PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rex Rich (ranked 25073 p4p, 0 weight class) and Najdet Filinov (ranked 7617 p4p, 0 weight class). Najdet Filinov has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Rich
vs
Filinov

173 cm
19
161 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

182 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 1 - 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 lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rex Rich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Najdet Filinov!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, John Roberts and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rich moves out of range of the body kick from Filinov.
Rich tries to clinch up.
Filinov is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Horrible takedown attempt by Filinov or perhaps it was just good defense by Rich, which made it look bad.
Rich feinted with a counter takedown.
Filinov throws a combination that misses

and Rich counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rich.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Filinov has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rich can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Filinov has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Rich has passed into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Filinov tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Rich wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Rich tries to stand but Filinov is controlling his head.
Filinov is trying to get back to half guard.
Rich wants to stand but Filinov is controlling his arm.
Rich lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Filinov down.
Filinov tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Rich easily slips into full mount!
Rich prevents Filinov from getting the reversal.
Rich landing punches.
Rich landing strikes, looking to finish!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rich is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Filinov can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Rich is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Filinov can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Rich trying to control but Filinov is having none of it.
Rich is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Filinov tries to improve his position but instead Rich has taken his back!

Rich patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

Filinov is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
You can see the frustration on Filinov's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rich is persistently looking for the submission but Filinov is defending it well.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rich is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Filinov defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Filinov turns into Rich and is now in his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Filinov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rich controlling the position.
Filinov passes into half guard.
Rich pushes Filinov off looking to stand but Filinov dives back in and keeps control.
Rich keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Rich flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Filinov prevents Rich from improving his position.

Filinov is looking for a kimura here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Filinov wants to work for an arm triangle but Rich is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rex Rich 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.

Filinov looks to land a combination but Rich avoids it well.
Rich appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Filinov fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rich, pushing him back against the cage.
Rich slows down the pace here.
Rich is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Filinov taking a breather.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rich jumps guard and drags Filinov to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Filinov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rich trying to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rich can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Filinov controls the pace.
Filinov stopping the sweep attempt from Rich.
Rich avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rex Rich overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rich throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Filinov being controlled here momentarily.
Filinov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rich swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Filinov won't allow Rich to get back to his feet.
Rich is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Filinov can do to turn this around?
Filinov trying to control the position from guard on top but Rich is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
We've been informed that Filinov has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Filinov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Filinov scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Filinov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rich moves away.
Rich seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Filinov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Rich counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Filinov drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Rich is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Rich's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Rich tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Rich is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.
Filinov trying to control the position but Rich is working away.
Rich tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Filinov wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Filinov lands a nice forearm strike.
Filinov sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Rich is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
The ground and pound from Filinov seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
You can see the frustration on Rich's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rich has one of Filinov's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
Rich can't do much from the bottom here.
Filinov tries to advance position but instead Rich slips a leg back in to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rich is concentrating on defense, preventing Filinov from advancing position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Najdet Filinov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Filinov has Rich up against the cage in a clinch.

Rich is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Filinov can't fight it off and eventually Rich manages to take the fight to the floor. Filinov looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Filinov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rich is one step ahead there.
Filinov seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rich is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rich drops back looking for a leg! Filinov is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Filinov manages to kick Rich off! Rich jumps back into Filinov's guard.
Rich wants to stand and escape but instead Filinov has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Filinov won't allow Rich to get back to his feet.

Filinov thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Rich has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's two 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.
Filinov looking to sit in guard and control but Rich gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Filinov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Rich decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Filinov, up you get!
Filinov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rich fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Filinov sprawls well initially but Rich persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Rich takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Rich is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Filinov defends it well.
Filinov trying to control but Rich postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rich is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Filinov as he works his way to full guard.
Rich is stalling in the full guard.

Filinov is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rich defends well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rich trying to control the position from guard on top but Filinov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rex Rich showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rich 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rex Rich!
Najdet Filinov spoke after the fight, saying 'I'll be back.'.