PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Touch Me (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dejan Kuzmanovic (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.

Me
vs
Kuzmanovic

182 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
18
172 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Touch Me!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dejan Kuzmanovic!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Reed Andrews and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Me will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Me looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kuzmanovic is fending him off so far but Me persists. Nope, Kuzmanovic circles away and we're back to standing.
Kuzmanovic's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Kuzmanovic duly obliges.
Me looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kuzmanovic is fending him off so far but Me persists. Nope, Kuzmanovic circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Touch Me. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Me tries to clinch but Kuzmanovic is having none of it.
Me fails with the takedown.
Me changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kuzmanovic tries to avoid it but Me manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kuzmanovic to the ground. Kuzmanovic escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Horrible takedown by Me or perhaps it was just good defense by Kuzmanovic which made him look bad.

Kuzmanovic has managed to clinch.
Kuzmanovic prevents the takedown attempt.

Kuzmanovic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Kuzmanovic looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Me!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kuzmanovic tries to control but Me wriggling away.
Me sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Me is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuzmanovic tries to stand and escape but Me is controlling the position.
Kuzmanovic throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Kuzmanovic decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Me with a lazy takedown attempt
and Kuzmanovic counters with a right hand to the body.
The crowd cheers as Kuzmanovic lands an impressive looking overhand right. Me doesn't seem phased though.
Kuzmanovic scores with a jab. Me acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Kuzmanovic throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A slow jab from Kuzmanovic misses its intended target.
Kuzmanovic throws a series of punches but Me moves out of range.
Kuzmanovic throws a right hand that Me ducks under and follows up with a left that Me also avoids with ease.

Kuzmanovic fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Me, pushing him back against the cage.
Kuzmanovic misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Me.

Kuzmanovic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kuzmanovic pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuzmanovic connects with a high kick.
Kuzmanovic throws a head kick that misses.

Kuzmanovic fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Me sprawls well initially but Kuzmanovic persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Kuzmanovic decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Kuzmanovic throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kuzmanovic misses with a jab, cross combination.

Kuzmanovic closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Kuzmanovic landing strikes.
Me is looking for a sweep.

Kuzmanovic decides to stand back up.
Kuzmanovic cracks the inside of Me's front leg.
Touch Me seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Me misses with a takedown

and Kuzmanovic counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuzmanovic thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Me's head.
Me is trying to get back to full guard.
Kuzmanovic is nestled in close to Me, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Kuzmanovic decides to return to a standing position.

Me gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Kuzmanovic looking to sit in guard and control but Me gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Me throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kuzmanovic works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Me trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Me drops back, looking for a kneebar! Kuzmanovic looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Kuzmanovic looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Kuzmanovic!
Kuzmanovic working the ground and pound.

Kuzmanovic has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Me tries to clinch

and Kuzmanovic counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Kuzmanovic decides to stand and escape the position.
Me has his takedown stuffed

and Kuzmanovic counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kuzmanovic.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Kuzmanovic stands up from Me's guard - Kuzmanovic perhaps looking for a knockout.

Me closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Me lands in his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Me decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Dejan Kuzmanovic has got the better of the ground game so far.
Me is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Me lands a big shot there that rocks Kuzmanovic but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Kuzmanovic wants to control but Me is having none of it.

Kuzmanovic bucks Me off and manages to get back to his feet!
Kuzmanovic plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Me misses with a takedown attempt

and Kuzmanovic counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Kuzmanovic stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Kuzmanovic drives through and clinches with Me against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuzmanovic has had enough of the clinch but Me keeps him there for the moment.
Kuzmanovic misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Me.
Me can't get the takedown.
Me tries to pull guard but Kuzmanovic holds him up against the cage and eventually Me drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Touch Me. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Me tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Kuzmanovic pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Me has his takedown stuffed

and Kuzmanovic counters by clinching up.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Kuzmanovic breaks from the clinch.
Me misses with a takedown

and Kuzmanovic counters with a nice double leg into side control. Me won't be happy with that.

Kuzmanovic decides to stand back up. Kuzmanovic steps back and let's Me get back to his feet.
Me misses with a takedown
and Kuzmanovic cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuzmanovic throws a head kick but Me moves out of range.
Me doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Kuzmanovic holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Me drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kuzmanovic gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Me wants a takedown but no success here.

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

Kuzmanovic moves into the clinch successfully.

Me jumps into guard, dragging Kuzmanovic to the mat.
Kuzmanovic controlling from the top position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kuzmanovic trying to stand up but can't free himself from Me's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuzmanovic sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Me trying to control the position.
Me utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kuzmanovic tries to stand but Me is controlling from the bottom.

Me is looking for a triangle but Kuzmanovic pushes his legs off easily.

Me has his foot on Kuzmanovic's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kuzmanovic works his way back into a safe position though.

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.
Me bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kuzmanovic's guard.
Kuzmanovic wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Me manages to pass to side control.
Me takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Me stops Kuzmanovic from getting back to his feet.
Me is tying to control. Kuzmanovic wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Me tries to pass the half guard into mount. Kuzmanovic knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Me stops Kuzmanovic from getting back to his feet.
Kuzmanovic has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dejan Kuzmanovic showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Me shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Kuzmanovic counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Kuzmanovic is thwarting Me's attempts to control the position.

Kuzmanovic stands up from half guard.
Me tries for a takedown but Kuzmanovic circles away easily

and Kuzmanovic counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Me's guard now.
Me wants to sweep here but Kuzmanovic controlling him for the moment.
Kuzmanovic trying to control but Me is working from the bottom.
Me is trying to keep Kuzmanovic in close.

Kuzmanovic gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Me avoids the head kick by Kuzmanovic.
Me takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Kuzmanovic throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Me.
Me tries for a takedown but Kuzmanovic circles away easily

and Kuzmanovic moves into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Touch Me. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Me turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Me manages to end up in side control.
Me working away.
Me working the body and head with strikes.

Kuzmanovic throws Me to one side and escapes!
Me tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kuzmanovic lands with a nice combination. Me backs away looking to recover.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuzmanovic scores with a head kick.

Me looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Kuzmanovic is in trouble now - Me has advanced to mount!
Me wants to take Kuzmanovic's back here but Kuzmanovic is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Me is landing with some decent strikes but Kuzmanovic is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
The referee warns Kuzmanovic that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Kuzmanovic tries to hold on but Me pushes him away.
Kuzmanovic is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Kuzmanovic is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Me scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Kuzmanovic is squirming around, avoiding Me's attempts to control the action.
Kuzmanovic flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Kuzmanovic can't escape the position.
Kuzmanovic tries to hold on but Me pushes him away.
Kuzmanovic is trying to stand but he's just given Me his back.
Me is looking to control Kuzmanovic but Kuzmanovic is wriggling around and keeping busy.
The referee is taking a good look at Kuzmanovic as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Me!
Kuzmanovic trying to control the position but Me manages to sink in the hooks.

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.

Me looking for the RNC.
Kuzmanovic trying to get back to his feet but Me is in full control for now.
Me scores with strikes from the back.
Kuzmanovic looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Me trying to control.
Kuzmanovic just trying to survive but Me is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Touch Me has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dejan Kuzmanovic is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Kuzmanovic won't enjoy being in this position. Me looking for the choke. Oh... he's slipped the arm under the neck - Kuzmanovic is tapping - it's over boys! Me picks up the submission victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Touch Me!