PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Shogun Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mirko Kuzmanovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mirko Kuzmanovic is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Rua
vs
Kuzmanovic

190 cm
19
240 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

193 cm
22
223 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shogun Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mirko Kuzmanovic!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Cecil Peabody and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuzmanovic connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Rua blocks a head kick by Kuzmanovic.
Mirko Kuzmanovic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kuzmanovic looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Kuzmanovic throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kuzmanovic throws a nice outside leg kick.
Kuzmanovic lands a nice looking kick to the body. Rua takes a step back to recover.
Kuzmanovic scores with a leg kick.
Kuzmanovic throws a head kick that misses.

Rua closes the distance and clinches.

Rua breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rua misses with a series of wild punches.
Kuzmanovic avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Horrible takedown by Rua or perhaps it was just good defense by Kuzmanovic which made him look bad.
Rua listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Kuzmanovic cracks the inside of Rua's front leg.
Nice body punch from Rua.
Rua misses with a leg kick.
Kuzmanovic throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kuzmanovic circles away quickly and effectively.
Rua blocks a jab.
Kuzmanovic throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Kuzmanovic pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kuzmanovic looks gassed!
Kuzmanovic throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
A big left from Kuzmanovic misses.
Rua fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Rua takes the fight into the clinch.
Kuzmanovic wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Kuzmanovic is trying to break the clinch but Rua has him pressed against the cage.
Rua stalling the fight.
Rua tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kuzmanovic just stands there and leans against the cage.
Kuzmanovic wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Rua ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Rua no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Rua looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Kuzmanovic passes into half guard.
Kuzmanovic tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua is trying to control but can't.
Rua tries to get to full guard but Kuzmanovic has control of the leg.
Kuzmanovic tries to stand and escape but Rua is controlling the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kuzmanovic keeps Rua at a distance using the push kick.
Kuzmanovic swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Kuzmanovic takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rua closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kuzmanovic circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shogun Rua. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kuzmanovic throws a head kick that misses.

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.
Kuzmanovic scoring well with a low kick there.
Kuzmanovic is looking to slow Rua down with leg kicks.
Kuzmanovic scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Rua takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Kuzmanovic misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rua rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kuzmanovic moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kuzmanovic throws a head kick but Rua moves out of range.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rua.
Kuzmanovic tries a head kick but it misses.
Rua blocks a head kick by Kuzmanovic.
Rua ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kuzmanovic moves away.
Rua shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kuzmanovic as he avoids it easily.
Kuzmanovic tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rua tries for a takedown but Kuzmanovic sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mirko Kuzmanovic will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kuzmanovic scores with a kick to the midsection.
Kuzmanovic throws a sloppy head kick and Rua moves out of range easily.
Rua shoots in but Kuzmanovic avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rua throws a sloppy head kick and Kuzmanovic moves out of range easily.
Kuzmanovic plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Rua misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rua shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kuzmanovic as he avoids it easily.
Nice body kick from Kuzmanovic.
Kuzmanovic tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kuzmanovic misses with a jab to the body

and Rua counters with a takedown into side control.
Kuzmanovic wants to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rua cracks Kuzmanovic with a big elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Kuzmanovic sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Kuzmanovic is trying to buck Rua off.
Rua throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Rua prevents Kuzmanovic from escaping the position.
Rua trying to control the action but Kuzmanovic is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kuzmanovic tries to land a front kick but Rua steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Kuzmanovic throws a head kick but Rua moves out of range.
Rua shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kuzmanovic pinned against the cage. Kuzmanovic gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shogun Rua. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kuzmanovic throws a sloppy head kick and Rua moves out of range easily.
Kuzmanovic throws a series of punches but Rua avoids them all with ease.
Kuzmanovic tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rua missing with a left hand there. Kuzmanovic was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kuzmanovic lands a head kick. Rua smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuzmanovic pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rua steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kuzmanovic.

Rua shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Rua was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Rua won't let Kuzmanovic get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Rua putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Rua looking to finish with strikes here!
Kuzmanovic squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuzmanovic manages to work a leg through to get back to half guard here. Good work there by Kuzmanovic, under a barage of strikes from Rua.
Kuzmanovic is trying to stand back up but Rua is controlling him

Rua is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Kuzmanovic makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shogun Rua dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Rua avoids the head kick by Kuzmanovic.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch but Kuzmanovic swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A head kick misses from Kuzmanovic.
Rua shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kuzmanovic as he avoids it easily.
Rua throws a half hearted mid kick.
Kuzmanovic looks to land a body kick but Rua moved away.
Kuzmanovic throws a jab but it's blocked by Rua.
Kuzmanovic throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Rua.
Kuzmanovic scores with a leg kick.
Kuzmanovic throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rua shoots for a takedown but Kuzmanovic saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rua tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kuzmanovic stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Kuzmanovic lands a nice looking kick to the body. Rua takes a step back to recover.
Rua shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shogun Rua. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kuzmanovic cracks the inside of Rua's front leg.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rua.
Rua stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Kuzmanovic.
Rua misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kuzmanovic pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Shogun Rua is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kuzmanovic misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kuzmanovic lands a high kick!
Rua stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Kuzmanovic.
Rua blocks a head kick by Kuzmanovic.
Rua has a takedown stuffed.
Rua is looking to clinch.
Kuzmanovic feints and then cracks Rua's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Rua down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kuzmanovic tries a head kick but it misses.
Rua changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kuzmanovic tries to avoid it but Rua manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kuzmanovic to the ground. Kuzmanovic escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Kuzmanovic connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Kuzmanovic connects with a high kick.
Kuzmanovic plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Kuzmanovic fails to land with a series of punches.

Rua closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rua lands in his opponent's guard.

Kuzmanovic is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuzmanovic scores with a spinning back kick!
Mirko Kuzmanovic seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kuzmanovic connects with a high kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kuzmanovic.
Kuzmanovic throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Rua.
Kuzmanovic attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

Rua pushes Kuzmanovic up against the cage in a clinch.
Rua is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Kuzmanovic pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Rua manages to pull guard.

Kuzmanovic gets to his feet. Rua looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Rua avoids the head kick by Kuzmanovic.
A head kick misses from Kuzmanovic.
Rua will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
A clash of legs there as Rua blocks the low kick.

Rua closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Rua is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Kuzmanovic manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rua moves into the clinch successfully.

Kuzmanovic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kuzmanovic.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kuzmanovic.
Kuzmanovic misses with a head kick.
Rua moves out of range of the body kick from Kuzmanovic.
Kuzmanovic pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mirko Kuzmanovic is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kuzmanovic lands with a slapping head kick.
Rua wants to land a leg kick but Kuzmanovic is out of range.
A head kick from Kuzmanovic lands but Rua takes it in his stride.
Rua fails to land the takedown.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rua.
A head kick misses from Kuzmanovic.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mirko Kuzmanovic comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kuzmanovic 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mirko Kuzmanovic!