PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Batara Sari (ranked 801 p4p, 1371 weight class) and Jasper Leeuwenhoek (ranked 115 p4p, 191 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Sari
vs
Leeuwenhoek

187 cm
26
193
6 - 1 - 0

193 cm
26
188
5 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Good chin

Powerful takedowns
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Primal

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Batara Sari!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jasper Leeuwenhoek!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Santiago Holmes and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leeuwenhoek throws an overhand right that lands on Sari's shoulder, as Sari tries to avoid the shot.
Leeuwenhoek waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Sari.
Sari shoots in but Leeuwenhoek avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Leeuwenhoek feints the counter takedown.
Sari looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Leeuwenhoek misses with a hook.
Leeuwenhoek pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Sari drops down looking for a counter takedown but Leeuwenhoek sprawls and moves away.
Leeuwenhoek lands with a hook. Sari tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Jasper Leeuwenhoek seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leeuwenhoek throws a lazy uppercut

and Sari counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Leeuwenhoek tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Leeuwenhoek looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sari is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Leeuwenhoek manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sari manages to get himself to full guard.

Leeuwenhoek trying to control but Sari is working from the bottom.
Sari controlling the position.
Leeuwenhoek wants to pass the guard but Sari is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Leeuwenhoek is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's two 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.
Sari keeping full guard, as Leeuwenhoek tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sari pulls Leeuwenhoek in close to prevent any damage.
Leeuwenhoek pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sari is keeping the position for now.

Leeuwenhoek decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Leeuwenhoek blocks a head kick by Sari.
Leeuwenhoek lands with an overhand left.
Leeuwenhoek misses with a hook.
Sari feinted with a counter takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sari uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Leeuwenhoek.
Sari takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Leeuwenhoek lands an overhand right.
Leeuwenhoek throws an overhand right that lands on Sari's shoulder, as Sari tries to avoid the shot.
Sari changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Sari misses with a takedown attempt - Leeuwenhoek sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Sari gets a takedown into half guard.
Leeuwenhoek looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Leeuwenhoek is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leeuwenhoek keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Sari in particular looking to stall.
Leeuwenhoek is looking to control Sari's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Leeuwenhoek avoid being mounted?
Sari controlling the action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jasper Leeuwenhoek dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Leeuwenhoek moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Leeuwenhoek dips to his left and cracks Sari with an uppercut!
Leeuwenhoek misses with an uppercut. Sari saw that one coming.
Leeuwenhoek misses with a lunging right hand

and Sari counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Sari.
Leeuwenhoek being controlled here, momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leeuwenhoek wants to stand and escape but Sari is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leeuwenhoek working a defensive guard but Sari passes into half guard.
Leeuwenhoek is looking for a sweep. Sari is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sari stops Leeuwenhoek from getting back to his feet.
Sari trying to mount his opponent but Leeuwenhoek defends it.
Leeuwenhoek is trying to stand.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

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.
Leeuwenhoek scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Sari uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Leeuwenhoek.
Sari slips under a jab from Leeuwenhoek.
Sari takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Jasper Leeuwenhoek seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sari takes a jab right on the kisser.
Leeuwenhoek throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sari sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Leeuwenhoek throws a lazy uppercut

and Sari counters with a nice double leg into 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.
Sari stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Leeuwenhoek swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Batara Sari overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sari slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leeuwenhoek is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Leeuwenhoek can't keep his opponent in guard - Sari advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Leeuwenhoek is trying to stand.
Leeuwenhoek is trying to get back to full guard.

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.
Sari content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Leeuwenhoek is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sari's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sari's back!

Leeuwenhoek working for the choke.

Leeuwenhoek working for the choke.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Leeuwenhoek wants to control but Sari manages to buck him off and is now in Leeuwenhoek's guard! Nice work there by Sari!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jasper Leeuwenhoek will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Sari slips a straight right by Leeuwenhoek.
Sari drops down looking for a counter takedown but Leeuwenhoek sprawls and moves away.
Leeuwenhoek swings widly with a right hand

and Sari counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Leeuwenhoek!
Leeuwenhoek tries to buck Sari off but Sari is having none of it.
Leeuwenhoek is trying to buck Sari off.
Leeuwenhoek tries to buck Sari off but Sari is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Leeuwenhoek is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leeuwenhoek keeps trying to improve his position.
Sari works to advance to full mount. Leeuwenhoek defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Sari looking to control and managing it successfully.
Sari can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Leeuwenhoek is looking to escape.
Sari prevents Leeuwenhoek from getting the reversal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Leeuwenhoek wants to hold on but Sari pushes him away.
Leeuwenhoek wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

Sari working for a choke but Leeuwenhoek is defending well.
Sari biding his time, looking for the opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leeuwenhoek tries to escape the position.
Sari controls the action.
Sari seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Leeuwenhoek for as long as he can get away with.

Sari working for a choke but Leeuwenhoek is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leeuwenhoek tries to break free.
Sari controls the action.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Batara Sari clearly takes that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sari slips a straight right by Leeuwenhoek.
Sari half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Sari seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Sari slips a jab from Leeuwenhoek.
Leeuwenhoek misses with a hook. Sari ducked under it nicely.
Sari drops down looking for a counter takedown but Leeuwenhoek sprawls and moves away.
Leeuwenhoek throws a right hand that misses

and Sari counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Leeuwenhoek being controlled here, momentarily.
Leeuwenhoek looking for a sweep. Not yet Leeuwenhoek, not yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sari showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Sari forces his way into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sari content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Leeuwenhoek is trying to maintain the position but Sari is very close to passing his half guard.
Leeuwenhoek tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Sari has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Leeuwenhoek prevents Sari from taking his back.
Leeuwenhoek is trying to escape the mount.
Sari working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leeuwenhoek wants to control but Sari is having none of it.
Leeuwenhoek is just holding on here. Sari manages to take his back.
Sari has good solid back control here.
Sari not allowing Leeuwenhoek to control his hands.
Leeuwenhoek is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Sari.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sari controlling well, preventing Leeuwenhoek from escaping the position.
Sari controls the action.
Leeuwenhoek looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Batara Sari had his way with Jasper Leeuwenhoek in that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Leeuwenhoek throws a hook but Sari blocks it.

Sari looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Leeuwenhoek!
Sari taking a breather here.
Leeuwenhoek is looking for a sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sari looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Leeuwenhoek sneaks back into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leeuwenhoek trying to hold on to Sari's head to control him but Sari postures up.
Leeuwenhoek is looking to improve his position.
Sari sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's two 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.
Leeuwenhoek tries to get to full guard but Sari has control of the leg.
Still in half guard, Sari seems content to control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A slow jab from Leeuwenhoek misses its intended target.
Sari feinted with a counter takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Leeuwenhoek gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Sari to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Leeuwenhoek is trying to keep Sari in close.

Leeuwenhoek is looking for a triangle but Sari pushes his legs off easily.
Leeuwenhoek is trying to hold Sari in close to prevent damage but Sari has managed to pass into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sari wants to work for an arm triangle but Leeuwenhoek is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Sari passes into side control, despite Leeuwenhoek's attempt to control the position.
Jasper Leeuwenhoek has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sari in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Leeuwenhoek manages to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Batara Sari showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sari 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight for Batara Sari!
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight for Jasper Leeuwenhoek!
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight for Batara Sari!

Batara Sari wins by split decision!
Batara Sari retains his middleweight title!