PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Josip Cengic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nacho Libre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Cengic might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to youre going down. Libre has a pretty significant injury - he really shouldn't be fighting right now but he's a warrior and he's here none the less! Josip Cengic has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Cengic
vs
Libre

186 cm
21
202 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

165 cm
18
192 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Josip Cengic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nacho Libre!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Konstantin Menshow and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cengic drives through and clinches with Libre against the cage.
Libre looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Libre is fighting off a takedown attempt but Cengic is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Libre to the mat. Libre regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Cengic wants to control from the top but Libre keeps moving.
Cengic will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Cengic advances to half guard.

Cengic is looking for a kimura here.
Cengic is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Cengic lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Cengic is looking to advance position but Libre won't allow it.
Cengic perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Libre is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Cengic scores with a couple of nice shots.
Cengic looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Cengic passes to side control.

Cengic decides to stand back up. Cengic steps back and let's Libre get back to his feet.
Cengic fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Cengic feints and as Libre raises his hands in defense, Cengic changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Cengic is stalling in the full guard.
Libre keeping moving, preventing Cengic from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cengic forces his way into half guard.
Cengic seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Cengic lands with a punch from half guard.

Cengic wants to work for an arm triangle but Libre is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Cengic lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Libre is trying to get back to full guard.
Cengic not doing much here.
Libre wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cengic working over Libre with some ground and pound. Libre looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Libre is trying to maintain the position but Cengic is very close to passing his half guard.
Cengic with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Libre should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Libre is trying to control but can't.
Nice strikes from Cengic there.

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.
Cengic slows the pace down in half guard.
Cengic works his way into full mount!
Cengic putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Libre working to try and regain half guard.

Cengic has hold of Libre's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Libre manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Libre is desperately trying to improve his position but Cengic has a good base and remains in mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josip Cengic dominated that round.
That's time! Cengic's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Libre throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Libre stuffs the takedown attempt from Cengic. Cengic gets slowly back to his feet.

Cengic shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Cengic showed some decent athleticism there.
Cengic wants to lay and pray for a moment but Libre keeps working.

Cengic is working for a kimura but Libre is defending it quite comfortably.
Cengic is nestled in close to Libre, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cengic prevents Libre from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cengic is controlling the pace.
Cengic lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Cengic lands a nice short elbow.
Cengic is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Cengic wants to lay and pray for a moment but Libre keeps working.
Cengic lands strikes from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Libre is trying to get back to full guard.

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

Cengic in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Libre tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Cengic!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:38 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Josip Cengic!