PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kamil Reljic (ranked 3759 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mamed Materla (ranked 5621 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Reljic
vs
Materla

181 cm
25
154 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

181 cm
25
152 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kamil Reljic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mamed Materla!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, William Peck and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Materla with a poor takedown
and Reljic counters with a two punch combo.
Materla is trying hard to land a takedown here. Reljic sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Reljic throws a jab but it's blocked by Materla.
Reljic moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromMaterla.

Materla shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Reljic's guard.
Reljic looking for a sweep. Not yet Reljic, not yet.
Reljic keeping moving, preventing Materla from controlling successfully.
Materla wants to pass the guard but Reljic is keeping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Materla trying to control the position from guard on top but Reljic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Materla stands and throws Reljic's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Reljic is looking to regain half guard here but Materla keeps moving and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Materla is putting a hurting on Reljic here, landing some big shots from side control.
Materla controls the position.
Reljic tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Materla wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sloppy strikes there by Materla.
Materla advances to mount.
Materla throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Reljic is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Materla looking to ground and pound but Reljic is blocking nicely.
Reljic tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Materla throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Reljic because Materla loaded up on that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reljic is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Reljic tries to hold on but Materla pushes him away.
Materla blocks Reljic's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.

Materla moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Reljic has worked his arm free - good work by Reljic!
Reljic can't do much from the bottom here.
Reljic gets back to half guard.
Reljic is trying to control but can't.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Reljic is not content to let Materla control the position.
Reljic gets back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Materla controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Reljic has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Materla has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Materla drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kamil Reljic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mamed Materla.
Materla has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Reljic avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Reljic drags the fight down to the ground.
Reljic striking from the bottom.
Materla trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Reljic being controlled here, momentarily.
Materla postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Reljic is working an open guard so Materla takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Reljic stuffs the takedown attempt from Materla. Materla gets slowly back to his feet.
A little feinted left hand from Reljic on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Kamil Reljic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Reljic slaps away a takedown attempt from Materla, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Reljic shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Materla as he jumps to the side.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Reljic shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Materla is trying to defend but Reljic finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Reljic throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Kamil Reljic will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Reljic has taken the fight to the clinch.
Reljic tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Materla smiles and moves away.
Materla shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Reljic as he avoids it easily.
Materla scores with a spinning back kick!
Reljic fails in his attempt to clinch.

Materla dives in and scores a takedown into Reljic's guard.
Materla pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Reljic is keeping the position for now.
Reljic utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Materla stands and throws Reljic's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Materla has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Materla controlling from the full mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reljic is desperately trying to improve his position but Materla has a good base and remains in mount.
Reljic throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Materla can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Reljic is looking to escape.
Reljic keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Materla tries to control but Reljic wriggling away.
Materla takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Reljic is trying to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Reljic is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Materla trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Reljic is trying desperately to improve position.
Reljic is squirming around, avoiding Materla's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reljic is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Materla controlling from mount.
Reljic regains half guard.
Materla controlling the action here.
Materla not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Materla is looking for a kimura here.
Reljic missing with punches from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Materla trying to mount his opponent but Reljic defends it.
Materla is thwarting Reljic's attempts to control the position.
Materla is keen to just control but Reljic is a slippery customer.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Materla is stalling here. Reljic is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Materla seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Reljic has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sloppy strikes there by Reljic.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mamed Materla 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!

Reljic throws a head kick but Materla moves out of range.

Materla pushes Reljic up against the cage in a clinch.
Reljic tries to work over Materla's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Reljic looking to slow down the pace here.
A left hand lands to the body for Reljic.

Reljic manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Materla loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Reljic is trying to control the position but Materla postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Reljic wants to stand but Materla is controlling the position.
Reljic trying to control the position.
Reljic can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Materla controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Materla trying to control the position from guard on top but Reljic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Materla wants to pass the guard but Reljic is keeping the position.
Reljic is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Reljic shoots in for a takedown but Materla shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Materla moves out of range of the strikes.

Materla rushes Reljic and presses him up against the cage.
Materla changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Reljic fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Materla has a takedown stuffed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Reljic looking to score a takedown here. Materla is defending well but Reljic drives through and ends up in Materla's guard.
Reljic wants to control from the top but Materla keeps moving.
Reljic wants to get up but he can't break Materla's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Reljic advances position into side control!
Reljic tries to score with some ground and pound. Materla controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Reljic 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 Materla's shoulder. That is not cool.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Materla is looking for a sweep.
Reljic advances nicely into full mount.
Mamed Materla has got the better of the ground game so far.
Reljic controlling the position easily from mount.
Materla really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

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.
Poor strikes thrown by Reljic there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Reljic wants to control but instead Materla manages to regain half guard.
Reljic is looking to advance position but Materla won't allow it.

Reljic seems to be looking for submissions.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Reljic with the ground and pound but Materla uses the opportunity to regain guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kamil Reljic showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Reljic has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Kamil Reljic!