PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Saku Vuorinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dave Batista (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.

Vuorinen
vs
Batista

183 cm
18
242 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
KO power

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Saku Vuorinen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dave Batista!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Cecil Peabody and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice body punch from Vuorinen.
Vuorinen fails to land with a series of punches.
Batista takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Batista looks gassed!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vuorinen throws a left that rocks Batista and follows with a right that sends him tumbling to the canvas! Vuorinen dives into side control, looking to finish! Can Batista regain composure!

It looks like Dave Batista has been cut.
Batista takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vuorinen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Batista keeps working.

Vuorinen decides to stand back up. Vuorinen steps back and let's Batista get back to his feet.
Vuorinen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Vuorinen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Vuorinen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Batista manages to avoid it.
Vuorinen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Vuorinen fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vuorinen misses with a low kick.
Vuorinen moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Vuorinen tries to clinch there but Batista circles away.
Vuorinen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Batista closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Vuorinen wants to get back to his feet but Batista drags him back down.
Batista tries to advance to mount but can't.
Vuorinen sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Batista throwing shots but Vuorinen is blocking nicely.
Vuorinen is trying to stand back up but Batista is controlling him

Vuorinen kicks off Batista and gets to his feet.
Vuorinen lands a jab to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vuorinen shoots and misses

and Batista counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Vuorinen's guard now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Batista stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vuorinen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Vuorinen is trying to control the position but Batista postures up.
Batista is in close to Vuorinen's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Batista slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Vuorinen is not content to let Batista control the position.
You can see the frustration on Vuorinen's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Batista scoring with punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Batista throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Vuorinen pushes Batista away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Batista gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
The strikes coming from Batista are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Batista working the ground and pound but Vuorinen is defending the strikes.
Vuorinen is looking to get back to his feet here but Batista is keeping cool and he's managed to take Vuorinen's back.
Batista tries to get the hooks in deep but Vuorinen pushed the leg off.
Vuorinen is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Batista lands a shot to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Batista keeps control of the position easily here as Vuorinen tries to buck him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Batista looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
I would not like to be Vuorinen right now.
Vuorinen trying to control the hands but Batista breaks the grip.
Batista lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Batista throwing damaging strikes from the back! Vuorinen could be in trouble here!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Vuorinen is trying to get back to his feet but Batista has full control of the position and if anything, Vuorinen has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Batista throwing damaging strikes from the back! Vuorinen could be in trouble here!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saku Vuorinen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Dave Batista's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Vuorinen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Batista shoots and misses

and Vuorinen counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Batista tries to get to full guard but Vuorinen has control of the leg.
Batista has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Batista gets back to full guard.
Batista is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Batista can do anything to dispel that myth.
Batista is breathing heavily.
Batista throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Vuorinen wanted to stand there but Batista had control of the position.

Vuorinen gets to his feet. Batista looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vuorinen looks to land a combination but Batista avoids it well.
Vuorinen wants to clinch

and Batista counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Batista wants to pass the guard but Vuorinen is defending well.
Batista is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Batista wants to control but Vuorinen is keeping him busy.
Vuorinen tries to kick Batista off but Batista keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Batista is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Vuorinen sees it coming and defends easily.
Batista wants to lay and pray for a moment but Vuorinen keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Vuorinen pushes Batista off and gets back to his feet.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Vuorinen here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Vuorinen throws a jab but it's blocked by Batista.
A head kick misses from Vuorinen.
Vuorinen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Batista counters with a shoot takedown. Vuorinen fights it but they end up in guard.
Batista wants to control from the top but Vuorinen keeps moving.
Vuorinen looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Batista passes Vuorinen's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Batista is looking to pass Vuorinen's guard but actually Vuorinen recovers to full guard.
Batista postures up.
Vuorinen wants to stand up but Batista is controlling him.
Batista throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Vuorinen keeping moving, preventing Batista from controlling successfully.
Batista postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

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.
Batista scoring with some ground and pound.
Vuorinen is trying to control the position but Batista postures up.
Batista keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Vuorinen's head.
Batista trying to control the position from guard on top but Vuorinen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Vuorinen pushes Batista off and scrambles back to his feet.
Batista dodges the punch combination from Vuorinen.
Saku Vuorinen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Batista keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Vuorinen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Dave Batista will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Dave Batista's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Vuorinen misses with a looping left.
Batista with a lazy takedown attempt

and Vuorinen counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Batista is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Vuorinen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Vuorinen trying to control but Batista is working from the bottom.

Batista working for a triangle but Vuorinen defends it easily.

Vuorinen stands up and waves to Batista to follow him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Vuorinen closes the distance but Batista moves to the side

and Batista counters with a single leg into guard. Vuorinen didn't expect that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Batista wants to control from the top but Vuorinen keeps moving.
Batista wants to stand but Vuorinen has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Vuorinen is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Batista is controlling him.
Vuorinen trying to control the position.
Batista with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Batista throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Vuorinen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Vuorinen wants to stand but Batista is controlling the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Vuorinen connects with a jab.
Batista misses with a takedown attempt

and Vuorinen counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Vuorinen.
Batista throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Dave Batista has got the better of the ground game so far.
Vuorinen won't allow Batista to sweep him here.
Batista has a closed guard, preventing Vuorinen from standing up.
Batista wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vuorinen decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Vuorinen wants to clinch but Batista slips to the side

and Batista counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Vuorinen!
Batista scoring with strikes but Vuorinen is staying in there.
Vuorinen is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Vuorinen can't escape the position.
Batista landing strikes, looking to finish!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Batista cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Batista looking to control and managing it successfully.
Vuorinen tries to reverse the position but Batista maintains control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Batista lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Vuorinen hang on?
Batista in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Batista lands a heavy elbow.
Batista avoids the attempt from Vuorinen to control.
Vuorinen is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Batista landing strikes from the mount.
Batista postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Vuorinen looks a forlorn figure.
Vuorinen wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Batista has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Vuorinen's face.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Saku Vuorinen.
I think Vuorinen 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Saku Vuorinen!