PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jack Jerome (ranked 6251 p4p, 520 weight class) and Sulejman Bektic (ranked 23511 p4p, 541 weight class). Sulejman Bektic told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Jerome
vs
Bektic

187 cm
21
181 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
20
170 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jack Jerome!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sulejman Bektic!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Ivan Kurochkin and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bektic instigates a clinch.

Jerome breaks from the clinch.
Jerome throws a head kick that misses.
Jerome misses with a wild combination.

Jerome has taken the fight to the clinch.
Bektic missing with knees to the body.

Jerome pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Jerome darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Jerome lands with a punch from half guard.
Bektic wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jerome content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bektic trying to control but Jerome postures up.
Bektic flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Jerome seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Bektic is looking to escape.

Jerome decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

Bektic fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Jerome, pushing him back against the cage.
Bektic is trying to force a seperation but Jerome has the dominant position.
Bektic fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Jerome jumps into guard, dragging Bektic to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jerome wants to sweep here but Bektic controlling him for the moment.
Jerome is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Jerome takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Bektic gets full guard.
Jerome with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Bektic working for a triangle but Jerome defends it easily.
Jerome content to stall in guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jerome trying to stand up but can't free himself from Bektic's guard.
Bektic wants to sweep but no luck.
Bektic utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Bektic really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Jerome. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Bektic is trying to control the position but Jerome postures up.

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.
Jerome distracts Bektic with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Jerome works over Bektic with some ground and pound from guard.
Jerome 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.
Jerome passes Bektic's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Jerome perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Jerome seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Bektic for as long as he can get away with.
Bektic has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Jerome is working away from the top position though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bektic is looking to escape.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Jerome 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.

Bektic tries to clinch up.
Jerome uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bektic.
Jerome misses with a hook.
Jerome lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Bektic fails with an attempt to clinch.
Jerome leaves Bektic with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Jerome gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Bektic throws a knee to the head but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Jerome breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Jerome will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Bektic shoots in but no luck this time.

Jerome closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jerome gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Bektic regains guard.
Jerome trying to stand up but can't free himself from Bektic's guard.
Jerome stays in close to Bektic's body and controls the position.
Jerome postures up.
Jerome loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Jerome gets to his feet. Bektic looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
No joy there for Jerome, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Bektic will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
It looked like Jerome was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Bektic.
Jack Jerome has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sulejman Bektic.

Jerome closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Bektic to the mat! Bektic manages to get full guard.
Bektic wants to get back to his feet but Jerome is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jerome with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Jack Jerome overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Jerome is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Bektic 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.

Bektic has his foot on Jerome's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Jerome works his way back into a safe position though.
Bektic is breathing heavily.
Jerome passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jerome is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Jerome looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Bektic with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Bektic blocking the ground and pound attempt from Jerome.
Jerome not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Jerome in particular looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Bektic on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Bektic tries to get to full guard but Jerome has control of the leg.
Jerome is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Jerome throwing shots but Bektic is blocking nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jerome trying to control the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bektic tests Jerome's chin there with a solid looking shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Jerome dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Bektic looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
It looked like Jerome wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
A jab from Jerome does it's job there.
Bektic moves in looking to clinch but Jerome pushes him off.
Jerome throwing a counter right hand but Bektic manages to avoid it.
Jerome lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Bektic is rocked!

It looks like Sulejman Bektic has been cut.
No joy there for Jerome, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Jerome looking to score a takedown here. Bektic is defending well but Jerome drives through and ends up in Bektic's guard.
Bektic is still in real trouble! Can Jerome finish him?
Jerome is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Bektic seems to have recovered his senses.
Bektic trying to control the position.
Bektic looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bektic working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Jerome.
Jerome slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Jerome prevents Bektic from getting back to his feet.
Bektic looking to control.
Jerome is stalling in the full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Jerome fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bektic manages to avoid it.
Bektic changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Bektic takes one on the button.
Bektic avoids the head kick by Jerome.

Jerome closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Bektic's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bektic looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Jerome has picked Bektic up and slammed him! Bektic can't keep hold of the triangle and Jerome manages to pass to side control!
Bektic takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Jerome misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Jerome lands an elbow.
Jerome creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Bektic sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

Jerome is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Bektic looks calm but he's in trouble here. Jerome gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Bektic is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Jerome lets go of the hold and Bektic can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Jack Jerome!