a breather but Mills is having none of it.
Filipovic looks winded!
Filipovic tries to pass to full mount but Mills defends it.
Filipovic is still trying to improve position.
Mills trying to control but Filipovic postures up.
Filipovic wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mills keeps working.
Filipovic trying to pass the guard but Mills defending well.
Mills misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mills is controlling Filipovic's position as best he can from this difficult position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
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.

Filipovic tries to keep at a distance but Mills has taken the fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mirko Filipovic dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Mills has taken the fight to the clinch.

Filipovic has Mills pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Filipovic pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Mills tumbling to the mat - Filipovic dives into Mills's guard.
Filipovic has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mills trying to keep a closed guard but Filipovic is proving a slippery customer.
Mills wants to stand but Filipovic is controlling the position.
Filipovic pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mills is keeping the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Filipovic is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Filipovic trying to control the position from guard on top but Mills is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mills wants to stand up but Filipovic is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Filipovic looking to pass the guard.
Mills will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Mills seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Mills keeping moving, preventing Filipovic from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Filipovic 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.
Mirko Filipovic has got the better of the ground game so far.
Filipovic wants to pass the guard but Mills is keeping the position.
Mills looking to control.
Filipovic tries to free his leg and advance position but Mills is retaining full guard.
Mills keeping moving, preventing Filipovic from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mills pulls Filipovic in close to prevent any damage.
Mills controls Filipovic momentarily but Filipovic frees himself.
Mills manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Filipovic manages to get himself to full guard.

Filipovic has his foot on Mills's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Mills works his way back into a safe position though.
Filipovic is breathing heavily.

Filipovic working for a triangle but Mills defends it easily.

Mills got a little sloppy there for a moment and Filipovic has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Mills has managed to get both his arms back between Filipovic's legs - danger averted.
Mills lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mills lands a couple of digs.
Mills throwing strikes but missing.

Filipovic escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Mills gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Mills postures up and lands a big shot to Filipovic's brow.
Mills working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Filipovic's head.

Filipovic is looking for a triangle but Mills pushes his legs off easily.

Filipovic looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Filipovic can do anything to dispel that myth.
Mills landing with the ground and pound.
Mills with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Mills connects with a couple of short punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Filipovic has an active guard here but Mills has managed to pass into half guard.

Mills is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Mills connects with a nice short shot to Filipovic's temple.

Filipovic is defending against the submission attempts here by Mills.
Mills is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Mills is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Filipovic has managed to free his arm - good work.
Filipovic on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
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 Herman Mills will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Mills looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Filipovic has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Mills is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Filipovic.
Mills has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Mills tries to stand but Filipovic is controlling his head.
Mills grinds an elbow into Filipovic's temple.
Filipovic tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Mills wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mills tries for a kimura but Filipovic is defending well.
Mills cracks Filipovic with a big elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mills goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Filipovic rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Mills's guard! Nice work there by Filipovic!
Filipovic wants to control from the top but Mills keeps moving.
Mills pulls Filipovic in close to his closed guard and prevents Filipovic from doing any damage or advancing position.

Filipovic 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.
Filipovic takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Filipovic advances to half guard.
Mills holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Filipovic wants to free his trapped foot but Mills is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Mills is looking to control Filipovic's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Mills avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Filipovic is working for a submission of some sort.
Mills is controlling Filipovic's trapped leg to prevent Filipovic from advancing to side control.
Mills is looking to control Filipovic's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Mills avoid being mounted?
Filipovic seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Mills does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Filipovic is looking to advance position but Mills won't allow it.
Filipovic wants to take a breather but Mills is having none of it.
Mills is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mills tries to roll over but Filipovic keeps him under control.
Filipovic seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Mills does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Filipovic gets caught flat footed, as Mills shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Mills keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Filipovic's head.
Mills landing with the ground and pound.

Filipovic had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Mills defends it easily.
Mills cracks Filipovic with a solid left hand.
Mills has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Filipovic is proving hard to escape from.

Filipovic is looking for a triangle but Mills pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mills wants to get up but he can't break Filipovic's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Filipovic looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Mills working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Mills chips away with some ground and pound.

Filipovic is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Mills defends well.
Mills is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Mills working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Filipovic escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Mills gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mills lands a couple of elbows.

And that's the end of the fight!
Herman Mills showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mills has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

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