PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ranji Katoor (ranked 2827 p4p, 3327 weight class) and Gobal Batra (ranked 352 p4p, 0 weight class). Gobal Batra is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Katoor
vs
Batra

182 cm
25
225
4 - 2 - 0

190 cm
34
209
22 - 15 - 2

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

The Thrift Shop - Cheap Clothes and Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ranji Katoor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 15 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Gobal Batra!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Katoor clinches with his opponent.
Batra working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A short right from Katoor.
Batra swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Batra decides to pull guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Batra looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Katoor wanted to stand there but Batra had control of the position.
Batra is controlling Katoor's posture.
Katoor trying to stand up but can't free himself from Batra's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Batra pulls Katoor in close to his closed guard and prevents Katoor from doing any damage or advancing position.
Katoor is looking to stand up but Batra won't let him.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Batra managing to control the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Batra bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Batra buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Katoor is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Batra just misses with a punch to the body.
Katoor tries to counter with a takedown but Batra is quick to defend against it.
Gobal Batra seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice shot by Batra.
Batra tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Katoor is able to avoid easily.
Katoor ducks under a wild hook from Batra.

Katoor closes the distance and clinches.
A head punch on the inside from Katoor fails to land.
Batra swings wildly with an uppercut but Katoor uses good head movement to avoid it.
Batra swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Katoor fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Batra throws a punch but it's blocked by Katoor.
Batra scores with a nice hook to the head.
Batra working aggressively here.
Katoor misses with the head strike.
Batra tries to work over Katoor's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Batra goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A nice left hand lands by Katoor.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Katoor prevents a body shot from Batra.
Batra can't find room to land a body shot as Katoor controls the action.
Katoor tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Batra lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Katoor lands with a light punch inside.
Batra avoids the elbow strike from Katoor, against the cage.
Batra is trying to pull guard but Katoor turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Katoor lands an elbow inside.
Batra takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Gobal Batra has been cut.
Batra is trying to pull guard but Katoor has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Katoor creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Batra's defenses.
Batra gets through Katoor's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Katoor doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Katoor.
Katoor tries to throw a body punch but Batra avoids it by throwing Katoor back against the cage.
Batra lands a nice uppercut.
Batra prevents a body shot from Katoor.
Katoor tries to throw a body punch but Batra avoids it by throwing Katoor back against the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for Batra.
Katoor lands an elbow inside.
Katoor is leaning against Batra and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Katoor makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Batra lands a shoulder strike.
Batra misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Batra.
A left hand lands to the body for Katoor.
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!
Batra swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Katoor working aggressively here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Katoor being controlled against the cage.
Batra throws a head punch that misses.
Batra can't find room to land a body shot as Katoor controls the action.
Batra lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Katoor swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Batra tries to pull guard but Katoor forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Ranji Katoor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gobal Batra.
Batra tries to work over Katoor's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Katoor working aggressively here.
I was talking to Katoor's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Katoor blocks a body shot from Batra.
Batra doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Katoor can't find room to land a body shot as Batra controls the action.
Katoor pushes off an throws an elbow but Batra leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Katoor gets through Batra's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Batra.
Batra lands a hook that snaps the head of Katoor backwards.
Batra misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short uppercut from Batra.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Gobal Batra will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Gobal Batra's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Batra throws a low kick but Katoor avoids it.
Batra thuds his shin into the meat of Katoor's side.
Batra throws a sloppy head kick and Katoor moves out of range easily.
Katoor swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Katoor avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Katoor is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Batra dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Katoor closes the distance and pushes Batra back into the cage.
Katoor lands a damaging elbow.
A head punch on the inside from Katoor fails to land.
A nice left hand lands by Batra.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Katoor just misses with a elbow thrown towards Batra's brow.
Batra blocking some punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head punch on the inside from Batra fails to land.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Batra.
Katoor throws an elbow but it misses.
Batra has a couple of punches blocked by Katoor.

Batra successfully pulls guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Katoor is fighting to break Batra's control of his arms but Batra is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Katoor has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Batra is proving hard to escape from.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Katoor is fighting to break Batra's control of his arms but Batra is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Katoor gets to his feet - Batra follows without any prompting.
A punch lands to the side of Katoor 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Batra throws the left hand but Katoor avoids the punch easily.
Ranji Katoor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Batra darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

Katoor clinches.
Batra tries to pull guard but Katoor won't allow it.
Batra tries to pull guard but Katoor holds him up against the cage and eventually Batra drops back down to his feet.
Batra tries to pull guard but Katoor holds him up against the cage and eventually Batra drops back down to his feet.
Ranji Katoor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gobal Batra.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Katoor is working Batra over against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Batra.
Katoor blocks an uppercut.
Katoor throws a punch but it's blocked by Batra.
Batra tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Batra misses with a hook to the ribs.
Batra struggles to land a body shot inside as Katoor controls his hands.
Katoor comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Batra blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Katoor fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Katoor misses with an elbow strike.
Batra digs a right hand underneath Katoor's ribcage. Katoor let out a lung full of air as it connected.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Batra scores with a hook to the body.
Batra misses with a hook to the ribs.
Katoor blocking some punches.
Batra misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Batra fails to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Batra misses with a punch on the inside.
Katoor lands an elbow inside.

Batra pulls guard.
Katoor tries to stand but Batra is controlling from the bottom.
Batra has control of Katoor's left arm, preventing Katoor from doing any damage.
Katoor has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Katoor would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Batra managing to control the position.
Katoor wants to stand but Batra has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Batra is working an open guard so Katoor takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Batra looks to score with a jab to the body but Katoor is just out of range.

Katoor closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Katoor lands a body shot.
Batra misses with a hook from the clinch.
Katoor lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Batra tries to pull guard but Katoor won't allow it.
Katoor comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Batra tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Batra blocks a body shot from Katoor.
Batra tries to pull guard but Katoor won't allow it.
Batra misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Batra misses with some punches.
Batra tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Katoor doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ranji Katoor will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Gobal Batra's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Katoor drops his hands momentarily and Batra takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Batra uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Batra has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Katoor tries to clinch there but Batra circles away.
Gobal Batra seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Katoor keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Batra throws a hook to the side of Katoor's head but Katoor sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Batra throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Katoor seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Batra throws out a leg kick but Katoor moves out of range and Batra only half commits.
Batra pivots, looking for a leg kick but Katoor is out of range and Batra settles back down.
Batra lands with a kick to the ribs.
Katoor tries to clinch but Batra moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Katoor forces Batra back against the cage and clinches.
Katoor tries to work over Batra's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A body shot lands from Batra.
Katoor scores with a nice hook to the head.
Katoor misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Batra tries a body shot but Katoor blocks it.
Katoor misses with a hook to the ribs.
Batra pushes Katoor back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Katoor lands a shot to the body.
Batra tries to pull guard but Katoor forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Katoor misses with a body punch.
Batra swings wildly with an uppercut but Katoor uses good head movement to avoid it.
Batra lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Batra throws a punch but it's blocked by Katoor.
Batra tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Batra digs a right hand into Katoor's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Katoor's gas tank.
Batra is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Batra blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ranji Katoor has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A head punch on the inside from Katoor fails to land.
Batra tries to pull guard but Katoor won't allow it.
Ranji Katoor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gobal Batra.
Batra is trying to maintain a safe position but Katoor gets an underhook and turns Batra into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Katoor throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Katoor struggles to land a body shot inside as Batra controls his hands.
Batra tries a body shot but Katoor blocks it.
A short right from Katoor.
Katoor blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Batra takes a shot to the head.
Katoor creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Batra's defenses.
Katoor tries to work over Batra's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Katoor misses with a body punch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Batra avoids a wild elbow strike from Katoor.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice elbow from Katoor.

That has opened up Gobal Batra's cut even more.
Katoor swings wildly with an uppercut but Batra uses good head movement to avoid it.
Katoor lands an uppercut.
Batra swings wildly with an uppercut but Katoor uses good head movement to avoid it.
Batra doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice elbow from Katoor.
Batra throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Katoors head.
Batra takes an elbow to the forehead.
Katoor misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Katoor tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A short right from Katoor.

Batra decides to pull guard.
Batra looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Katoor gets to his feet - Batra follows without any prompting.
Batra pivots, looking for a leg kick but Katoor is out of range and Batra settles back down.
Batra throws a front kick that sends Katoor stumbling back into the cage.

Katoor gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Katoor swings wildly with an uppercut but Batra uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Katoor lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A short right from Katoor.
Batra tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Katoor looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Batra tries to throw a body punch but Katoor avoids it by throwing Batra back against the cage.
Batra stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Batra lands with a light punch inside.
Batra tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Katoor smiles and moves away.
Katoor avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Katoor forces Batra back against the cage and clinches.
Katoor working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Katoor.
Katoor looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Katoor lands an elbow inside that Batra shrugs off.
Batra misses with a hook from the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ranji Katoor showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Katoor 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ranji Katoor!
After the big win, Ranji Katoor made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors The Thrift Shop - Cheap Clothes and Laundry and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.