PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mirko Filipovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Roberts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James Roberts acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Filipovic
vs
Roberts

178 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

187 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good in bed

Dangerous GnP
Good low kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mirko Filipovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, James Roberts!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Yuuki Gou and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Roberts tries for a takedown but Filipovic sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Roberts changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Filipovic tries to avoid it but Roberts manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Filipovic to the ground. Filipovic escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Filipovic tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Roberts manages to circle out of the way.
Roberts shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Filipovic holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Mirko Filipovic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Roberts.
Roberts is trying to pull guard but Filipovic has him pressed against the cage.
Roberts tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Roberts is trying to pull guard but Filipovic has him pressed against the cage.
Roberts jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Filipovic walks away with a smile on his face. Roberts gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Filipovic shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Filipovic showed some decent athleticism there.
Filipovic is pressing down on Roberts's thigh, looking to free his foot. Roberts is holding on for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roberts trying to control from the bottom.

Filipovic is trying to work for a kimura but Roberts is defending well.
Filipovic with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roberts wants to control but Filipovic is keeping busy.
The fighters are battling for position here. Roberts manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Roberts looking to control.
Filipovic slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Roberts is trying to control the position but Filipovic postures up.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Filipovic is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Nice sprawl there from Filipovic as Roberts shoots in.
Roberts looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Filipovic is fending him off so far but Roberts persists. Nope, Filipovic circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Filipovic stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Filipovic wants it to stay on the feet.

Filipovic gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Roberts tries to pull guard but Filipovic forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Roberts tries to pull guard but Filipovic forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Roberts tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Filipovic smiles and moves away.
Roberts goes for a double leg but Filipovic avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Filipovic continues to drive forward.
Roberts looks winded!

Filipovic shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Filipovic seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Filipovic's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

Filipovic stands up from Roberts's guard - Filipovic perhaps looking for a knockout.
Roberts misses with a takedown attempt

and Filipovic counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Filipovic.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roberts jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Filipovic walks away with a smile on his face. Roberts gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Filipovic throws a head kick but Roberts moves out of range.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Roberts.

Filipovic looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Filipovic stands up from half guard.
Roberts throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Filipovic's waist but Filipovic gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Roberts off to one side.
James Roberts seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Roberts shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Filipovic but Filipovic pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Roberts tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Filipovic defends well and Roberts ends up having to push Filipovic into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Roberts shoots and misses

and Filipovic counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Filipovic is trying to break free.

Filipovic is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Roberts can't fight it off and eventually Filipovic manages to take the fight to the floor. Roberts looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Filipovic looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roberts is trying to control the position but Filipovic postures up.

Filipovic stands up from Roberts's guard - Filipovic perhaps looking for a knockout.

Filipovic closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Roberts to the mat! Roberts manages to get full guard.
Filipovic stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Roberts swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Roberts working a defensive guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mirko Filipovic dominated that 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.

Roberts shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Filipovic as he avoids it easily.
Filipovic tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Roberts manages to circle out of the way.
Filipovic stuffs the takedown attempt from Roberts. Roberts gets slowly back to his feet.
Roberts shoots and misses
and Filipovic counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Mirko Filipovic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Roberts.
Roberts has his takedown stuffed

and Filipovic counters by moving into the clinch.
Filipovic looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Roberts tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Filipovic smiles and moves away.
Roberts shoots in and drives through. Filipovic sprawls well.
Filipovic seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

Filipovic shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Filipovic stands up from Roberts's guard - Filipovic perhaps looking for a knockout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A left and a right from Filipovic both land. Nice combination.
Roberts fails with the takedown.
Roberts is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Filipovic.
Roberts can't do much from the bottom here.
Filipovic is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Roberts can do to turn this around?
Roberts stops Filipovic from passing to mount.
Roberts can't do much from the bottom here.
Roberts seems a little lost for a moment, as Filipovic dominates the positioning.

Filipovic decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Roberts as Filipovic shoots in.
Filipovic displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Roberts.
Filipovic leaves Roberts with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Roberts shoots in for a double leg but Filipovic sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Filipovic closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Filipovic slows the pace down in half guard.
Filipovic thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Roberts trying to hold on to Filipovic's head to control him but Filipovic postures up.
Filipovic passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roberts is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Roberts is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Filipovic is staying active.
Filipovic takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Roberts wants to hold on but Filipovic pushes him away.
Roberts is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Filipovic controlling from mount.
Roberts wants to hold on but Filipovic pushes him away.
Filipovic throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Roberts because Filipovic loaded up on that one.
Roberts tries to lock up and control but Filipovic gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Roberts tries to control Filipovic's body but Filipovic pushes him off. Roberts squirms to his side and now Filipovic has his back!

Filipovic is looking for the choke from the back position but Roberts is controlling his hands well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Roberts trying to control the position but Filipovic manages to sink in the hooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mirko Filipovic dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Roberts shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Filipovic as he avoids it easily.
Filipovic shoots in for a takedown but Roberts shows good takedown defense.
Roberts has his takedown stuffed
and Filipovic counters with a left and a right that stings Roberts.
Roberts shoots in looking for a takedown. Filipovic tries to sprawl out of it but Roberts keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Filipovic manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Mirko Filipovic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Roberts.
Roberts gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Filipovic counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Roberts jumps guard but Filipovic stands there with Roberts around his waist. Roberts gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Filipovic successfully pulls guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Filipovic is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Roberts is aware though and is defending well.
Filipovic keeping moving, preventing Roberts from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Filipovic is controlling Roberts's posture.
Roberts wants to control from the top but Filipovic keeps moving.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Filipovic tries to strike from the bottom.

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

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.

Filipovic has managed to clinch.
Filipovic drops down looking for an ankle pick but Roberts pulls his leg out and moves away.
Roberts fails with the takedown
and Filipovic counters with a right hand to the body.

Filipovic closes the distance and clinches.
Roberts being controlled against the cage.
Roberts tries to pull guard but Filipovic forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Roberts is trying to pull guard but Filipovic has him pressed against the cage.

Filipovic pulls guard.
Roberts wants to control from the top but Filipovic keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Filipovic working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Roberts doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Roberts manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Filipovic keeping moving, preventing Roberts from controlling successfully.

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.
Roberts preventing the sweep.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Roberts fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Filipovic closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Roberts to the mat! Roberts manages to get full guard.
Roberts controls Filipovic momentarily but Filipovic frees himself.
Filipovic wants to pass the guard but Roberts is keeping the position.
Roberts is trying to control the position from the bottom.
James Roberts has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Filipovic tries to free his leg and advance position but Roberts is retaining full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mirko Filipovic showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Filipovic 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:25
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:25
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:25

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