PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between JC Seraphim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hell Filipovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hell Filipovic has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with JC Seraphim's chin.

Seraphim
vs
Filipovic

183 cm
24
180 lbs
4 - 8 - 0

155 cm
25
175 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very strong

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

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 4 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, JC Seraphim!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Hell Filipovic!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Colin Fray and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Filipovic fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Seraphim to the ground. Filipovic is now in Seraphim's guard.

Seraphim had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Filipovic defends it easily.
Filipovic pushes down on Seraphim's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Filipovic is thwarting Seraphim's attempts to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Filipovic throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Filipovic throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Seraphim knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Filipovic on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Seraphim is trying to get back to full guard.
Filipovic throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Filipovic is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Seraphim wants to control but Filipovic is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Seraphim keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Filipovic missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Seraphim is looking to improve his position.
Seraphim tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Filipovic manages to move to mount!

Filipovic has hold of Seraphim's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Seraphim manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Seraphim wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Filipovic.
Filipovic avoids the attempt from Seraphim to control.
Filipovic throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Seraphim because Filipovic loaded up on that one.
Seraphim working to try and regain half guard.
Seraphim wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Filipovic.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic looking to finish with strikes here!
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Filipovic has eaten all the pies!
Filipovic punching from mount but Seraphim doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Seraphim is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Seraphim holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Filipovic tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Seraphim tries to hold on but Filipovic postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Seraphim manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Seraphim tries to roll over but Filipovic keeps him under control.
Filipovic trying to mount his opponent but Seraphim defends it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Seraphim trying to control from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Seraphim is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Filipovic's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Filipovic's back!
What can Filipovic do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Seraphim looking to hold on to the position here but Filipovic rolls and ends up regaining guard.
Seraphim chips away with some ground and pound.
Filipovic keeping moving, preventing Seraphim from controlling successfully.
Seraphim is looking to stand up but Filipovic won't let him.

Seraphim decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Filipovic shoots in for a takedown but Seraphim shows good takedown defense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Seraphim scores with a nice strike.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Filipovic is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Seraphim works on Filipovic's body with a couple of short punches.
Seraphim is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Seraphim obliges.
Seraphim on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Seraphim.
Filipovic looks winded!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Seraphim crunches a lovely knee into Filipovic's ribcage.
Seraphim lands with a left to the head.
Seraphim landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Seraphim will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Filipovic up against the cage.
Filipovic has a couple of punches blocked by Seraphim.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Hell Filipovic will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Filipovic looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Seraphim is fending him off so far but Filipovic persists. Nope, Seraphim circles away and we're back to standing.

Filipovic feints and as Seraphim raises his hands in defense, Filipovic changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Seraphim definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Filipovic won't allow Seraphim to get back to his feet.
Filipovic preventing the sweep.
Filipovic postures up.
Filipovic won't allow Seraphim to sweep him here.

Seraphim pushes Filipovic off and gets back to his feet.

Seraphim closes the distance and pushes Filipovic back into the cage.

Seraphim's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Filipovic wants to clinch.
Seraphim turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Seraphim drives through and clinches with Filipovic against the cage.
Seraphim drops down looking for an ankle pick but Filipovic pulls his leg out and moves away.
Nice shot lands for Seraphim.
Filipovic has his takedown stuffed

and Seraphim counters by clinching up.
Seraphim trying to land knees to the body.

Seraphim has clasped his hands together around Filipovic's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Filipovic is letting Seraphim control him for a moment.
Seraphim wants to lay and pray for a moment but Filipovic keeps working.
Filipovic is trying to buck Seraphim off.
Filipovic misses with an elbow from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Seraphim is looking to take a break and control but Filipovic is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Seraphim taking a break here but Filipovic is having none of it and regains half guard.

Filipovic looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Seraphim is looking to stall here but Filipovic recovers full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Seraphim wants to stand but Filipovic is controlling his posture from full guard.
Seraphim slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Seraphim wants to stand but Filipovic is controlling his posture from full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Filipovic showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Seraphim.
Filipovic gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Seraphim.

It looks like Hell Filipovic has been cut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Filipovic shoots in for a takedown but Seraphim shows good takedown defense.
JC Seraphim has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hell Filipovic.
Seraphim shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Filipovic but Filipovic pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Seraphim throws a looping overhand right but Filipovic ducks down to avoid it.
Seraphim scores with a jab. Filipovic acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Filipovic wants to clinch up but Seraphim keeps it at a distance.
Seraphim misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Filipovic doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Seraphim counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Seraphim.
Filipovic misses with a knee strike.
Filipovic tries to stall but Seraphim uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Seraphim is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Filipovic can do to turn this around?
Filipovic stops a takedown attempt from Seraphim.
Seraphim tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Seraphim lands a right hand that snaps the head of Filipovic backwards.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Seraphim connects with a nasty looking knee right to Filipovic's face.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JC Seraphim dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Hell Filipovic's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Seraphim connects with a right hand. Filipovic shakes it off.
Seraphim scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Seraphim dives in for a single leg takedown but Filipovic sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Seraphim takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Hell Filipovic is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Seraphim fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Filipovic.
Filipovic stuffs the takedown attempt from Seraphim. Seraphim gets slowly back to his feet.
Filipovic shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Seraphim as he avoids it easily.

Filipovic shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Seraphim napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Seraphim can't do much from the bottom here.
Filipovic sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Seraphim is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Seraphim wants to get back to his feet.
Filipovic has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Filipovic throws an elbow but Seraphim slips to the side and avoids it well.
Filipovic looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Seraphim is avoiding damage well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Filipovic in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Seraphim is trying to control Filipovic's posture but Filipovic avoids it.

Filipovic thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Seraphim wants to control but Filipovic postures up.
Seraphim is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Sloppy strikes there by Filipovic.
Seraphim is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Filipovic asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Filipovic throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

Filipovic is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Seraphim has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Seraphim tries to bench press Filipovic off him but Filipovic keeps the position.
Filipovic throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Seraphim gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Seraphim kicks off Filipovic and gets to his feet.
Seraphim throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Seraphim enables Filipovic to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Seraphim manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Seraphim utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Filipovic in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hell Filipovic has got the better of the ground game so far.
Filipovic prevents Seraphim from getting back to his feet.
Seraphim looking to hit a scissor sweep but Filipovic is one step ahead there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Filipovic throwing strikes from guard but Seraphim blocks nicely.
Filipovic working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Seraphim working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Filipovic.
Seraphim utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Filipovic is looking to work some ground and pound but Seraphim has wrist control.
Seraphim utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Seraphim tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Seraphim has control of Filipovic's left arm, preventing Filipovic from doing any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Seraphim lands a nice looking kick to the body. Filipovic takes a step back to recover.
Seraphim fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for JC Seraphim. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Seraphim moves into range and clinches up with Filipovic.

Seraphim's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Filipovic moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Seraphim cracks Filipovic with an open hand slap.
Seraphim is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Seraphim scores with a crisp jab that stopped Filipovic in his tracks.
Filipovic shoots in for a double leg but Seraphim sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Seraphim scores with a kick to the midsection.
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!
Seraphim leaves Filipovic with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Filipovic walks into a straight right hand from Seraphim.
Filipovic tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to JC Seraphim.
I think Seraphim 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 Josh West scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... JC Seraphim!