PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marko Petrovic (ranked 3081 p4p, 286 weight class) and Jay Villanueva (ranked 2455 p4p, 246 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Petrovic
vs
Villanueva

190 cm
24
265 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

190 cm
26
220 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Marko Petrovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jay Villanueva!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Saam Ante and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Villanueva closes the distance and pushes Petrovic back into the cage.
Petrovic takes a knee right on the jaw!
Villanueva looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Knees in the clinch landing for Villanueva.
Villanueva putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Petrovic in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Petrovic is breathing heavily.
Petrovic takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Marko Petrovic has been cut.
Villanueva landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Villanueva connects with a knee to the head.
Villanueva unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Villanueva lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Knees to the body from Villanueva.
Villanueva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Petrovic's face.
Villanueva connects with a knee to the head.
Villanueva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Petrovic's face.
Villanueva lands a knee to the body.
Villanueva utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Villanueva unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Villanueva unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Villanueva with a knee to the head.
Villanueva landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Villanueva landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Villanueva.
Villanueva scores with a knee to the head.
Villanueva landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Villanueva using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Villanueva landing knees to the head.
Villanueva using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Petrovic takes a knee right on the jaw!
Villanueva putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Petrovic in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Villanueva crunches a lovely knee into Petrovic's ribcage.
Villanueva crunches a lovely knee into Petrovic's ribcage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Villanueva scores with a knee to the head.
Villanueva lands a knee to the head.
Villanueva landing knees to the head.
Villanueva is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Villanueva landing knees to the head.
Villanueva lands a good knee to the midsection. Petrovic won't want to take too many of those.
Villanueva unloads a knee to the mid-section.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Villanueva.
Villanueva scores with a knee to the head.
Petrovic is looking for a takedown.
A knee to the head by Villanueva.
Villanueva has Petrovic pressed against the cage, preventing Petrovic from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Villanueva landing knees to the body.
Villanueva lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Petrovic tries to score a body lock takedown but Villanueva shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marko Petrovic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Petrovic takes a knee right on the jaw!
Villanueva with a knee to the head.
Villanueva with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Petrovic has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Villanueva after a bit of a struggle.
Villanueva lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Villanueva with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Petrovic wants a takedown.
Villanueva landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Villanueva landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Villanueva with a knee to the head.

Petrovic pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Villanueva misses with a kick to the body.

Villanueva forces Petrovic back against the cage and clinches.
Knees to the body from Villanueva.
Villanueva lands a knee to the head.
Petrovic changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Villanueva fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Villanueva clinches.
Villanueva lands a knee to the body.
Villanueva scores with a knee to the head.
Petrovic is trying to break free.
Villanueva lands a good knee to the midsection. Petrovic won't want to take too many of those.
Villanueva lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Villanueva landing knees to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Villanueva.
Villanueva unloads a knee to the mid-section. Petrovic lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Villanueva unloads a knee to the mid-section. Petrovic lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Villanueva crunches a lovely knee into Petrovic's ribcage.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Petrovic misses with a short punch on the inside.
Villanueva with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Villanueva utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Villanueva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Petrovic's face.
A frustrated look appears on Petrovic's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Villanueva connects with a knee to the head.
Villanueva scores with a knee to the head.
Villanueva working Petrovic over with knees to the body.
Petrovic takes a knee to the side of the body.
Villanueva crunches a lovely knee into Petrovic's ribcage.
Petrovic is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Villanueva pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Petrovic tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Villanueva is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Villanueva.
Petrovic wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Petrovic takes a knee right on the jaw!
Villanueva lands a knee to the head.
Petrovic drops down looking for an ankle pick but Villanueva pulls his leg out and moves away.

Villanueva clinches.
Villanueva landing knees to the head.
Villanueva lands a knee to the body.
Villanueva unloads a knee to the mid-section. Petrovic lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Knees to the body from Villanueva.
Villanueva lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Villanueva lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Villanueva with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Petrovic drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Villanueva with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Villanueva with a knee to the head.
Villanueva landing knees to the body.
Villanueva landing knees to the body.
Villanueva using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Petrovic has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Petrovic is trying to break free.
Villanueva landing knees to the head.

Villanueva is fighting off a takedown attempt but Petrovic is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Villanueva to the mat. Villanueva regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Villanueva is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Petrovic not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Petrovic stopping the sweep attempt from Villanueva.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Petrovic's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Villanueva is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Petrovic's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Villanueva has momentary wrist control but Petrovic slips an elbow through the middle.
Petrovic trying to control but Villanueva is working from the bottom.
Villanueva is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Petrovic throws an overhand right that lands on Villanueva's shoulder, as Villanueva tries to avoid the shot.

Villanueva moves into the clinch.
Villanueva landing knees to the head.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Villanueva is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Villanueva lands a nice knee to the body.
Villanueva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Petrovic's face.
Villanueva connects with a knee to the head.
Villanueva landing knees to the head.

Petrovic gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
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!
Villanueva wants to get back to full guard.
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. Petrovic connects with a nice short shot to Villanueva's temple.
Villanueva wants to control but Petrovic is keeping busy.
Villanueva is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Petrovic is staying active.
Villanueva taking some punishment here, with Petrovic in his half guard.
Petrovic keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Villanueva looks like he's trying to stand up.
Petrovic content to control rather than advance.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Petrovic's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Petrovic wants to control but Villanueva is keeping him busy.

Petrovic is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Villanueva is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Petrovic with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jay Villanueva dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Marko Petrovic's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Villanueva tries to close the distance and clinch up but Petrovic swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Petrovic looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Villanueva misses with a low kick.
Villanueva has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Villanueva keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Petrovic.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Knees in the clinch landing for Villanueva.
Villanueva landing knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Villanueva.
Villanueva working Petrovic over with knees to the body.
Villanueva landing knees to the body.
Petrovic takes a knee to the side of the body.
Villanueva lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Petrovic is working for takedown but Villanueva is calmly controlling the position for now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Villanueva landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Villanueva scores with a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Villanueva.
Villanueva putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Petrovic in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Villanueva scores with a knee to the head.
Petrovic is trying to push Villanueva away but Villanueva has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Knees to the body from Villanueva.
Petrovic takes a knee right on the jaw!
Petrovic drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Villanueva scores a nice knee to the body.
Petrovic takes a knee right on the jaw!
Petrovic is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Villanueva with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Villanueva landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Petrovic is trying to drag Villanueva to the mat but Villanueva just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marko Petrovic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Villanueva is pressed up against the cage. Petrovic has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Villanueva down to the mat. Villanueva avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Villanueva looks to land a body kick but Petrovic moved away.
Petrovic circles away from the clinch attempt.
Villanueva chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Villanueva tries to clinch up.

Petrovic pushes Villanueva up against the cage in a clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Villanueva with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Villanueva scores a nice knee to the body.
Petrovic has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Villanueva after a bit of a struggle.
Petrovic takes a knee right on the jaw!
Villanueva lands a good knee to the midsection. Petrovic won't want to take too many of those.
Villanueva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Petrovic's face.
Villanueva scores a nice knee to the body.
Villanueva with a knee to the head.
Villanueva putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Petrovic in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Petrovic has had enough of the clinch but Villanueva keeps him there for the moment.
Villanueva scores a nice knee to the body.
Villanueva lands a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Villanueva crunches a lovely knee into Petrovic's ribcage.
Petrovic tries to break free but Villanueva pushes him back against the cage.
Villanueva landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Petrovic gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Petrovic is controlling the pace.
Petrovic wants to take a breather but Villanueva is having none of it.
Petrovic slows the pace down in half guard.
Petrovic not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Petrovic wants to work for an arm triangle but Villanueva is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Villanueva is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Villanueva wants to improve his position but Petrovic is controlling well.
Villanueva is trying to stand.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Villanueva can do anything to dispel that myth.
Villanueva wants to get back to full guard.
Petrovic content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Villanueva is looking to improve his position.
Petrovic working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Petrovic slows the pace down in half guard.
Ground and pound from Petrovic.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Petrovic is controlling the pace.
Petrovic seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Villanueva does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Petrovic landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Petrovic seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Villanueva does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Villanueva wants to get back to his feet.
Villanueva really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Petrovic. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Villanueva kicks off Petrovic and gets to his feet.

Villanueva clinches with his opponent.

Petrovic gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Villanueva regains guard.
Marko Petrovic overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Villanueva keeping moving, preventing Petrovic from controlling successfully.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Petrovic slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Petrovic trying to control but Villanueva is working from the bottom.
Petrovic won't allow Villanueva to sweep him here.
Petrovic controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Petrovic throwing strikes from guard but Villanueva blocks nicely.
Petrovic preventing the sweep.
Villanueva working a defensive guard here.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Petrovic passes Villanueva's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Villanueva taking some punishment here, with Petrovic in his half guard.
Petrovic perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Villanueva is not content to let Petrovic control the position.
Villanueva on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Villanueva is trying to stand back up but Petrovic is controlling him
Petrovic wants to lay and pray for a moment but Villanueva keeps working.
Petrovic trying to control the pace.
Petrovic lands strikes from half guard.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Petrovic thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Villanueva's head.
Petrovic not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Petrovic has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Petrovic is trying to work for a kimura but Villanueva is defending well.
Petrovic throwing shots but Villanueva is blocking nicely.
Villanueva is trying to maintain the position but Petrovic is very close to passing his half guard.
Villanueva is looking to improve his position.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Petrovic lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Petrovic is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Villanueva is trying to stand back up but Petrovic is controlling him
Petrovic controlling the pace.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Villanueva instigates a clinch.
Petrovic can't break the clinch.
Villanueva landing knees to the head.
Villanueva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Petrovic's face.
Marko Petrovic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Petrovic has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Villanueva after a bit of a struggle.
Villanueva landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Petrovic takes a knee right on the jaw!
Jay Villanueva is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Petrovic is looking to break free of the clinch but Villanueva has double underhooks.
Villanueva working Petrovic over with knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jay Villanueva comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Villanueva has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight for Jay Villanueva!
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight for Jay Villanueva!
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight for Jay Villanueva!

Jay Villanueva wins by unanimous decision!
Jay Villanueva thanked the fans post fight for their support.