PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mitar Mrkela (ranked 3162 p4p, 23923 weight class) and Macho Camacho (ranked 398 p4p, 661 weight class). Macho Camacho will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Mrkela
vs
Camacho

184 cm
27
220
5 - 4 - 0

190 cm
29
210
11 - 13 - 1

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Insanely flexible

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mitar Mrkela!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Macho Camacho!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Chris Downing and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
An inside leg kick lands from Camacho.
A chopping leg kick lands by Camacho.
Camacho looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Mrkela blocks a head kick by Camacho.
Mrkela walks into a left hand.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Mrkela.
Mrkela throws an elbow but Camacho slips to the side and avoids it well.
The ground and pound from Mrkela seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Mrkela misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
The ground and pound from Mrkela seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Mrkela misses with the ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Camacho avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Mrkela.
Camacho manages to work his way to half guard, despite Mrkela's best efforts.
Camacho is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Mrkela's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Mrkela's back!
Camacho throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.

Camacho is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Mrkela knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Mrkela for a finish.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mrkela tries to roll but Camacho sticks to his back.
Mrkela tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Mrkela swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Mrkela throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Mrkela throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Mrkela slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Mrkela missing with punches from the bottom.
Camacho looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Mrkela missing with punches from the bottom.
Mrkela tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Camacho throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Camacho thows a huge punch but Mrkela dodges it nicely.
Camacho sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Mrkela defending well though.
Mrkela missing with punches from the bottom.
Mrkela has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mrkela flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Mrkela tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Mrkela misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Mrkela blocking the ground and pound attempt from Camacho.
Mrkela flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Camacho wants to take a breather but Mrkela is having none of it.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Mrkela punching from the bottom.
Mrkela moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Camacho must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Mrkela doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Mrkela trying to strike off his back.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Camacho accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mrkela throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Mrkela looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Camacho is trying to maintain the position but Mrkela is very close to passing his half guard.
Mrkela 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Camacho blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mrkela.

Camacho actively working from the bottom here.
Mrkela thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Camacho's head.
Camacho tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Camacho tries to get to full guard but Mrkela has control of the leg.
Mrkela not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Mrkela throwing shots but Camacho is blocking nicely.
Camacho avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Mrkela.
Mrkela thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Mrkela throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Camacho to regain full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mrkela throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Camacho works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Mrkela throws an elbow that misses. Camacho uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Mrkela's guard. Nice move by Camacho!

Mrkela throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Camacho throws a big right hand that misses.
Mrkela throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Mrkela tries to strike from the bottom.
Mrkela throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Mrkela throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Mrkela throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Mrkela throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Mrkela throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Camacho in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Mrkela throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Camacho throws a big right hand that misses.
Camacho throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mrkela works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mitar Mrkela will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Camacho tries a head kick but it misses.
Mrkela attempts a counter takedown but Camacho avoids it well and moves away.

Mrkela shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Camacho's guard.
Camacho working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mrkela.
Mrkela missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Camacho avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Mrkela throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Mrkela trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Camacho is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Mrkela throws a big elbow that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mrkela loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Mitar Mrkela overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Camacho looking for a sweep. Not yet Camacho, not yet.
Camacho utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Mrkela working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Camacho working for a triangle but Mrkela defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mrkela with a flurry of punches that miss.

Camacho is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Mrkela defends well.
Mrkela is looking to work some ground and pound but Camacho has wrist control.
Mrkela throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Camacho isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Mrkela stacks Camacho on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Mrkela!
Mrkela throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Mrkela creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Camacho sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Camacho can't do much from the bottom here.
Camacho avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Mrkela.
Mrkela working the ground and pound but Camacho is defending the strikes.
Mrkela in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Camacho parries the strikes from Mrkela easily there. Mrkela is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Camacho to escape.
Mrkela misses with the ground and pound.
Mrkela misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Mrkela throws an elbow but Camacho slips to the side and avoids it well.
Mrkela tries to score with some ground and pound. Camacho controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sloppy strikes there by Mrkela.
Mrkela is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Camacho can do to turn this around?
Camacho wants to control but Mrkela postures up.
Camacho really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mrkela. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Mrkela has control of an arm but Camacho manages to advance to Mrkela's back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mrkela turns into Camacho and is now in his guard.
Mrkela won't allow Camacho to sweep him here.

Camacho isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Mrkela stacks Camacho on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Mrkela!
Camacho is breathing heavily.
Mrkela misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Camacho defending against the ground and pound.
Mrkela tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Mrkela tries to score with some ground and pound. Camacho controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Mrkela postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Sloppy strikes there by Mrkela.
Mrkela sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Camacho is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Mrkela throws a strike aimed at the side of Camacho's head but Camacho avoids it well.
Camacho tries to improve position but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mrkela working the ground and pound but Camacho is defending the strikes.
Camacho avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Mrkela.
Camacho wants to control but Mrkela postures up.
Camacho defending against the ground and pound.
Mrkela working away.
Sloppy strikes there by Mrkela.
Mrkela fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Mrkela in side control, throwing shots but Camacho defends.
Mrkela throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Camacho managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Mrkela.
The ground and pound from Mrkela seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Mrkela fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Mrkela advances nicely into full mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mitar Mrkela dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Mrkela has a takedown stuffed.
Mrkela fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Camacho avoids it really well and circles away.
Mrkela on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

Mrkela gets a double leg takedown into Camacho's guard.
Camacho is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mrkela loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mrkela postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mrkela with a flurry of punches that miss.
Camacho preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Mrkela throwing strikes from guard but Camacho blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mrkela throws a big elbow that misses.
Mrkela working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mrkela postures up in Camacho's guard and throws a big left but Camacho blocks it.
Mrkela throws a big elbow that misses.
Mrkela throws a big right hand that misses.
Camacho working a defensive guard here.
Camacho wants to control but Mrkela passes easily into half guard.
Mrkela missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Mrkela throwing shots but Camacho is blocking nicely.
Mrkela thows a huge punch but Camacho dodges it nicely.
Macho Camacho has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mrkela throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Mrkela missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Mrkela throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Camacho avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Mrkela.
Mrkela missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Mrkela throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Camacho is looking for a sweep. Mrkela is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Camacho avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Mrkela.
Mrkela missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Mrkela throwing shots but Camacho is blocking nicely.
Camacho is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Camacho regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Mrkela.

Camacho looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Camacho takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Camacho working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mrkela.
Camacho preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Mrkela throws a big elbow that misses.
Mrkela working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Camacho controls Mrkela momentarily but Mrkela frees himself.
Camacho utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Mrkela throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Mrkela postures up in Camacho's guard and throws a big left but Camacho blocks it.
Camacho wants to control but Mrkela passes easily into half guard.
Camacho avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Mrkela.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mrkela thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Camacho's head.
Camacho trying to hold on to Mrkela's head to control him but Mrkela postures up.
Camacho avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Mrkela.
Mrkela missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Camacho is looking for a sweep. Mrkela is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Mrkela thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Camacho's head.
Mrkela moves into full mount! Camacho won't be happy about that!
Mrkela thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Camacho is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mitar Mrkela showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Mrkela, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mitar Mrkela!