PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Anthon Van Der Dusse (ranked 4230 p4p, 3567 weight class) and Lorenzo Bataglia (ranked 387 p4p, 343 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Van Der Dusse
vs
Bataglia

167 cm
34
147
15 - 26 - 0

170 cm
33
142
16 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 15 - 26 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Anthon Van Der Dusse!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lorenzo Bataglia!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Percy O'Donnell and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van Der Dusse shoots in looking for a takedown. Bataglia tries to sprawl out of it but Van Der Dusse keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Bataglia manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Van Der Dusse.
Van Der Dusse seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Van Der Dusse pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Bataglia back to the cage. Van Der Dusse follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Bataglia goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
A nice leg kick lands there from Bataglia.
Van Der Dusse fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthon Van Der Dusse. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Van Der Dusse shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bataglia as he avoids it easily.
Bataglia fails to land with a series of punches.
Bataglia looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Van Der Dusse fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Bataglia sprawls well initially but Van Der Dusse persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Van Der Dusse throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Bataglia to regain full guard.
Bataglia looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bataglia is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Van Der Dusse is controlling him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Der Dusse trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Van Der Dusse trying to control but Bataglia is working from the bottom.
Van Der Dusse prevents Bataglia from getting back to his feet.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Van Der Dusse accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Van Der Dusse in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bataglia is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Van Der Dusse shoots in but no luck this time.
Lorenzo Bataglia is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Van Der Dusse misses with a series of wild punches.
Van Der Dusse shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Bataglia as he jumps to the side.
It seemed like Bataglia was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Bataglia slaps away a takedown attempt from Van Der Dusse, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Der Dusse will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Van Der Dusse darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Bataglia looks like he's trying to stand up.
Van Der Dusse missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Bataglia is holding on to half guard well.
Van Der Dusse is thwarting Bataglia's attempts to control the position.
Van Der Dusse throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Bataglia is trying to stand up here but Van Der Dusse is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Der Dusse moves nicely into side control.
Van Der Dusse throws an elbow but Bataglia slips to the side and avoids it well.
Bataglia is looking to regain half guard here but Van Der Dusse keeps moving and retains side control.
Van Der Dusse in side control lands a decent elbow.
Van Der Dusse postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Check out the look on Van Der Dusse's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Van Der Dusse tries to score with some ground and pound. Bataglia controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Van Der Dusse wants to control but Bataglia is keeping him busy.
You can see the frustration on Bataglia's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Van Der Dusse throws a strike aimed at the side of Bataglia's head but Bataglia avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Van Der Dusse are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Van Der Dusse 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.
Van Der Dusse is looking to take a break and control but Bataglia is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Van Der Dusse grinds an elbow into Bataglia's temple.
Sloppy strikes there by Van Der Dusse.
Bataglia is not content to let Van Der Dusse control the position.
Bataglia tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Van Der Dusse shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Bataglia napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Bataglia managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Van Der Dusse.
Van Der Dusse is trying to ground and pound but Bataglia uses the momentary lack of control by Van Der Dusse to regain half guard.
Van Der Dusse thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Bataglia taking some punishment here, with Van Der Dusse in his half guard.
Bataglia is looking to escape.
Van Der Dusse throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bataglia is staying active underneath Van Der Dusse, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Van Der Dusse with the ground and pound but Bataglia uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Van Der Dusse trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Van Der Dusse is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Der Dusse throws a strike but Bataglia rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Van Der Dusse is trying to control the position but Bataglia postures up.
Bataglia tries to stand but Van Der Dusse is controlling from the bottom.
Van Der Dusse is looking to stand up but Bataglia isn't so interested in that idea.
Bataglia trying to stand up but can't free himself from Van Der Dusse's guard.
Van Der Dusse tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Van Der Dusse working a defensive guard but Bataglia manages to pass into side control anyway.
Van Der Dusse wants to control but Bataglia postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Der Dusse wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Bataglia stands up and beckons Van Der Dusse to his feet.
Van Der Dusse closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bataglia circles away.
Bataglia motions for Van Der Dusse to come forward. Bataglia throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Bataglia throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Van Der Dusse drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Van Der Dusse wants to pass the guard but Bataglia is keeping the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Van Der Dusse accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Van Der Dusse loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Van Der Dusse with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Bataglia holds on and takes a little breather.
Van Der Dusse in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Bataglia holds on and takes a little breather.
Van Der Dusse throwing strikes from guard but Bataglia blocks nicely.
Van Der Dusse missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Bataglia wants to stand but Van Der Dusse is controlling the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
A right-left combo lands from Van Der Dusse.
Van Der Dusse dives in and grabs Bataglia's left leg, looking for a takedown. Bataglia pushes down on Van Der Dusse's head and hops out.
Van Der Dusse fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthon Van Der Dusse. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bataglia throws a shot from downtown. Van Der Dusse moves away and avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bataglia stuffs the takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Bataglia!
Bataglia misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Van Der Dusse throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bataglia.
Van Der Dusse blocks a head kick by Bataglia.
Van Der Dusse looks for a takedown but Bataglia sprawls well.
A big right from Bataglia misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bataglia throws a hook but Van Der Dusse avoids it easily.
No luck for Van Der Dusse with that takedown attempt.
Despite the aggression on Bataglia's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Bataglia keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Bataglia throws a head kick that half lands.
Nice straight punches there by Bataglia. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Bataglia.

Van Der Dusse is rocked!
Anthon Van Der Dusse seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Van Der Dusse shoots and misses
and Bataglia counters with a huge left! Van Der Dusse is in big trouble! He's backing up but Bataglia isn't giving him chance to recover. Under a barage of punches the ref has to step in to save Van Der Dusse from any more damage. A dominating finish by Bataglia!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Lorenzo Bataglia!
During a confident post fight interview, Lorenzo Bataglia thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.