PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Damian Bachaj (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Bater (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bachaj comes to the cage accompanied by Disturbed - indestructible. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Bachaj
vs
Bater

176 cm
18
147 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

178 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Asphyxiation Ltd. Clothing
Asphyxiation Ltd. Clothing

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Damian Bachaj!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Johnny Bater!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bater bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Bater looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
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.
Bachaj struggling a bit here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bater trying to control the position but Bachaj is working away.
Bater working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bachaj is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Bater off and has taken his back!
Bater tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Bachaj throws a sloppy strike and Bater uses the opportunity to reverse the position! A bit of a scramble here and Bater has ended up in Bachaj's guard.

Bachaj scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Bater connects with a high kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bater throws a right and a left that both miss.
Bachaj with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Bater to score with a decent uppercut.
Bachaj shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bater pinned against the cage. Bater gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Bater checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Bachaj fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Bater misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bachaj fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Damian Bachaj. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Bater clinches with his opponent.

Bater breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Bater fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Bachaj sprawls well initially but Bater persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Bater looks gassed!
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!
Bater with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Bachaj is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bater wants to stand up but Bachaj is controlling the position.
Bater is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Bachaj manages to get to full guard.
Bater wants to stand but Bachaj is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Bachaj trying to control the position here.
Bater wants to stand and escape but instead Bachaj has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Bater dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Bachaj gets a takedown into half guard.
Bater wants to get back to his feet.
Bachaj takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Bater is looking to control Bachaj's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bater avoid being mounted?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bachaj with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Bater is trying to stand up here but Bachaj is controlling him well.
Bater is breathing heavily.
Bachaj trying to control the action but Bater is working from the bottom.

Bater with the active half guard here but Bachaj passes nicely into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Bachaj wants to control but Bater is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bater is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Bachaj is controlling him well.
Bachaj in side control, throwing shots but Bater defends.
Bater trying to remain calm as Bachaj controls from the top position.

Bachaj working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

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.
Bachaj trying to control the action but Bater is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bater pushes Bachaj away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Bachaj gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damian Bachaj dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Bater is looking to clinch but Bachaj is avoiding it.
Bater throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Bachaj on the side of the head.
Bater fails with an attempt to clinch.

Bachaj closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Bachaj lands in his opponent's guard.
Bachaj postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Bachaj postures up in Bater's guard and throws a big left but Bater blocks it.
Bachaj is standing up over Bater. Bater looks to escape but Bachaj dives into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Bater's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Bater takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
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.
Bater struggling a bit here.

Bachaj stands up and beckons Bater to his feet.

That's two 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.
Bachaj shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bater as he avoids it easily.
Bachaj circles away from the clinch attempt.

Bater pushes Bachaj up against the cage in a clinch.
Bater with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Bater misses with a knee strike.
Bachaj has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Bater is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Bater misses with an elbow over the top.

Bachaj's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bater misses the shot to the body.

Bachaj drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Bachaj 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 Bater's shoulder. That is not cool.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bater prevents Bachaj from moving into mount.
Bachaj is looking to take a break and control but Bater is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bater pushes Bachaj away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Bachaj gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's four 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.
Bachaj is looking to take a break and control but Bater is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bachaj working the head with strikes.
Damian Bachaj overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bater is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Bachaj has just dragged him back down to the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Damian Bachaj showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Bachaj 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Damian Bachaj!