PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Darko Filipovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Benji Thaio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Filipovic
vs
Thaio

188 cm
23
227 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
20
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Darko Filipovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Benji Thaio!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Shirou Masuda and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thaio closes the distance and clinches up with Filipovic, looking for a takedown. Thaio pushes Filipovic against the cage but Filipovic circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Thaio shoots in for a double leg but Filipovic sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Thaio takes a jab right on the kisser.
Filipovic throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Thaio.
Darko Filipovic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Benji Thaio.
A head kick misses from Filipovic.
Benji Thaio seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Filipovic forces Thaio back against the cage and clinches.

Filipovic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Thaio shoots in but no luck this time.
Filipovic throws a nice head kick!
Thaio fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Filipovic avoids it really well and circles away.
Thaio fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Filipovic forces Thaio back against the cage and clinches.
Thaio wants a takedown but no success here.
Filipovic working Thaio over with knees to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thaio is working for takedown but Filipovic is calmly controlling the position for now.
Thaio looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Filipovic lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Benji Thaio has been cut.

Filipovic breaks from the clinch.
Thaio shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Filipovic defends it nicely.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Thaio.

Thaio gets caught flat footed, as Filipovic shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Filipovic gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Filipovic fails to land with a series of punches.

Filipovic moves into the clinch.
Filipovic taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Filipovic putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Thaio in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Filipovic taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Filipovic lands a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thaio wants to get back to striking at distance but Filipovic won't allow it.

Filipovic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Filipovic throws a head kick that half lands.
Thaio with a lazy takedown attempt

and Filipovic counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Thaio takes a knee to the side of the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Filipovic pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A head kick from Filipovic lands but Thaio takes it in his stride.

Filipovic rushes Thaio and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Thaio 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.

Filipovic manages to break the clinch.

Filipovic drives through and clinches with Thaio against the cage.
Thaio wants a takedown.
Filipovic with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic leaning his opponent against the cage.

Filipovic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Filipovic tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Filipovic closes the distance and clinches.
Filipovic is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Filipovic for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.

Filipovic breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Thaio takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Thaio shoots and misses

and Filipovic counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Thaio!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Thaio taking shots to the head.
Filipovic with good strikes from the mount here!
Filipovic working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Filipovic lands a big shot there that rocks Thaio but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Filipovic raining down shots from the mount!
Filipovic with shots to the head and body - Thaio looks very uncomfortable down there.
Thaio is desperately trying to improve his position but Filipovic has a good base and remains in mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Filipovic lands a big shot there that rocks Thaio but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Filipovic knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Thaio on the ground.
Thaio working to try and regain half guard.
Filipovic trying to control but Thaio is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darko Filipovic dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Benji Thaio's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Thaio takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Thaio misses with a takedown attempt
and Filipovic counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Thaio misses with a takedown

and Filipovic decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Thaio's guard.
Thaio has his hands on Filipovic's head, controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Thaio has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Filipovic can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Filipovic is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Thaio has his foot on Filipovic's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Filipovic works his way back into a safe position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Filipovic missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Thaio is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Filipovic defends well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Thaio is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Filipovic trying to control the position from guard on top but Thaio is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Filipovic throws a sloppy head kick and Thaio moves out of range easily.
Thaio avoids the head kick by Filipovic.
Filipovic moves in looking to clinch but Thaio pushes him off.
Filipovic throws a sloppy head kick and Thaio moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Thaio tries for a takedown but Filipovic circles away easily

and Filipovic counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Filipovic.
Darko Filipovic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Benji Thaio.
Thaio takes a knee right on the jaw!
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Filipovic manages to break the clinch.
Thaio with a lazy takedown attempt

and Filipovic holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Filipovic.

Filipovic pulls guard effortlessly.
Filipovic keeping moving, preventing Thaio from controlling successfully.
Filipovic manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Thaio manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic trying to stand up but can't free himself from Thaio's guard.
Thaio wants to stand up but Filipovic is controlling him.

Thaio looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Thaio is trying to control the position but Filipovic postures up.
Filipovic stopping the sweep attempt from Thaio.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Filipovic scoring with some ground and pound.
Thaio can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Filipovic controls the pace.
Thaio wants to stand but Filipovic is controlling the position.
Thaio is trying to control the position but Filipovic postures up.
Filipovic trying to control but Thaio is working from the bottom.

Thaio is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Filipovic defends well.

Thaio scrambles and gets back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darko Filipovic dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Benji Thaio's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Thaio with a lazy takedown attempt

and Filipovic counters by moving into the clinch.
Thaio wants a takedown.
Thaio can't get the takedown.
Darko Filipovic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Benji Thaio.

Filipovic pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Filipovic lands a head kick!
Thaio fails with the takedown
and Filipovic counters with a head kick. That will keep Thaio thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Thaio tries for a takedown but Filipovic circles away easily

and Filipovic counters with a single leg into guard. Thaio didn't expect that.
Filipovic is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Thaio can do to turn this around?

Thaio had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Filipovic defends it easily.
Thaio has a closed guard, preventing Filipovic from standing up.

Thaio is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Filipovic defends well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Filipovic trying to control the position from guard on top but Thaio is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Filipovic throws a strike but Thaio rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Thaio prevents Filipovic from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Thaio trying to control the position from guard on top but Filipovic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Thaio drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Thaio jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Filipovic throws a head kick that half lands.

Filipovic looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic trying to control but Thaio is working from the bottom.
Filipovic wants to stand but Thaio has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Thaio keeping moving, preventing Filipovic from controlling successfully.
Filipovic has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Filipovic wants to stand and escape but instead Thaio has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Thaio tries to free his leg and advance position but Filipovic is retaining full guard.

That's four 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.
Filipovic wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Thaio wants to pass the guard but Filipovic is keeping the position.
Benji Thaio has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Thaio shoots and misses

and Filipovic counters with a takedown into side control.
Thaio manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Darko Filipovic is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Thaio tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Darko Filipovic showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Filipovic has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:26
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:26
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Darko Filipovic!