PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Remus Filipovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matthew Ball (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Remus Filipovic has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Filipovic
vs
Ball

188 cm
20
195 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

197 cm
23
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Remus Filipovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Matthew Ball!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Vladimir Khabensky and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ball tries to clinch up.
Ball tries to close the distance and clinch but Filipovic swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Filipovic fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Filipovic scores with a punch to the head.
Ball takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Nice body punch from Filipovic.
Ball lands a high kick!
Ball looks winded!
Filipovic lands with a nice combination. Ball backs away looking to recover.
Filipovic scores with a one two! Ball had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

It looks like Matthew Ball has been cut.
Ball looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Filipovic takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Ball takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Filipovic throws a series of punches but Ball moves out of range.
Filipovic lands an overhand right.

Ball is rocked!
Filipovic swinging wildly here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ball closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Ball lands in his opponent's guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Filipovic has control of Ball's left arm, preventing Ball from doing any damage.
Ball won't allow Filipovic to get back to his feet.
Ball trying to stand up but can't free himself from Filipovic's guard.
Filipovic is controlling Ball's posture.
Filipovic on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Filipovic tries to get out of the position.
Filipovic avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ball is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic is trying to keep Ball in close.
Ball won't allow Filipovic to get back to his feet.
Ball would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Filipovic throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ball.
Filipovic throws a right and a left that Ball avoids nicely.

Ball pushes Filipovic up against the cage in a clinch.
Ball tries to break the clinch but Filipovic is controlling the position.
Filipovic wants to break the clinch but can't.
Filipovic tries to break free but Ball pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ball is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Filipovic is keeping busy.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Ball can't get the takedown.
Ball prevents Filipovic from breaking the clinch.
Filipovic wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ball has him pressed against the cage.
Filipovic just leaning against Ball, taking a breather.
Ball tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Filipovic working hard to break the clinch.

Ball manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Filipovic!
Ball dodges the punch combination from Filipovic.
Remus Filipovic is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ball throws a head kick that misses
and Filipovic counters with a three punch combo that has Ball backing up. Ball nods at Filipovic to acknowledge the strikes.
Ball wants to clinch
and Filipovic counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Ball takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Filipovic misses with a two punch combination.
Filipovic closes the distance and lands a one-two.
No joy there for Filipovic, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ball fails with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Remus Filipovic dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Matthew Ball's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Filipovic scores with a body shot.
Filipovic moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Ball has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Ball gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Filipovic counters with a one-two to the body.
Ball throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Filipovic will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ball is breathing heavily.
Filipovic lands a nice hook to Ball's body. Ball takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Sloppy strikes from Filipovic. Those never looked like landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Filipovic throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ball has a takedown stuffed.
Filipovic scores with a one two! Ball had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Filipovic throws a series of punches but Ball avoids them all with ease.
Ball throws a hook but Filipovic avoids it easily.
Filipovic misses with a two punch combination.
Ball tries to clinch up but Filipovic circles away and keeps his distance.
Filipovic lands a nice hook to Ball's body. Ball takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Ball has his takedown stuffed
and Filipovic counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Remus Filipovic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matthew Ball.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ball drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Filipovic takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Filipovic changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Filipovic fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Remus Filipovic is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Filipovic swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ball has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Ball lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Ball tries to clinch up but Filipovic circles away and keeps his distance.
Sloppy strikes from Filipovic. Those never looked like landing.

Ball has Filipovic up against the cage in a clinch.
Filipovic wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ball keeps control of Filipovic as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Filipovic is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Filipovic avoids a wild elbow strike from Ball.
Filipovic is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ball can do to turn this around?
Filipovic on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Filipovic lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Filipovic wants to break free but Ball has control.
I was talking to Filipovic's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Filipovic wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Ball is trying to pull guard but Filipovic has him pressed against the cage.

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.

Filipovic breaks from the clinch.
Filipovic connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Filipovic ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ball moves away.
And Ball tries to counter it with a takedown but Filipovic pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Matthew Ball seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ball misses with a double jab.
Filipovic lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Filipovic is looking to wear down Ball with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

Ball closes the distance and clinches.
Ball is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Ball looking to stall.
Ball keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Filipovic's efforts to push away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Remus Filipovic dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Matthew Ball's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Ball is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ball throws a lazy head kick
and Filipovic counters with a straight right hand.
Filipovic throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ball unleashes a big counter combination but Filipovic bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Filipovic throws a series of punches but Ball avoids them all with ease.
Filipovic lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Ball backs up against the cage.
Ball fails with an attempt to clinch.
Filipovic throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Filipovic stuns Ball with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ball takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Ball goes for a double leg but Filipovic avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Filipovic continues to drive forward.
Filipovic swinging wildly here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Filipovic lands a jab-cross combination.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Filipovic closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Remus Filipovic is winning the standup battle so far.
Filipovic blocks a head kick by Ball.
Filipovic lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Filipovic.
Ball throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ball shoots for a double leg takedown but Filipovic sprawls well. He's pushed Ball's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Filipovic misses with a two punch combination.
Ball throws out a counter right but Filipovic avoids it with no problem.
Ball tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Filipovic manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ball tries to clinch but Filipovic is having none of it.
Filipovic seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Filipovic tries to bum rush Ball with a series of wild strikes but Ball uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A head kick misses from Ball.
Filipovic went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Filipovic lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
A good leg kick by Ball.
Ball tries to clinch up but Filipovic circles away and keeps his distance.
Filipovic swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ball tries to clinch up but Filipovic circles away and keeps his distance.
Ball lands a head kick. Filipovic smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Filipovic misses with the combination.
Filipovic slips a jab and a cross from Ball.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good shot there by Filipovic.
Filipovic throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Ball fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Filipovic avoids it really well and circles away.
Remus Filipovic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matthew Ball.
Ball takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Ball takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Ball throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Filipovic's waist but Filipovic gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ball off to one side.
Ball looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Filipovic is fending him off so far but Ball persists. Nope, Filipovic circles away and we're back to standing.
Filipovic swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Ball fails in his attempt to clinch.
Filipovic throws a body punch but Ball moves out of range.

Ball moves into the clinch.
Filipovic has had enough of the clinch but Ball keeps him there for the moment.
Filipovic prevents a body shot from Ball.
Ball fails to pull guard.
Filipovic wants to break the clinch but can't.
Matthew Ball has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ball missing with knees to the body.
Remus Filipovic is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ball has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Ball prevents Filipovic from breaking the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Remus Filipovic showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Filipovic, 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Remus Filipovic!