PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joe Whitney (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stefan Filipovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Stefan Filipovic was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Whitney
vs
Filipovic

187 cm
25
265 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

197 cm
23
225 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Joe Whitney!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Stefan Filipovic!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Patrick Alders and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Filipovic drives through and clinches with Whitney against the cage.
Whitney looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!

Filipovic pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Whitney stuffs the takedown.
Filipovic changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Whitney tries to avoid it but Filipovic manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Whitney to the ground. Whitney escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Filipovic fails with a takedown attempt.
Joe Whitney has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stefan Filipovic.
Filipovic looks for a takedown but Whitney sprawls well.
A solid leg kick lands there for Filipovic.
Whitney shoots in for a double leg but Filipovic sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Filipovic displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Filipovic fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
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!

Filipovic has closed the distance and engaged Whitney in a clinch.

Filipovic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitney leaves Filipovic with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Filipovic scores with a head kick. Whitney tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Filipovic looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Whitney shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Filipovic connects with a leg kick. Whitney looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Whitney keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Filipovic lands a jab-cross combination.

Filipovic closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Filipovic landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whitney drops down looking for an ankle pick but Filipovic pulls his leg out and moves away.
Filipovic looks to land a combination. Whitney sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Filipovic clinches up with Whitney and pushes him back against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Filipovic breaks from the clinch.
Whitney has a takedown stuffed.
Filipovic fails with the takedown.
Whitney leaves Filipovic with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic lands a jab-cross combination.
Filipovic getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Filipovic looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Whitney is fending him off so far but Filipovic persists. Nope, Whitney circles away and we're back to standing.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Whitney.
Whitney shoots in for a double leg but Filipovic sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Whitney gets tackled into the cage by Filipovic. Filipovic maintains the clinch.

Filipovic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Filipovic lands a body shot.
Filipovic misses with a wild combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Filipovic.
Whitney fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Filipovic lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Whitney shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Filipovic but Filipovic pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Filipovic throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Whitney's head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Filipovic has a takedown stuffed.
Whitney shoots in for a takedown but Filipovic shows good takedown defense.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stefan Filipovic dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Filipovic darts in and clinches Whitney up against the cage.
Whitney goes for a takedown in the clinch but Filipovic prevents it.
Filipovic wants a takedown but no success here.

Filipovic breaks from the clinch.
Filipovic shoots for a double leg takedown but Whitney sprawls well. He's pushed Filipovic's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Filipovic misses with a takedown attempt - Whitney sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Joe Whitney has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stefan Filipovic.
Filipovic fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Filipovic fails with a takedown attempt.
Filipovic ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Whitney. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Whitney as Filipovic shoots in.
Whitney fails in his attempt to clinch.
Whitney closes the distance and clinches up with Filipovic, looking for a takedown. Whitney pushes Filipovic against the cage but Filipovic circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Filipovic shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Whitney but Whitney pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Whitney will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Filipovic instigates a clinch.

Filipovic jumps into guard, dragging Whitney to the mat.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Whitney landing with the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Whitney drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Filipovic dives on top into guard.

Filipovic got a little sloppy there for a moment and Whitney has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Filipovic has managed to get both his arms back between Whitney's legs - danger averted.
Filipovic wants to pass the guard but Whitney is keeping the position.
Filipovic throwing strikes from guard but Whitney blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Whitney is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Filipovic avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Whitney can't keep his opponent in guard - Filipovic advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Filipovic is trying to work for a kimura but Whitney is defending well.

Filipovic is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Whitney is just riding it out for now. Filipovic eventually gives up the hold.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stefan Filipovic showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Filipovic tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Whitney swivels and escapes.

Filipovic closes the distance and clinches.
Filipovic is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Whitney to keep the fight standing.

Filipovic manages to break the clinch.
Filipovic has a takedown stuffed.
Joe Whitney has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stefan Filipovic.
Filipovic closes this distance looking for a takedown but Whitney circles away.

Filipovic has closed the distance and engaged Whitney in a clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Filipovic looking for a takedown.
Filipovic leaning against his opponent.
Whitney jumps guard but Filipovic stands there with Whitney around his waist. Whitney gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Filipovic is working for takedown but Whitney is calmly controlling the position for now.
Whitney is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Filipovic dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Whitney is looking for a takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Filipovic breaks the clinch.
Filipovic tries to score a power double leg takedown but Whitney sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Filipovic somewhat.
Whitney tries to score a power double leg takedown but Filipovic sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Whitney somewhat.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Filipovic.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Whitney is defended easily by Filipovic.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic scores with a head kick. Whitney tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Whitney shoots for a double leg takedown but Filipovic sprawls well. He's pushed Whitney's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Whitney tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Filipovic cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Filipovic shoots in and drives through. Whitney sprawls well.
Filipovic stalks Whitney and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Whitney's face. Whitney staggers backwards, shaken.
Filipovic tries to clinch but Whitney is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic stuffs the takedown.
Nice takedown defense from Whitney. No joy for Filipovic on that attempt.
Filipovic stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Filipovic wants it to stay on the feet.

Filipovic clinches with his opponent.

Filipovic jumps guard and drags Whitney to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Whitney prevents Filipovic from getting back to his feet.
Whitney throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Whitney loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Whitney drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Filipovic manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Whitney has Filipovic in his guard.
Filipovic must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Whitney keeping moving, preventing Filipovic from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stefan Filipovic comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Filipovic has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30

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