PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Cliton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mirko Cikotic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). John Cliton looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Cliton
vs
Cikotic

184 cm
21
205 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

184 cm
21
209 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Likes ground

Lightning Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, John Cliton !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Mirko Cikotic!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Colin Fotheringham and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cliton tries to clinch up.
A left and a right from Cliton both land. Nice combination.
No joy there for Cikotic, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Cikotic looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Cliton !
Cliton is squirming around, avoiding Cikotic's attempts to control the action.
Cliton swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Cikotic controlling the position easily from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cliton tries to reverse the position but Cikotic maintains control.
Cikotic content just to control the position here.
Cliton is looking to get to half guard.
Cikotic wants to control the pace but Cliton is squirming around nicely.
Cikotic tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Cliton tries to reverse the position but Cikotic maintains control.
Cikotic tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Despite being in the dominant position, Mirko Cikotic just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cliton fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Cliton is breathing heavily.
Cikotic cracks Cliton with an open hand slap.
A head kick misses from Cikotic.

Cikotic gets a takedown into half guard.
Cikotic thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cliton 's head.
It looks like Cikotic is going to stand back up.

Cikotic postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Cliton to stand up.
Mirko Cikotic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cliton scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Cliton shoots in for a takedown but Cikotic shows good takedown defense.
Cliton tries to clinch but Cikotic is having none of it.
Left hook, right uppercut from Cikotic.
Cliton swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Cikotic counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Cliton has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Cikotic escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Cikotic!
Cliton is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Cliton wants to get back to full guard.
Cikotic tries to stand and escape but Cliton is controlling the position.
Cliton tries to get to full guard but Cikotic has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cikotic decides to stand and escape the position.
Cliton shoots for a double leg takedown but Cikotic sprawls well. He's pushed Cliton 's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Cliton . That's going to take a lot out of him.

Cikotic instigates a clinch.

Cikotic lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Cikotic tries to stand but can't do so whilst Cliton controls his leg.

Cikotic decides to stand up.
Cliton tries for a takedown but Cikotic circles away easily

and Cikotic counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Cliton 's guard now.

Cliton is working an open guard so Cikotic takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Cikotic shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cliton pinned against the cage. Cliton gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Cikotic changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Cliton looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Cliton is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Cliton regains full guard. Nicely done.
Cikotic wants to stand and escape but instead Cliton has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Cliton lands a couple of digs.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Cliton stops Cikotic from standing up.
Cliton in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cikotic wants to stand up but Cliton is controlling him.

That's six 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.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Cikotic lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Cikotic scores with a hook to the body. Cliton takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Cikotic misses with a jab, cross combination.
Cikotic throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cliton .
Cikotic has a takedown stuffed.
Cikotic circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cliton tries a head kick but it misses.
Cikotic stuns Cliton with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Cliton connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Cikotic tries a head kick but it misses.
Cliton gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Cikotic counters with a nice uppercut.
Cliton is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cikotic's corner calls for a 1-2. Cikotic obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Danga de danga de dang - Cikotic scores with a four punch combination!
Cliton sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Cliton takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Cliton tries to clinch but Cikotic is having none of it.
Cikotic avoids the head kick by Cliton .
Cliton shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cikotic but Cikotic pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Cikotic instigates a clinch.
Cikotic gets underhooks to prevent Cliton 's takedown attempt.
Cliton lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Cliton wants a takedown but no success here.
Cikotic tries to stall but Cliton uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Cliton breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cikotic tries to clinch up

and Cliton counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Cikotic is looking to stand up but Cliton isn't so interested in that idea.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.

Cikotic uses the ropes to get back to his feet.
Cliton shoots and misses
and Cikotic finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.

Cikotic clinches.
Cikotic pressing his opponent against the ropes.

Cikotic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cikotic pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Cikotic misses with a jab, cross combination.
Cliton throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Cikotic counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Cliton tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cikotic swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cliton throws a right and a left that Cikotic avoids nicely.
Cliton fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cliton circles away from the clinch attempt
and Cliton counters with a left and a right that stings Cikotic.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Cikotic uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cliton .
Cikotic keeps Cliton at a distance using the push kick.
Cliton changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cikotic tries to avoid it but Cliton manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cikotic to the ground. Cikotic escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Cliton circles away from the clinch attempt

and Cliton counters by clinching up.
Nice elbow from Cikotic.
Knees to the body from Cliton .
Cliton fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Cikotic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cliton avoids the body shot from Cikotic.
Cikotic fails with the takedown.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cikotic tries to clinch up.
Cikotic swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Cliton misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mirko Cikotic dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Cliton fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Cliton has closed the distance and engaged Cikotic in a clinch.
Cliton tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Cikotic smiles and moves away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cikotic looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A punch combination from Cikotic misses.
Cliton moves out of range of the body kick from Cikotic.
Cikotic throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cliton tries to clinch up but Cikotic circles away and keeps his distance.
Cliton fails with the takedown
and Cikotic counters with a low kick, right behind Cliton 's knee.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Cliton . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cikotic closes the distance but Cliton moves to the side
and Cliton counters with a straight right hand.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cliton misses with a kick to the body

and Cikotic holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cikotic is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Cikotic is working for takedown but Cliton is calmly controlling the position for now.

Cikotic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cliton takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Cikotic throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Cliton looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Cikotic throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Cliton tries for a takedown but Cikotic sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Cliton scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Cikotic blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cliton .
Cliton prevents Cikotic from standing back up.
Cikotic is trying to maintain the position but Cliton is very close to passing his half guard.

Cikotic manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cikotic lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Cikotic.
Cliton gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
enabling Cikotic to counter with a crisp jab.

Cliton closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Cliton lands in his opponent's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cliton tries to free his leg and advance position but Cikotic is retaining full guard.
Cikotic wants to stand up but Cliton is controlling him.
Cikotic is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cliton trying to control the position from guard on top but Cikotic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cikotic is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cikotic wants to stand up but Cliton is controlling him.

Cikotic scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Cikotic looks to clinch
and Cliton counters with a one-two to the body.

Cikotic shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Cikotic wants to control from the top but Cliton keeps moving.
Cliton throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Cikotic preventing the sweep.
Cikotic is stalling in the full guard.
Cikotic pushing down on Cliton 's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cliton regains full guard. Nicely done.
Cliton trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Cliton trying to control the position.
Cliton wants to stand and escape but Cikotic is having none of it.
Cliton has a closed guard, preventing Cikotic from standing up.
Cliton is striking but Cikotic is not phased and passes to half guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Cikotic wants to control but Cliton is keeping him busy.
Cliton has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Cikotic is working away from the top position though.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Cikotic looks to land a combination but Cliton avoids it well.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Cikotic circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cliton works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Cikotic throws a series of punches but Cliton avoids them all with ease.
Cliton works over Cikotic's head and body with a nice combination.
Cliton avoids the head kick by Cikotic.

Cliton closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Cliton lands in his opponent's guard.
Cliton stops Cikotic from standing up.
Cliton working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cikotic wants to get back to his feet but Cliton is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Cliton is looking to work some ground and pound but Cikotic has wrist control.

Cikotic manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Cikotic tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Cliton counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Cikotic!
Cliton landing shots from mount.
Cikotic tries to hold on but Cliton pushes him away.
Cikotic is bucking up trying to escape but Cliton cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cikotic sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Cikotic is looking to escape.
Cliton is looking to advance position but Cikotic won't allow it.
Cikotic looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Cikotic kicks off Cliton and gets to his feet.
Cikotic lands a jab-cross combination.

Cliton gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Cliton keeping moving, preventing Cikotic from controlling successfully.
Cliton looking for a sweep. Not yet Cliton , not yet.
Cikotic has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Cliton is proving hard to escape from.
Cikotic won't allow Cliton to sweep him here.
Mirko Cikotic has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cliton looking to control.

Cliton pushes Cikotic off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Cikotic digs a good body shot into Cliton 's ribs.
Nice takedown defense from Cliton . No joy for Cikotic on that attempt.
Cliton lands a nice looking body kick.
Cikotic throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Cliton counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Cliton .
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cikotic wants to get back to his feet but Cliton is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Cikotic has Cliton pulled in close to control his posture.
Cliton wanted to stand there but Cikotic had control of the position.
Cliton stops Cikotic from standing up.
Cikotic being controlled here, momentarily.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Cliton cracks Cikotic with a solid left hand.
Cliton lands a couple of elbows.
Cikotic controls Cliton momentarily but Cliton frees himself.
Cliton sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Cikotic keeping full guard, as Cliton tries to pass.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cikotic is looking to stand up but Cliton isn't so interested in that idea.
Cliton wants to control from the top but Cikotic keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to John Cliton .
I have no idea who won that fight. Let's wait and see whether the judges are as confused as me! Time for a split decision perhaps?!. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge William Gold scores the fight for Mirko Cikotic!
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight for Mirko Cikotic!
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight for Mirko Cikotic!

Mirko Cikotic wins by unanimous decision!