PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mati Zabojca (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gogea Mitu (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.

Zabojca
vs
Mitu

190 cm
23
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

210 cm
20
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 Amsterdam, Mati Zabojca!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Gogea Mitu!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Nard Betker and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mitu lands a nice leg kick that just misses Zabojca's sensitive parts.
Mitu throws a push kick but Zabojca slaps the foot to one side.
Zabojca shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mitu as he avoids it easily.
Zabojca is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Zabojca tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mitu paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Zabojca tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Zabojca tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mitu swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mitu misses with a jab, cross combination.

Mitu closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Zabojca quickly recovers to half guard.
Zabojca wants to get back to full guard.
Mitu is looking to take a break and control but Zabojca is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Zabojca holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gogea Mitu has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Zabojca tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mitu swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mitu looks to score with a jab to the body but Zabojca is just out of range.
Horrible takedown by Zabojca or perhaps it was just good defense by Mitu which made him look bad.
Mitu looks to land a combination but Zabojca avoids it well.
Zabojca tries a head kick but it misses.
Zabojca checks a leg kick nicely.
Zabojca leaves Mitu with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Zabojca is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Zabojca wants to clinch up but Mitu keeps it at a distance.
Mitu tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mitu lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Zabojca circles away quickly and effectively.
Nice takedown defense from Zabojca. No joy for Mitu on that attempt.
Mitu throws a nice looking combination but Zabojca bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Mitu is looking to clinch.
Gogea Mitu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zabojca tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zabojca has taken the fight to the clinch.
Zabojca trying to stall but Mitu improves his position.
Zabojca tries to land a knee to the head but Mitu blocks with his arms.
Zabojca stops a takedown attempt from Mitu.
Mati Zabojca has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gogea Mitu.
Zabojca trying to control the position but instead, Mitu has worked for underhooks and has pushed Zabojca into the cage.
Zabojca misses with a knee strike.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Zabojca will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Mitu up against the cage.
Mitu goes for a takedown attempt but Zabojca pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mitu fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Zabojca avoids it really well and circles away.
Zabojca misses with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Mitu. Beautiful body shot.
Zabojca on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Zabojca is looking to clinch.
Mitu tries to clinch but Zabojca is having none of it.
Zabojca checks a leg kick.
Mitu is looking to score with low kicks.
Mitu circles away from the clinch attempt.
Zabojca throws a sloppy head kick and Mitu moves out of range easily.
Mitu misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Mitu fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Zabojca looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

Zabojca gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Mitu trying to land knees to the body.
Mitu wants to get back to striking at distance but Zabojca won't allow it.

Mitu breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mitu fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mitu misses with a straight right.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Zabojca.
Zabojca is breathing heavily.
Mitu swats away the attempt to clinch by Zabojca.
Mitu avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Zabojca is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Mitu.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Zabojca darts in and clinches Mitu up against the cage.
Mitu is trying to break the clinch but Zabojca has him pressed against the cage.
Zabojca pushes Mitu back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Mitu throws a knee to the head but misses.
Mitu wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Zabojca has him pressed against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zabojca tries a knee to the head but Mitu blocks it.
Zabojca just leaning against Mitu, taking a breather.

Zabojca pulls guard.
Mitu won't allow Zabojca to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Gogea Mitu will probably get the nod.
That's time! Zabojca's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Mitu misses with a low kick.
Mitu avoids the head kick by Zabojca.
Zabojca throws a one two combo.

It looks like Gogea Mitu has been cut.
Zabojca throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Mitu misses with a double jab.
Zabojca moves out of range as Mitu throws a body kick.
Mitu throws a nice looking combination but Zabojca bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Zabojca throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mitu throws a push kick but Zabojca slaps the foot to one side.
Zabojca fails with an attempt to clinch.
Zabojca doesn't manage to clinch there - Mitu circles away.
Zabojca circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mitu fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Zabojca avoids it really well and circles away.
Zabojca tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Zabojca closes the distance and clinches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Zabojca breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mitu tries to keep at a distance but Zabojca has taken the fight into the clinch.
Mitu is looking to take this one to the mat.

Zabojca gets control of Mitu's arms and successfully pulls guard. Zabojca will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Mitu slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Gogea Mitu.
Zabojca tries to clinch but Mitu is having none of it.
A combination from Mitu does no damage.

Mitu throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Zabojca was covering up waiting for the punch and Mitu finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Mitu looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Gogea Mitu.

Zabojca tries to keep at a distance but Mitu has taken the fight into the clinch.
Mitu is trying to break the clinch but Zabojca is controlling him.
Zabojca tries to circle away but Mitu has him pinned against the cage.
Mitu is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Mati Zabojca has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gogea Mitu.
Zabojca lands with a right to the head.
Zabojca landing knees to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mitu is trying to break the clinch but Zabojca is controlling him.
Mitu using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zabojca prevents the takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Mitu as Zabojca tries to tie him up.
Zabojca tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Mitu has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Zabojca after a bit of a struggle.
Mitu wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Zabojca has him pressed against the cage.

Mitu pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Zabojca is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Mitu doesn't manage to clinch there - Zabojca circles away.

Zabojca has managed to clinch.
Mitu lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Zabojca keeps control of Mitu as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Mitu takes a knee right on the jaw!
Zabojca trying to control the position but instead, Mitu has worked for underhooks and has pushed Zabojca into the cage.

Mitu manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zabojca is looking to clinch but Mitu is avoiding it.
Zabojca slips a jab and a cross from Mitu.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Zabojca checks a leg kick.
Zabojca throws a head kick that misses.
Zabojca misses with a takedown attempt - Mitu sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mitu fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Mitu. Zabojca shrugs it off though.
Mitu tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mitu will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
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!
Mitu fails with a takedown attempt.
Mati Zabojca is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mitu throws a leg kick that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zabojca fails with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mati Zabojca will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Gogea Mitu'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. This is the final round!

Mitu shoots in looking for a takedown but Zabojca manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Mitu's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Mitu thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Zabojca if he has to take too many more of those.
Mitu tries to clinch but Zabojca moves out of range.
Zabojca tries to clinch up but Mitu circles away and keeps his distance.
Mitu misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A solid body kick from Mitu.
Mitu fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mitu closes this distance looking for a takedown but Zabojca circles away.
Zabojca doesn't manage to clinch there - Mitu circles away.
Mitu tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zabojca swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mitu misses with a takedown attempt - Zabojca sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mati Zabojca has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gogea Mitu.
Mitu takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Zabojca wants to clinch up but Mitu keeps it at a distance.
Mitu throws the kick towards the body but Zabojca avoids it.
Mitu throws a leg kick that is checked
and Zabojca counters with a one-two to the body.
Mitu slaps away a takedown attempt from Zabojca, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zabojca tries to clinch up but Mitu circles away and keeps his distance.
Gogea Mitu seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Zabojca rushes Mitu and presses him up against the cage.
Mitu wants a takedown.
Zabojca connects with a nasty looking knee right to Mitu's face.
Zabojca has Mitu pressed against the cage, preventing Mitu from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Mitu has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Zabojca avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Zabojca tries to stall but Mitu uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Stalling in the clinch from Zabojca.
Mitu tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Zabojca avoids it.
Zabojca scores with a knee to the head.

That has opened up Gogea Mitu's cut even more.
Zabojca tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Zabojca escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Zabojca pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mitu misses with a jab, cross combination.
Zabojca avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Zabojca or perhaps it was just good defense by Mitu which made him look bad.
Zabojca slips under a jab from Mitu.
Mitu throws a leg kick but Zabojca checks it.
Zabojca takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Zabojca misses with a few strikes there.
A combination from Mitu does no damage.
Mitu swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zabojca misses with the combination.
Mitu looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Zabojca showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Mitu.
Zabojca lands with a kick to the temple. Mitu shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mitu fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Zabojca darts in and clinches Mitu up against the cage.
Mitu prevents the takedown attempt.
Zabojca stops a takedown attempt from Mitu.
Mitu is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Zabojca is defending well for now.
Zabojca leaning his opponent against the cage.

Mitu's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zabojca throws a combination. Mitu tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Mitu throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
No joy there for Mitu, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Zabojca wants to clinch.

Mitu closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Zabojca quickly recovers to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mitu is just content to waste time from the top position. Zabojca takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Zabojca throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Zabojca wants to get back to his feet but Mitu is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zabojca controlling the position.

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 Mati Zabojca.
I think Zabojca 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 29:28
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 29:28
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mati Zabojca!