PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sol Dos Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mirko Filipovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mirko Filipovic struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 186.4lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Dos Santos
vs
Filipovic

186 cm
22
190 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

190 cm
18
198 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

FULL METAL GEAR ($9.99 Morale Tee)

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sol Dos Santos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mirko Filipovic!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Arvi Lind and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dos Santos tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Filipovic was well out of range. Poor timing from Dos Santos.
Filipovic shoots for a takedown but Dos Santos saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Dos Santos tries to close the distance and clinch but Filipovic swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A head kick misses from Dos Santos.
Dos Santos is looking to clinch but Filipovic is avoiding it.
Dos Santos tries to close the distance and clinch up but Filipovic swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Dos Santos fails in his attempt to clinch.
Dos Santos tries to clinch but Filipovic is having none of it.

Dos Santos gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Filipovic misses with a knee strike.
Dos Santos throws a knee to the head but misses.
Dos Santos looking to throw knees to the head but Filipovic is blocking nicely.
Dos Santos throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Filipovic blocks it with crossed arms.
Dos Santos tries a knee to the head but Filipovic blocks it.
Filipovic working hard to break the clinch.
Filipovic takes an elbow to the temple.
Dos Santos throws a knee to the head but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dos Santos with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Dos Santos with a knee to the head.
Dos Santos with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Filipovic is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Dos Santos pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Dos Santos creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Filipovic is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice elbow from Dos Santos.
Dos Santos misses with a knee strike.
Dos Santos lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Filipovic stalling in the clinch.
Dos Santos looking to throw knees to the head but Filipovic is blocking nicely.
Dos Santos throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Filipovic blocks it with crossed arms.
Dos Santos is breathing heavily.
Dos Santos landing knees to the head.
Dos Santos landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Filipovic blocks an elbow strike.
Filipovic working hard to break the clinch.
Dos Santos tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Filipovic fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Sol Dos Santos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mirko Filipovic.
Dos Santos tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Dos Santos has had enough of the clinch but Filipovic keeps him there for the moment.
Filipovic has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Filipovic fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Dos Santos with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Filipovic is struggling to control the position.
Dos Santos throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Filipovic tries for a takedown. No joy.
Filipovic blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Dos Santos tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Dos Santos lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Filipovic breaks from the clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Dos Santos as Filipovic shoots in.
Sol Dos Santos is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Filipovic swats away the attempt to clinch by Dos Santos.
Dos Santos tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Filipovic paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Dos Santos tries to close the distance and clinch up but Filipovic swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Filipovic keeps the fight on the outside.

Dos Santos clinches up against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Filipovic - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Dos Santos misses with a knee to the head.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Nice elbow from Dos Santos.
Dos Santos landing knees to the head.
Dos Santos comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Dos Santos misses with a knee strike.

Filipovic's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Dos Santos tries to clinch up but Filipovic circles away and keeps his distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Dos Santos looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Dos Santos tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A head kick misses from Dos Santos.
Filipovic throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Dos Santos moves into the clinch successfully.
Dos Santos scores with a knee to the head.
Dos Santos throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Filipovic blocks it with crossed arms.
Dos Santos throws a knee to the head but misses.
Dos Santos tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Dos Santos landing knees to the head.
Filipovic jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Dos Santos walks away with a smile on his face. Filipovic gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Dos Santos tries to clinch but Filipovic moves out of range.
Filipovic avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Dos Santos throws a head kick that half lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Dos Santos swivels and escapes.
Filipovic has a takedown stuffed.
Dos Santos throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A head kick by Filipovic misses

and Dos Santos counters by moving into the clinch.
Dos Santos tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Dos Santos throws an elbow that misses.
Dos Santos unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Dos Santos looking to throw knees to the head but Filipovic is blocking nicely.
Filipovic wants to stall.

Dos Santos breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Dos Santos moves in looking to clinch but Filipovic pushes him off.
Filipovic avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Filipovic avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Dos Santos tries to close the distance and clinch but Filipovic swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Dos Santos is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sol Dos Santos dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Filipovic misses with a straight left.
Dos Santos moves in looking to clinch but Filipovic pushes him off.
Sol Dos Santos is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dos Santos tries to clinch up but Filipovic circles away and keeps his distance.
Dos Santos wants to clinch up but Filipovic keeps it at a distance.
Filipovic misses with a takedown attempt
and Dos Santos counters with a nice body shot.
Dos Santos tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Dos Santos throws a head kick but Filipovic moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Dos Santos.
Dos Santos fails with an attempt to clinch.
Dos Santos is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Dos Santos moves into range and clinches up with Filipovic.
Dos Santos throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Filipovic blocks it with crossed arms.
Dos Santos throws a knee to the head but misses.
Dos Santos looking to throw knees to the head but Filipovic is blocking nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Filipovic managing to block the knees to the body from Dos Santos.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dos Santos with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Filipovic breaks from the clinch.
Dos Santos tries to clinch but Filipovic moves out of range.
Dos Santos tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Dos Santos tries to close the distance and clinch up but Filipovic swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Dos Santos fails with an attempt to clinch.
Dos Santos moves in looking to clinch but Filipovic pushes him off.
Dos Santos tries to clinch up.
Filipovic is looking to clinch but Dos Santos is avoiding it.
Dos Santos slips a straight right by Filipovic.
Dos Santos is looking to clinch.
Filipovic thows a body shot but no joy.
A head kick misses from Dos Santos.
Filipovic swats away the attempt to clinch by Dos Santos.
The fight stays on the outside here - Dos Santos looks like he's thinking about clinching 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.
Dos Santos looks to clinch
and Filipovic counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Dos Santos is lucky that one didn't land flush.

Filipovic clinches up with Dos Santos and pushes him back against the cage.
Filipovic wants to get back to striking at distance but Dos Santos won't allow it.
Dos Santos lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Dos Santos tries a knee to the head but Filipovic blocks it.
Dos Santos tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Dos Santos with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Dos Santos manages to break the clinch.

Filipovic rushes Dos Santos and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Dos Santos looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Dos Santos misses with a knee to the head.
Dos Santos tries a knee to the head but Filipovic blocks it.

Filipovic manages to break the clinch.
Dos Santos looks to clinch

and Filipovic counters with a takedown into side control.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Filipovic decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Dos Santos moves in looking to clinch but Filipovic pushes him off.
Dos Santos tries to clinch up but Filipovic circles away and keeps his distance.
Sol Dos Santos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic misses with a few strikes there.

Dos Santos fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Filipovic, pushing him back against the cage.
Dos Santos connects with a knee to the head.
Dos Santos lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Dos Santos landing knees to the body.
Dos Santos tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Dos Santos tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Dos Santos misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Filipovic.
Dos Santos misses with a knee strike.
Filipovic changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Dos Santos fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Dos Santos tries to clinch up

and Filipovic counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Dos Santos!
Dos Santos wants to get back to his feet.
Dos Santos is squirming around, avoiding Filipovic's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Filipovic trying to control but Dos Santos is having none of it.
Dos Santos is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Filipovic wants to control the pace but Dos Santos is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mirko Filipovic showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Dos Santos tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Dos Santos throws a head kick but Filipovic moves out of range.
Filipovic circles away from the clinch attempt.

Dos Santos pushes Filipovic up against the cage in a clinch.
Dos Santos pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Dos Santos throws a knee to the head but misses.
Filipovic tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Filipovic tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Dos Santos lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Dos Santos throws a knee to the head but misses.
Dos Santos with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Filipovic jumps into guard, dragging Dos Santos to the mat.
Filipovic looking to hit a scissor sweep but Dos Santos is one step ahead there.

Filipovic looking for a guillotine here but Dos Santos defends easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dos Santos wants to control from the top but Filipovic keeps moving.

That's two 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.
Dos Santos passes Filipovic's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Dos Santos throwing shots but Filipovic is blocking nicely.
Dos Santos wants to lay and pray for a moment but Filipovic keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Filipovic's head.
Dos Santos tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dos Santos is trying to control. Filipovic wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Filipovic is trying to get back to full guard.

Sol Dos Santos has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Dos Santos tries to clinch up.

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 on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Dos Santos. Dos Santos obviously looking to wear him down.
Dos Santos moves to clinch but Filipovic breaks away

and Filipovic counters by moving into the clinch.
Dos Santos lands an elbow that stopped Filipovic in his tracks for a moment.
Dos Santos lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Dos Santos throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Filipovic blocks it with crossed arms.
Dos Santos lands an elbow that stopped Filipovic in his tracks for a moment.
Filipovic takes a knee to the side of the body.
Dos Santos connects with a nasty looking knee right to Filipovic's face.
A knee to the head by Dos Santos.
Dos Santos looking to throw knees to the head but Filipovic is blocking nicely.
Dos Santos lands a knee to the head.
Dos Santos throws a knee to the head but misses.
Dos Santos throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Filipovic blocks it with crossed arms.
Dos Santos with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Dos Santos tries to land a knee to the head but Filipovic blocks with his arms.
Filipovic blocks the elbow strike.
Dos Santos throws a knee to the head but misses.
Dos Santos landing knees to the head.
Dos Santos lands a good knee to the midsection. Filipovic won't want to take too many of those.
Filipovic has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Dos Santos is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sol Dos Santos showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Dos Santos has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sol Dos Santos!