PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mirko Filipovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tank Thunderclap (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thunderclap has chosen ThunderStruck as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Filipovic
vs
Thunderclap

220 cm
20
288 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

183 cm
28
252 lbs
10 - 4 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mirko Filipovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 1, fighting out of New York, Tank Thunderclap!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Alyssa Summers and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thunderclap takes a swing at Filipovic's ribcage but misses.
Thunderclap fails with the takedown
and Filipovic connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

It looks like Tank Thunderclap has been cut.

Thunderclap scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Thunderclap scores with a couple of short elbows.
Filipovic prevents Thunderclap from improving position.
The ground and pound from Thunderclap seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Filipovic is trying to improve his position.
Filipovic is working hard here to advance position.
Thunderclap with the ground and pound but Filipovic regains half guard under the barage of strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thunderclap trying to control from half guard but Filipovic is working away.
Thunderclap trying to mount his opponent but Filipovic defends it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thunderclap throws a strike but Filipovic avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Filipovic will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Filipovic is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Thunderclap trying to control but Filipovic flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Filipovic not allowing Thunderclap to control his hands.
Filipovic controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Thunderclap's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Thunderclap trying to control the hands but Filipovic breaks the grip.
Thunderclap is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Filipovic.
Thunderclap covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.

That's four 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.
Will Filipovic go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Thunderclap manages to reverse the position and now he's in Filipovic's guard. Nice work there by Thunderclap.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Thunderclap postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Filipovic is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Thunderclap, into his guard.
Filipovic slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mirko Filipovic will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Tank Thunderclap's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Thunderclap on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

Thunderclap closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
Filipovic is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Thunderclap's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Filipovic trying to control here.
Thunderclap missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thunderclap looks to land a strike but Filipovic avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Filipovic looking to hit a scissor sweep but Thunderclap is one step ahead there.
Thunderclap loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Thunderclap in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Thunderclap thows a big elbow that misses.
Thunderclap in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Thunderclap trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Thunderclap stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Filipovic swivels though and keeps the full guard.

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.

Thunderclap drops back, looking for a kneebar! Filipovic looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Filipovic looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Filipovic!
Thunderclap wants to get back to his feet but Filipovic drags him back down.
Thunderclap is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.
Thunderclap tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thunderclap is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Filipovic off and has taken his back!
Filipovic is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Thunderclap lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Thunderclap thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Thunderclap lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Tank Thunderclap has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thunderclap keeps control of the position as Filipovic tries to break free.
Thunderclap struggling to land strikes to the head as Filipovic covers up.
Thunderclap misses with a punch to the head.
Even with his hooks in, Thunderclap manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Filipovic is trying to escape under a series of strikes and manages to escape from Thunderclap 's hooks.
Thunderclap putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thunderclap lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Filipovic hang on?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tank Thunderclap showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Tank Thunderclap's cut.
That's time! Filipovic's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Thunderclap tries for a takedown but Filipovic circles away easily
and Filipovic counters with a nice uppercut.
Thunderclap closes the distance and clinches up with Filipovic, looking for a takedown. Thunderclap pushes Filipovic against the cage but Filipovic circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Tank Thunderclap seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thunderclap shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Filipovic counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Mirko Filipovic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tank Thunderclap.
Nice uppercut there from Filipovic.
Thunderclap throws a right hand that misses
and Filipovic counters with a left to the body.
Filipovic lunges at Thunderclap with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Thunderclap's hand.
Tank Thunderclap is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A shot to the liver by Filipovic. Beautiful body shot.
Filipovic dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Filipovic lands a high kick!
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!
Thunderclap's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Filipovic connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Thunderclap scrambles back to his feet.
Thunderclap takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Filipovic connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Filipovic lands with a right hand.
Filipovic scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Filipovic scores with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Filipovic dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Thunderclap. That did some damage!
Filipovic keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Thunderclap crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Filipovic - the referee stops the clock and Thunderclap gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Filipovic. Thunderclap manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Filipovic moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Filipovic scores with a nice strike.
Filipovic with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Filipovic fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Thunderclap.
Filipovic lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Thunderclap backs up against the cage.
Filipovic lands a nice looking kick to the body. Thunderclap takes a step back to recover.
Decent striking displayed by Filipovic there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Filipovic lands a nice shot that snaps Thunderclap's head back.
Mirko Filipovic is winning the standup battle so far.
Thunderclap gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Filipovic makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Filipovic closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic lands a left hand.
A right hand to the body from Filipovic.
Filipovic lands a left hand.
Thunderclap blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Filipovic misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Thunderclap.
Filipovic lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Filipovic lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Filipovic lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A right hook to the body lands for Filipovic.
Filipovic tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Thunderclap avoids it.
Filipovic misses with a punch on the inside.
Filipovic stalling the fight.
Thunderclap has Filipovic pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Filipovic manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Filipovic lands a shot to the body.
Filipovic scores with a shot to the side of Thunderclap's head.
Filipovic throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Thunderclaps head.
Filipovic is leaning against Thunderclap and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Filipovic.
Filipovic is pressed up against the cage. Thunderclap has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Filipovic down to the mat. Filipovic avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Filipovic.
Filipovic connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Thunderclap's hands.
Filipovic feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Thunderclap's calf.
A thudding body kick lands there by Filipovic!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Filipovic, right into the meat.
Filipovic fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Filipovic works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Thunderclap misses with a takedown
and Filipovic counters with an outside leg kick.
A good leg kick by Filipovic.
A head kick from Filipovic lands but Thunderclap takes it in his stride.
Thunderclap's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Filipovic's corner calls for a 1-2. Filipovic obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Thunderclap misses with a takedown
enabling Filipovic to counter with a crisp jab.
Filipovic with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Filipovic is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
A nice leg kick lands there from Filipovic.
Filipovic scoring well with a low kick there.
Filipovic fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Nice body punch from Filipovic.
Thunderclap with a poor takedown
and Filipovic counters with a slapping leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thunderclap chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Filipovic can pounce on him.
Filipovic connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Filipovic feints and then cracks Thunderclap's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Thunderclap down.
Filipovic scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Filipovic pushes Thunderclap up against the cage in a clinch.
Filipovic digs a right hand into Thunderclap's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Thunderclap's gas tank.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Filipovic manages to break the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mirko Filipovic showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Filipovic 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:27
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 29:27
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:27

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