PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tom Rabago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mirko Naberovich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Mirko Naberovich enters the cage!

Rabago
vs
Naberovich

184 cm
20
230 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

191 cm
22
260 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Intelligent

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tom Rabago!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mirko Naberovich!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Chris Downing and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rabago blocks a head kick by Naberovich.

Rabago changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Naberovich looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Naberovich is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Rabago asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Rabago tries for a kimura but Naberovich is defending well.
Rabago lands some shots froms side control.

Rabago looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Rabago is looking to take a break and control but Naberovich is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rabago prevents Naberovich from escaping the position.

Rabago is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Naberovich knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Rabago prevents Naberovich from escaping the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Rabago throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Naberovich's waist but Naberovich gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rabago off to one side.
Mirko Naberovich is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rabago tries for a takedown but Naberovich sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Rabago fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Rabago. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rabago is breathing heavily.
Naberovich tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rabago misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rabago blocks a head kick by Naberovich.
Naberovich connects with a good right hand that stumbles Rabago. Rabago circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Naberovich throws a head kick but Rabago moves out of range.

Rabago shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Rabago tries to free his leg and advance position but Naberovich is retaining full guard.
Rabago prevents Naberovich from getting back to his feet.

Naberovich manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Naberovich swats away the attempt to clinch by Rabago.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rabago fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rabago avoids the head kick by Naberovich.
Rabago shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Naberovich but Naberovich pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A head kick misses from Naberovich.
Naberovich tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Rabago counters with a nice double leg into side control. Naberovich won't be happy with that.
Rabago prevents Naberovich from escaping the position.

Rabago working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Rabago dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rabago shoots in but Naberovich avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rabago fails with a takedown attempt.
Naberovich should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Rabago has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Rabago. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Naberovich has managed to clinch.
Naberovich is trying to break free.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Naberovich wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Naberovich manages to break the clinch.
Rabago looks for a takedown but Naberovich sprawls well.
Mirko Naberovich seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Naberovich misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rabago blocks a head kick by Naberovich.
Rabago fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rabago shoots in but Naberovich avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
No luck for Rabago with that takedown attempt.
Naberovich connects with the punch.
Naberovich throws a sloppy head kick and Rabago moves out of range easily.

Naberovich has managed to clinch.
Naberovich dodges an elbow strike from Rabago.
Naberovich wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Rabago goes for a takedown attempt but Naberovich pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Naberovich throws a sloppy head kick

and Rabago counters with a shoot takedown. Naberovich fights it but they end up in guard.
Rabago thows a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Naberovich has his feet on Rabago's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
A head kick misses from Naberovich.

Naberovich has managed to clinch.
Naberovich gets underhooks to prevent Rabago's takedown attempt.

Naberovich breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Naberovich pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A head kick misses from Naberovich.
Horrible takedown by Rabago or perhaps it was just good defense by Naberovich which made him look bad.
Naberovich tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nice takedown defense from Naberovich. No joy for Rabago on that attempt.
Rabago misses with a takedown attempt - Naberovich sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Naberovich throws a head kick that misses

and Rabago counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Naberovich is defending against the submission attempts here by Rabago.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rabago missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Rabago is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Naberovich doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Rabago.
Rabago stops Naberovich from getting back to his feet.

That's four 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.
Rabago working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Naberovich looks like he's trying to stand up.

Naberovich makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Naberovich stuffs the takedown attempt from Rabago. Rabago gets slowly back to his feet.
Naberovich throws a head kick that misses

and Rabago counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Naberovich uses the cage to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Rabago dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Naberovich lands with a kick to the temple. Rabago shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Rabago shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Naberovich as he avoids it easily.
Naberovich pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Naberovich instigates a clinch.
Rabago tries to score a body lock takedown but Naberovich shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Naberovich wants to get back to striking at distance but Rabago won't allow it.

Naberovich breaks the clinch.
Naberovich pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Naberovich throws a head kick but Rabago moves out of range.
Naberovich throws a head kick that misses.
A head kick misses from Naberovich.
Rabago closes the distance and clinches up with Naberovich, looking for a takedown. Rabago pushes Naberovich against the cage but Naberovich circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Rabago. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Naberovich throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rabago has a takedown stuffed.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Rabago manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Rabago is working an open guard so Naberovich takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
A head kick by Naberovich misses
and Rabago counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Rabago fails with the takedown.

Rabago gets a takedown into half guard.
Rabago works his way into side control.

Rabago tries for a kimura but Naberovich is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rabago looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Naberovich is avoiding damage well.
Naberovich is trying to get back to his feet.

Rabago is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Naberovich is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Naberovich tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.

Rabago is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Naberovich knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Naberovich for a finish.
Naberovich trying to get back to his feet but Rabago is in full control for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Rabago is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Naberovich holding both Rabago 's hands and preventing any damage.
Naberovich has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Rabago.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tom Rabago showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rabago, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Rabago!