PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Filip Wera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Krnjotka Despot (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Wera
vs
Despot

176 cm
27
135 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

180 cm
24
135 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Filip Wera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Krnjotka Despot!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Anni Minnemäki and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Despot looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Despot moves to clinch but Wera breaks away

and Wera counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Wera.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Wera accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Despot really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Wera. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Wera slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Despot defending against the ground and pound.
Wera sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Despot is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wera prevents Despot from escaping the position.
Despot wants to control but Wera postures up.
Despot dodges the ground and pound from Wera.
Wera creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Despot sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Wera.
Wera in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Despot can do anything to dispel that myth.
Despot avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Wera.
Wera sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Despot is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Despot is not content to let Wera control the position.
Despot is trying to get back to half guard.
Wera remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
An elbow from Wera crashes against the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Wera working the ground and pound but Despot is defending the strikes.
Sloppy strikes there by Wera.
Wera misses with the ground and pound.
Wera throws an elbow but Despot slips to the side and avoids it well.
Wera throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Despot gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Despot is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Wera looking to finish with strikes here!
Wera landing shots from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Despot holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Wera tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Wera throws some wild stikes that Despot manages to avoid easily.
Wera looking to finish with strikes here!
Poor strikes thrown by Wera there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Despot tries to hold on but Wera postures up.
Wera unloads with some shots from mount but Despot bucks and avoids them well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wera with good strikes from the mount here!
Despot is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Wera misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wera thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Wera with good strikes from the mount here!

Despot is rocked!
Despot blocking the ground and pound.
Despot tries to buck Wera off but he can't manage it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Wera misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Wera looking to finish with strikes here!
Wera cracks Despot with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Despot is still in real trouble! Can Wera finish him?
Wera misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Despot seems to have recovered his senses.
Wera sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Wera looking to control and managing it successfully.
Wera throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Filip Wera dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Despot gets caught flat footed, as Wera shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Wera throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Despot works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Wera postures up in Despot's guard and throws a big left but Despot blocks it.
Wera stays in close to Despot's body and controls the position.
Wera loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Despot working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Wera.
Wera stays in close to Despot's body and controls the position.
Wera is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Despot can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Despot 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.
Wera really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Wera postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wera stays in close to Despot's body and controls the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wera postures up in Despot's guard and throws a big left but Despot blocks it.
Wera's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Wera bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Despot's face as Wera controls the position.
Despot struggling a bit here.
Wera misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wera fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Wera looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Despot is avoiding damage well.
Wera in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Wera lands a few punches from side control.
Wera trying to control the action but Despot is working from the bottom.
Wera creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Despot sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
The ground and pound from Wera seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Wera throws a strike aimed at the side of Despot's head but Despot avoids it well.
Despot is pushing Wera's head away, looking to escape. Wera manages to hold on to the position though.
Wera fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Despot wants to control but Wera postures up.
Despot is breathing heavily.
Despot managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Wera.
Despot is working to avoid the ground and pound but Wera connects with a decent elbow.
Despot is working to avoid the ground and pound but Wera connects with a decent elbow.
Wera trying to control the position but Despot is working away.
The strikes coming from Wera are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Wera controlling from side mount.
Wera throws a strike aimed at the side of Despot's head but Despot avoids it well.
Wera is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Despot's shoulder. That is not cool.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wera in side control, throwing shots but Despot defends.
Wera content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Wera has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Despot!
Wera scores with a couple of good head shots there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wera throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Wera misses with a head shot.
Wera putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Filip Wera dominated that second round.
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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Wera drives through with a takedown into guard.
Despot wants to improve his position but instead Wera has moved into half guard.
Wera content to control rather than advance.
Wera sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Despot defending well though.
Wera thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wera not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Wera slows the pace down in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wera missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Wera throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Wera works his way into side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Wera in side control, throwing shots but Despot defends.
Wera working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Wera throws a strike aimed at the side of Despot's head but Despot avoids it well.
Despot wants to control but Wera postures up.
Despot tries to improve position but can't.
Despot takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Despot gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wera landing shots from mount.
Wera avoids the attempt from Despot to control.
Wera punching from mount but Despot doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Wera throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Despot is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Wera looking to ground and pound but Despot is blocking nicely.
Wera throwing strikes here but Despot is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Despot holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Wera tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Despot blocking the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wera looking to control and managing it successfully.
Despot wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Wera.
Wera throwing strikes here but Despot is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Wera misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Wera landing strikes from the mount.
Wera throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Wera looking to ground and pound but Despot is blocking nicely.
Wera thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Wera throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Wera has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Wera lands with some strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wera throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Despot because Wera loaded up on that one.
Wera throwing strikes here but Despot is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Wera throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
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!
Wera punching from mount but Despot doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Wera throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
The referee warns Despot that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Wera unloads with some shots from mount but Despot bucks and avoids them well.
Wera misses with a head shot.
Wera throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Despot blocking the ground and pound.
Despot blocking the ground and pound.
Krnjotka Despot has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Filip Wera is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Despot holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Wera tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

And that's the end of the fight!
Filip Wera showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Wera has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:24
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:24
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:24

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Filip Wera!