PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Sam Nam (ranked 4352 p4p, 23957 weight class) and Lazar Petrovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Sam Nam has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Nam
vs
Petrovic

200 cm
18
135
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
21
132
2 - 12 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Sam Nam!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 12 - 0, fighting out of London, Lazar Petrovic!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Hugh Johnson and Topper Green.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Petrovic drives through with a takedown into Nam's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Nam trying to strike off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nam not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Petrovic postures up and lands a big shot to Nam's brow.
Nam is trying to keep Petrovic in close.

Petrovic gets to his feet - Nam follows without any prompting.
Nam fails with the takedown

and Petrovic holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nam trying to land knees to the body.
Nam is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Petrovic pulls him back up using the underhooks.
The referee calls for Petrovic to work.
Nam tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Petrovic just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sam Nam. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nam pulls guard.
Nam manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Petrovic manages to get himself to full guard.

Nam 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 looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nam is one step ahead there.
Petrovic keeps trying to improve his position.
Petrovic is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Petrovic is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Nam defends well.
Petrovic being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nam postures up in Petrovic's guard and throws a big left but Petrovic blocks it.
Petrovic pulls Nam in close to his closed guard and prevents Nam from doing any damage or advancing position.
Nam is looking to stand up but Petrovic won't let him.
Nam postures up.
Petrovic is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nam trying to control the position from guard on top but Petrovic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Petrovic tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Nam swivels and escapes.
Nam shoots in looking for a takedown. Petrovic tries to sprawl out of it but Nam keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Petrovic manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Petrovic rushes Nam and presses him up against the cage.

Nam pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nam tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Petrovic defends well and Nam ends up having to push Petrovic into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Petrovic is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Nam wants a takedown but no success here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Petrovic is trying to force a seperation but Nam has the dominant position.

Petrovic has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Nam uses from the top position.
Nam trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Petrovic looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nam is one step ahead there.
Nam wants to pass the guard but Petrovic is keeping the position.
Nam throws an elbow that misses. Petrovic uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Nam's guard. Nice move by Petrovic!

Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Petrovic is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lazar Petrovic dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Nam tries for a takedown but Petrovic circles away easily
and Petrovic counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Petrovic shoots in for a takedown but Nam shows good takedown defense.
Petrovic throws a head kick but Nam moves out of range.
Petrovic keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Petrovic looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Nice takedown defense from Nam. No joy for Petrovic on that attempt.

Nam rushes Petrovic and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Nam has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Come on Nam - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Petrovic tries to score a body lock takedown but Nam shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Sam Nam has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lazar Petrovic.

Petrovic pulls guard successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nam's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Petrovic controlling Nam's posture.
Nam trying to control but Petrovic is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Petrovic looking for a sweep. Not yet Petrovic, not yet.
Petrovic has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nam slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's two 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.
Petrovic keeping moving, preventing Nam from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Petrovic takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Sam Nam is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Petrovic rushes Nam and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Nam jumps guard but Petrovic turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Petrovic has hold of one of Nam's legs. Nam is fighting the takedown attempt but Petrovic gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Nam looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Nam looking to control.
Petrovic wants to control from the top but Nam keeps moving.
Nam manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Petrovic manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petrovic keeping moving, preventing Nam from controlling successfully.
Petrovic looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Petrovic manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Petrovic misses with the head strike.
Nam fails to pull guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Petrovic wants a takedown.
Petrovic is pressed up against the cage. Nam has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Petrovic down to the mat. Petrovic avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Petrovic closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Nam did well to prevent Petrovic getting side control.
Nam taking some punishment here, with Petrovic in his half guard.

Petrovic is looking for a kimura but Nam is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Petrovic to get the leverage.
Nam is refusing to be controlled, as Petrovic sits in half guard.
Well, if Petrovic is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nam wants to improve his position but Petrovic is controlling well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lazar Petrovic showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! 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.

Petrovic darts in and clinches Nam up against the cage.

Petrovic pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Petrovic circles away from the clinch attempt.
Petrovic raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Nam shoots in for a takedown but Petrovic shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Petrovic is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Petrovic thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Nam if he has to take too many more of those.
Petrovic throws a wild body kick that Nam sees coming a mile off.

Petrovic gets a double leg takedown into Nam's guard.

Nam pushes Petrovic off and scrambles back to his feet.

Petrovic pushes Nam up against the cage in a clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Nam jumps into guard, dragging Petrovic to the mat.
Nam is looking to stand up but Petrovic isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petrovic seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Petrovic distracts Nam with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Nam keeping moving, preventing Petrovic from controlling successfully.
Petrovic looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Nam is looking for a triangle but Petrovic pushes his legs off easily.
Petrovic must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Nam looking for a sweep. Not yet Nam, not yet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Nam closes the distance and clinches up with Petrovic, looking for a takedown. Nam pushes Petrovic against the cage but Petrovic circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nam feints and then cracks Petrovic's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Petrovic down.
Nam shoots in looking for a takedown but Petrovic manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Nam's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sam Nam. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A head kick by Nam misses
and Petrovic counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Petrovic tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Petrovic has closed the distance and engaged Nam in a clinch.
Nam really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Petrovic.

Petrovic breaks from the clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Petrovic. Those never looked like landing.

Petrovic closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Petrovic manages to break the clinch.
Petrovic looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Nam is fending him off so far but Petrovic persists. Nope, Nam circles away and we're back to standing.
Nam misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Petrovic gets a double leg takedown into Nam's guard.
Petrovic is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Petrovic tries to free his leg and advance position but Nam is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Petrovic chips away with some ground and pound.
Petrovic pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nam is keeping the position for now.

Nam looking for a guillotine here but Petrovic defends easily.
Petrovic is stalling in the full guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lazar Petrovic comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Petrovic has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Topper Green scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lazar Petrovic!