PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Denis Rasic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Maracic (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.

Rasic
vs
Maracic

184 cm
25
188 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Denis Rasic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Joe Maracic!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rasic misses with a jab, cross combination.
Maracic avoids a punch combination nicely.

Maracic shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Maracic looking for a guillotine from mount but Rasic is having none of it.

Maracic jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Rasic manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Maracic wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Rasic, who protects the arm well.

Maracic is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rasic knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Maracic tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maracic is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rasic has escaped the position, nice work there.
Maracic looks gassed!

Maracic working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Maracic tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Rasic is trying to buck Maracic off.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Maracic shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rasic as he avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maracic avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rasic throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rasic throws a nice looking combination but Maracic bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rasic rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Maracic moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Maracic slips a jab from Rasic.
Rasic lands a two punch combo.

It looks like Joe Maracic has been cut.
Rasic lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Maracic circles away quickly and effectively.
Rasic fails in his attempt to clinch.
Maracic slips a jab and a cross from Rasic.

Maracic throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Rasic was covering up waiting for the punch and Maracic finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Maracic drops back looking for a leg! Rasic is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rasic manages to kick Maracic off! Maracic jumps back into Rasic's guard.
Maracic is pushing down on Rasic's leg trying to pass to half guard. Rasic is fighting to maintain full guard but Maracic has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rasic is trying to stand.

Maracic is working for a submission of some sort.

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

Maracic is working for a kimura but Rasic is defending it quite comfortably.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Maracic dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Joe Maracic's cut.
That's time! Rasic's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rasic is looking to clinch but Maracic is avoiding it.
Rasic throws a nice looking combination but Maracic bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A lazy left from Rasic finds it's target.
Rasic throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rasic leaves Maracic with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
No joy there for Rasic, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Rasic fails with an attempt to clinch.
Maracic circles away from the clinch attempt.
Maracic avoids a punch combination nicely.

Rasic gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maracic drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Maracic jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Maracic wants to pass the guard but Rasic is keeping the position.

Maracic 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.
Rasic wants to stand but Maracic is controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Maracic thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the 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.

Maracic 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.
Rasic wants to get back to his feet but Maracic is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Maracic drops back looking for a leg! Rasic is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rasic manages to kick Maracic off! Maracic jumps back into Rasic's guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Maracic dodges the punch combination from Rasic.
Rasic lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Maracic circles away quickly and effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maracic walks into a stiff left hand from Rasic.
Denis Rasic is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rasic throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rasic looks to land a combination but Maracic avoids it well.
Denis Rasic is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A jab from Rasic misses.

Maracic shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Maracic is looking for a kimura here.

Maracic is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Rasic sees it coming and defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Maracic is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Rasic has managed to free his arm - good work.

Maracic seems to be working for a kimura but Rasic defends the submission attempt.
Maracic looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rasic wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Joe Maracic will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Joe Maracic's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. 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.

A big left from Rasic misses.
Rasic scores with a sloppy right hand. Maracic should have avoided that one.
A punch combination from Rasic misses.
No joy there for Rasic, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Rasic fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Maracic dives in and grabs Rasic's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rasic pushes down on Maracic's head and hops out.
Rasic fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rasic misses with a double jab.

Maracic is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Rasic's half guard.

Maracic is looking for a kimura but Rasic is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Maracic to get the leverage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Maracic is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maracic is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Rasic doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Maracic.

Maracic is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Rasic sees it coming and defends easily.

Maracic is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Rasic has managed to free his arm - good work.
Rasic is trying to stand up here but Maracic is controlling him well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Maracic is looking for a kimura here.

Maracic is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Denis Rasic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Maracic prevents Rasic from standing back up.

Maracic is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rasic defends it well.

Maracic is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maracic is trying to work for a kimura but Rasic is defending well.

Rasic actively working from the bottom here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rasic misses with a double jab.
Maracic tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rasic swivels and escapes.
Rasic misses with a wild combination.
Maracic throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rasic's waist but Rasic gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Maracic off to one side.
Denis Rasic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Maracic.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Maracic takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Rasic is looking to clinch.

Maracic shoots in and bounces Rasic off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Rasic on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Rasic tries to get out of the position.

Maracic drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Rasic manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Maracic has Rasic in his guard.
Maracic not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Maracic comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Maracic winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Maracic!