PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Vladimir Tomcic (ranked 3003 p4p, 3516 weight class) and Anti Happy (ranked 302 p4p, 344 weight class). Happy has chosen Bvana iz lagune & Mikri Maus - AntiHepi as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Tomcic
vs
Happy

173 cm
29
156
14 - 11 - 0

172 cm
28
158
9 - 14 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vladimir Tomcic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Anti Happy!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Chris Dean and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tomcic lands with a right hand.
We've been told by Tomcic's head coaches at Desert Fitness & Training (14 Elite Coaches) that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Tomcic stuns Happy with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Nice takedown defense from Tomcic. No joy for Happy on that attempt.
Happy misses with the combination.
Tomcic falls off balance throwing a combination

and Happy counters with a single leg into guard. Tomcic didn't expect that.
Tomcic pulls Happy in to control the position.
Happy trying to control but Tomcic is working from the bottom.
Tomcic not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Happy stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tomcic swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Tomcic looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Happy loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Happy wants to get up but he can't break Tomcic's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tomcic is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Happy preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Happy wants to control from the top but Tomcic keeps moving.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tomcic working a defensive guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Tomcic throws a leg kick

and Happy counters with a takedown into side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Happy.
Tomcic avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Happy.
Tomcic wants to control but Happy postures up.
Tomcic takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Tomcic is trying to improve his position.

Happy wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Tomcic, who protects the arm well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Happy tries to move to mount but Tomcic blocks the move with his legs.
Tomcic is trying to improve his position.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Happy working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Happy misses with the ground and pound.
Happy tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Tomcic manages to work his way to half guard, despite Happy's best efforts.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Happy is working for a submission of some sort.
The fighters are battling for position here. Tomcic manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Happy trying to control the position from guard on top but Tomcic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tomcic looking to hit a scissor sweep but Happy is one step ahead there.
Happy controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Tomcic is trying to control the position but Happy postures up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Tomcic is on top in guard.

Happy working for a triangle but Tomcic defends it easily.
Tomcic sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Happy's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tomcic with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Happy manages to get to full guard.
Tomcic wants to get up but he can't break Happy's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Tomcic stands up out of Happy's guard for a moment - Happy manages to land a nice upkick.
Tomcic pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Happy is keeping the position for now.
Tomcic slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Happy working for a triangle but Tomcic defends it easily.
Tomcic would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Anti Happy dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Tomcic stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Tomcic wants it to stay on the feet.
Tomcic fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Happy manages to avoid it.
Happy with the counter takedown but Tomcic avoids it easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Happy.
Happy takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Tomcic throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Happy.
Vladimir Tomcic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anti Happy.
A jab from Tomcic does it's job there.
Tomcic moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tomcic comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Tomcic swings for the body but Happy moves out of range.
Happy goes for a double leg but Tomcic avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Tomcic continues to drive forward.
Anti Happy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tomcic takes a swing at Happy's ribcage but misses.
Happy defending well as Tomcic loads up on a big left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tomcic misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Happy with the counter takedown but Tomcic avoids it easily.
Vladimir Tomcic is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tomcic digs a good hook to Happy's body.

Happy looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Tomcic!
Tomcic is looking to reverse the position.
A control attempt from Tomcic but he's now mounted!
Tomcic is wriggling around trying to escape.
Tomcic gets back to half guard.
Tomcic is not content to let Happy control the position.
Tomcic tries to roll over but Happy keeps him under control.
Happy trying to control the action but Tomcic is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tomcic is looking for a sweep. Happy is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Tomcic trying to control but Happy postures up.
Tomcic keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Happy trying to control the action but Tomcic is working from the bottom.
Anti Happy has got the better of the ground game so far.
Tomcic has his hands clasped together around Happy's back. He's all about the action.
Happy is keen to just control but Tomcic is a slippery customer.
Tomcic is looking to control Happy's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Tomcic avoid being mounted?
Tomcic gets back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Happy is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Tomcic is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Vladimir Tomcic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Happy throws a right hand that Tomcic ducks under and follows up with a left that Tomcic also avoids with ease.
Tomcic is looking to wear down Happy with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Tomcic thuds his right hand into Happy's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Happy looks for a takedown but Tomcic sprawls well.
Happy shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Tomcic as he avoids it easily.
Tomcic dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Tomcic fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Happy tests Tomcic's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Tomcic misses with a hook. Happy ducked under it nicely.
Nice cross by Tomcic.
Happy shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Happy.
Happy is breathing heavily.
Tomcic throws a head kick but Happy moves out of range.
Tomcic tries a low kick but Happy avoids it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Happy fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Happy takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Tomcic uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Happy has time to react.
Nice sprawl there from Tomcic as Happy shoots in.
Happy tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Tomcic dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Tomcic misses with an uppercut. Happy saw that one coming.
And Happy tries to counter it with a takedown but Tomcic pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Happy misses with a takedown attempt - Tomcic sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A head kick by Tomcic misses

and Happy counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Tomcic is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Happy stopping the sweep attempt from Tomcic.
Tomcic controlling Happy's posture.
Happy throws a big elbow that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tomcic looking to control.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Tomcic holds on and takes a little breather.
Tomcic keeping full guard, as Happy tries to pass.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Happy being controlled here momentarily.
Happy looking to pass the guard.
Tomcic keeping moving, preventing Happy from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Tomcic throws an overhand right that lands on Happy's shoulder, as Happy tries to avoid the shot.
Tomcic jabs Happy right on the nose. Happy blinks but takes it well.
Tomcic misses with a straight right.
Tomcic misses with a looping left.
Happy shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Tomcic but Tomcic pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Happy shoots in for a double leg but Tomcic sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Vladimir Tomcic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anti Happy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tomcic cracks Happy with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Tomcic connects with an inside leg kick.
Happy throws a right hand that Tomcic ducks under and follows up with a left that Tomcic also avoids with ease.
Jab by Tomcic.
Happy fails with the takedown.
Happy takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Happy slips under a jab.
Happy on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Tomcic swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tomcic throws a head kick but Happy moves out of range.
Tomcic pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Happy moves away from the strike by Tomcic.
Happy shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Tomcic defends it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tomcic lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Happy misses the shot to the body.
Happy shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Tomcic but Tomcic pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Tomcic throws an off balance right hand

and Happy counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Tomcic tries to roll over but Happy keeps him under control.
Happy seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Tomcic does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Tomcic is pressing down on Happy's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Tomcic working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Happy.
Happy preventing the sweep.
Happy stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tomcic swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Happy is looking to work some ground and pound but Tomcic has wrist control.
Tomcic looking to control.
Tomcic looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Happy being controlled here momentarily.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tomcic throws out a loose jab but Happy uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tomcic pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Tomcic is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Happy can do to turn this around?

Tomcic gets caught flat footed, as Happy shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tomcic looking to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Vladimir Tomcic.
I think Tomcic 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vladimir Tomcic!
An out of breath and clearly excited Vladimir Tomcic thanked Conviction for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).