PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mirko Filipovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Takhi Mahkah (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mahkah has chosen Slipknot- Disasterpiece as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Filipovic
vs
Mahkah

188 cm
22
213 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

186 cm
22
204 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Mirko Filipovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Takhi Mahkah!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Richard Clark and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Filipovic buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Mahkah takes a kick to the side of the head.
Filipovic misses with a head kick.
Mahkah throws out a leg kick but Filipovic moves out of range and Mahkah only half commits.
Filipovic throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Filipovic throws a head kick that misses.
Mahkah misses with a leg kick
and Filipovic makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Filipovic throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Mahkah's head.
Filipovic rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mahkah moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Filipovic on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Mahkah closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Mahkah is trying to control the action in half guard but Filipovic is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Filipovic pushes Mahkah off looking to stand but Mahkah dives back in and keeps control.
Mahkah prevents Filipovic from improving his position.
Filipovic pushes Mahkah off looking to stand but Mahkah dives back in and keeps control.
Mahkah not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Filipovic is trying to stand back up but Mahkah is controlling him
Filipovic is refusing to be controlled, as Mahkah sits in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Filipovic wants to get back to full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Filipovic moves forwards but Mahkah connects with a nice, crisp jab.
A head kick misses from Filipovic.
Filipovic throws a head kick that Mahkah semi-blocks.
Filipovic is breathing heavily.

Mahkah fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Filipovic sprawls well initially but Mahkah persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Mahkah is looking for a kimura but Filipovic is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Mahkah to get the leverage.
Mahkah winds up and cracks Filipovic with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
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. Mahkah connects with a nice short shot to Filipovic's temple.

Mahkah seems to be working for a kimura but Filipovic defends the submission attempt.
The fighters are battling for position here. Filipovic manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Mahkah postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mahkah is working Filipovic over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Mahkah trying to control the position from guard on top but Filipovic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mahkah has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Filipovic wants to control the pace but Mahkah is squirming around nicely.
Mahkah tries to hold on but Filipovic postures up.
Mahkah is trying desperately to improve position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Mahkah tries to hold on but Filipovic postures up.
Filipovic prevents Mahkah from getting the reversal.
Mahkah slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Mahkah manages to get to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mahkah is trying to control the position but Filipovic postures up.
Mahkah is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Mahkah works his way into side control.
Filipovic is trying to buck Mahkah off.
Filipovic is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

Mahkah is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Filipovic knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Mahkah lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mahkah working away.
Filipovic is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Mahkah asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Mahkah trying to control the position but Filipovic is working away.

Mahkah is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Filipovic knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Filipovic knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Mahkah on the ground.
Filipovic wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Filipovic is trying to improve his position.
Mahkah connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Filipovic some visible discomfort.
Mahkah working the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takhi Mahkah dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Filipovic throws a nice looking combination but Mahkah bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Filipovic throws a sloppy head kick and Mahkah moves out of range easily.
Mahkah avoids the head kick by Filipovic.
Filipovic stuffs the takedown attempt from Mahkah. Mahkah gets slowly back to his feet.
Mirko Filipovic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Filipovic feints and then cracks Mahkah's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Mahkah down.
Filipovic tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Filipovic throws a head kick that misses.
A left lands for Mahkah.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Filipovic tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Filipovic throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Mahkah's head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mahkah shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Filipovic as he avoids it easily.
Filipovic stuffs the takedown attempt from Mahkah. Mahkah gets slowly back to his feet.
Mirko Filipovic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Takhi Mahkah.
Filipovic looks to land a combination. Mahkah sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mahkah will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Filipovic lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mahkah circles away quickly and effectively.
Filipovic feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Mahkah's calf.
Filipovic tries a head kick but it misses.
Filipovic swinging wilding here.
Filipovic misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Filipovic misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Filipovic throws a sloppy head kick and Mahkah moves out of range easily.

Mahkah changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Filipovic looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Mahkah lands a decent elbow from side control.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Mahkah tries for a kimura but Filipovic is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mahkah thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Filipovic tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Mahkah wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Mahkah is looking to take a break and control but Filipovic is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Mahkah is trying to get an arm triangle but Filipovic is defending well.
Filipovic is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Mahkah's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Mahkah wants to take a breather but Filipovic is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mahkah is controlling the pace.
Mahkah trying to control from half guard but Filipovic is working away.
Filipovic is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Mahkah is nestled in close to Filipovic, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Mahkah passes the guard and advances to mount!

Mahkah looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

That's four 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.

Mahkah is working for a guillotine from mount but Filipovic frees his head quite easily.
Mahkah lands a heavy elbow.
Mahkah trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Filipovic is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Mahkah working Filipovic over with strikes here.
Filipovic is in all sorts of trouble here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Mahkah looking for a guillotine from mount but Filipovic is having none of it.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Filipovic is looking to improve his position but Mahkah isn't that keen on the idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takhi Mahkah showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Filipovic throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Filipovic scores with a nice body kick.
Filipovic tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Filipovic goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Filipovic walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
A punch combination from Mahkah misses.
Filipovic misses with a combination

and Mahkah counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Filipovic!
Filipovic really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Filipovic is squirming around, avoiding Mahkah's attempts to control the action.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mahkah in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mahkah looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Mahkah is working for a guillotine from mount but Filipovic frees his head quite easily.
Mahkah misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Filipovic can't escape the position.
Mahkah trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Filipovic really wants to buck Mahkah off and get back to his feet.

Mahkah wants to finish this one by submission but Filipovic is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Mahkah.
Filipovic is trying to escape the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Filipovic is working hard here to advance position.
Mahkah is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Filipovic can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Mahkah lands a big elbow.
Mahkah lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

Mahkah is working for a guillotine from mount but Filipovic frees his head quite easily.

Mahkah is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Filipovic has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Filipovic wants to use the ropes to get back to his feet here.
Filipovic is squirming around, avoiding Mahkah's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mahkah lands a big shot there that rocks Filipovic but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Mahkah with a couple of short strikes.
You get the feeling that Filipovic really doesn't like being in this position too much.

Mahkah is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Filipovic is surviving well by controlling Mahkah's body position as best he can.
Filipovic is in all sorts of trouble here.
Filipovic is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Filipovic taking shots to the head.
Filipovic is trying to get to the ropes to help him get back to his feet.
Mahkah in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Filipovic is looking to improve his position but Mahkah isn't that keen on the idea.
Mahkah landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mahkah working for a guillotine from mount but Filipovic is in no mood to give up.
Filipovic is wriggling around trying to escape.
Filipovic wants to try and get back to his feet.
Mahkah wants to control the pace but Filipovic is squirming around nicely.
Mahkah unloading with bombs!
Filipovic blocking the ground and pound.
Mahkah is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Filipovic can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Filipovic is squirming around, avoiding Mahkah's attempts to control the action.
Mahkah thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Mahkah throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Takhi Mahkah comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Mahkah winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Ackerman scores the fight for Takhi Mahkah!
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight for Takhi Mahkah!
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight for Takhi Mahkah!

Takhi Mahkah wins by unanimous decision!