PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Gustavo Miranda (ranked 7473 p4p, 0 weight class) and Filip Rakovich (ranked 4318 p4p, 197 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Miranda
vs
Rakovich

170 cm
18
130 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

162 cm
25
133 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gustavo Miranda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Filip Rakovich!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Daniel Bishop and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Miranda gets caught flat footed, as Rakovich shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Rakovich looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Let's hope that Rakovich has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rakovich scoring with punches to the head and body.

Miranda working for a triangle but Rakovich defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Miranda has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Rakovich 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 Miranda.
Miranda takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

Rakovich thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Miranda wants to control but Rakovich postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rakovich decides to stand back up.
Rakovich misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rakovich scores with a nice head shot.
Rakovich tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Miranda with a poor takedown
and Rakovich counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Miranda is rocked!
Miranda shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rakovich as he avoids it easily.
Oh Miranda is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Miranda closes the distance and clinches up with Rakovich, looking for a takedown. Miranda pushes Rakovich against the cage but Rakovich circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gustavo Miranda. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Miranda avoids the head kick by Rakovich.

Rakovich rushes Miranda and presses him up against the cage.

Rakovich lands a takedown into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rakovich 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.
Miranda managing to control the position.
Miranda seems to have got his legs back now.
Miranda is breathing heavily.
Rakovich scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miranda being controlled here, momentarily.
Rakovich looking to pass the guard.
Miranda tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rakovich controls from within his opponent's guard.
We've been informed that Rakovich has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

Rakovich stands up from Miranda's guard - Rakovich perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Rakovich shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Miranda manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Miranda wants to sweep here but Rakovich controlling him for the moment.
Rakovich pushes down on Miranda's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Rakovich looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Miranda with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rakovich looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Filip Rakovich dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Rakovich misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Rakovich 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.
Miranda is trying to control the position but Rakovich postures up.

Miranda looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Rakovich passes into side control.
Miranda is looking for a sweep.

Rakovich has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Miranda clinches.
Miranda wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rakovich has him pressed against the cage.

Rakovich tightens his grip and picks Miranda up, before dumping him to the ground. Miranda manages to land in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rakovich wants to pass the guard but Miranda is keeping the position.
Miranda has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Rakovich works over Miranda with some ground and pound from guard.
Rakovich looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Rakovich has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Miranda has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Rakovich has passed into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Miranda is trying to control Rakovich's posture but Rakovich avoids it.
Rakovich looks up at the clock and then as Miranda takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Rakovich smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

Rakovich stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Miranda tries to sprawl but Rakovich drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Miranda tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Rakovich has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Rakovich looking to control and managing it successfully.
Filip Rakovich has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miranda sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Rakovich with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Rakovich is trying to work for a kimura but Miranda is defending well.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Rakovich's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rakovich wants to free his trapped foot but Miranda is holding on for dear life with his legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Filip Rakovich showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Miranda slips a straight right by Rakovich.
Rakovich defending well as Miranda loads up on a big left hand.
Rakovich is looking for the big counter here.
Miranda shoots in for a takedown but Rakovich shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Miranda blocks a head kick by Rakovich.
Miranda tries a low kick but Rakovich avoids it.
Miranda misses with a straight left.
Rakovich circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rakovich feints the counter takedown.
Gustavo Miranda is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Rakovich gets the takedown into side control.

Miranda throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miranda fails in his attempt to clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Miranda tries to sprawl but Rakovich drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Miranda tries to kick Rakovich off in order to stand up. Rakovich Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rakovich lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Miranda down.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rakovich is working to tighten his grip on Miranda's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Miranda has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Rakovich is really squeezing tight and eventually Miranda passes out! Rakovich breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:24 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Filip Rakovich!