PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Leroy Bater (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rik McRae (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McRae has chosen Slipknot - Before I Forget as his entrance music. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Bater
vs
McRae

190 cm
26
199 lbs
16 - 6 - 1

189 cm
23
198 lbs
7 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
KO power

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Powerful

- The Red Eye - Q158 for $100
- The Red Eye - Q158 for $100

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 16 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Leroy Bater!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rik McRae!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Konstantin Menshow and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bater misses the shot to the body.
McRae throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Bater tries to bum rush McRae with a series of wild strikes but McRae uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A big right from Bater misses.
Bater slips under a jab from McRae.
McRae walks into a jab.
Bater uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McRae.
Bater throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Leroy Bater 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.
Bater takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Bater misses with a telegraphed body shot
and McRae counters with a lovely straight right hand!
McRae keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Bater.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bater throws the left hand but McRae avoids the punch easily.
A punch lands to the side of Bater 's head but he takes it in his stride.
McRae tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bater swats him away and circles back towards the center.
McRae throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
McRae connects with a body shot that sends Bater's belly button to the back.
Bater throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck McRae on the side of the head.
A head kick misses from McRae.
McRae misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bater thows a left - swing and a miss!
McRae shoots in for a takedown but Bater shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McRae with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Bater to score with a decent uppercut.
Bater takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
McRae closes the distance and clinches up with Bater, looking for a takedown. McRae pushes Bater against the cage but Bater circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
McRae changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Bater tries to avoid it but McRae manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Bater to the ground. Bater escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Leroy Bater has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rik McRae.
A slow jab from Bater misses its intended target.
Bater just misses with a punch to the body.
Bater misses with a hook.
Bater avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Leroy Bater is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bater misses with a wild combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bater avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
McRae ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Bater misses with a jab to the body
and McRae counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
McRae fails with an attempt to clinch.
Bater walks into a left hand.
Bater avoids the head kick by McRae.
McRae pulls out of a head kick attempt.
McRae pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
McRae moves out of range of the strikes.

That's four 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.
McRae blocks a jab.
Bater misses with a body shot
and McRae counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Bater thinking.
Bater throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bater throws a hook to the side of McRae's head but McRae sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bater. McRae does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bater lands a jab.
Bater misses with a hook. McRae ducked under it nicely.

Bater gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows McRae to score an easy takedown into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leroy Bater dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Bater throws a big shot that misses.
Bater misses with a body punch
and McRae counters with a lovely straight right hand!
McRae misses with a body shot.
Bater throws a right and a left that both miss.
McRae looks to throw the jab but Bater is out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bater throws an uppercut from half a mile away. McRae sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Bater misses with a wild combination.
McRae looks to score with a jab to the body but Bater is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bater looks to land a left hand but McRae moved out of range nicely.
Bater throws a jab when McRae was well out of range.
Bater throws a series of punches but McRae moves out of range.
McRae ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Bater throws a body punch but McRae moves out of range.
Bater jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A slow jab from McRae misses its intended target.
McRae ducks under a wild hook from Bater.

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.
Nice uppercut there from McRae.
Bater feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits McRaes jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
McRae lands with a kick to the temple. Bater shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
McRae throws a hook to the side of Bater's head but Bater sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Bater looks to score with a jab to the body but McRae is just out of range.
Bater swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A shot to the body from Bater misses
and McRae counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Bater keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Bater swings and misses with a shot to the body
and McRae counters with a nice body kick.
Bater misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from McRae.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McRae uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
McRae throws a shot from downtown. Bater moves away and avoids it.
A slow jab from McRae misses its intended target.
McRae scores with a body shot.
Bater misses the body punch
and McRae counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Bater is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Bater lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
McRae throws a sloppy body shot
and Bater counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
McRae throws a head kick that misses.
McRae moves out of range as Bater strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Bater throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
McRae tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
McRae misses with a hook. Bater ducked under it nicely.
McRae connects with the punch.
Bater misses with an uppercut.
Bater looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
McRae tests Bater's chin there with a solid looking shot.
McRae displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Bater throws out the jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

McRae has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from McRae there as he acknowledges the shot.
McRae misses with a body shot.
Bater looks to land a left hand but McRae moved out of range nicely.
Bater throws a looping overhand right but McRae ducks down to avoid it.
McRae slips under a jab from Bater.
McRae misses with a straight left.
Bater uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from McRae.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bater defending well as McRae loads up on a big left hand.
Bater misses with a hook. McRae ducked under it nicely.
Bater connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McRae shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
McRae trying to control the position from guard on top but Bater is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bater keeping full guard, as McRae tries to pass.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Bater holds on and takes a little breather.
McRae prevents Bater from getting back to his feet.
Bater keeping moving, preventing McRae from controlling successfully.
McRae looking to sit in guard and control but Bater gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

McRae working for a triangle but Bater defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bater got a little sloppy there for a moment and McRae has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bater has managed to get both his arms back between McRae's legs - danger averted.

McRae is looking for a triangle but Bater pushes his legs off easily.
McRae wants to sweep but no luck.
McRae is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Bater lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Bater with a nice head shot there.
Bater stopping the sweep attempt from McRae.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McRae avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bater lands a couple of elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bater trying to control the position from guard on top but McRae is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McRae wants to sweep but no luck.
Bater with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bater is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

McRae has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bater can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
McRae looking for a sweep. Not yet McRae, not yet.
Bater wants to control from the top but McRae keeps moving.
Bater showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Leroy Bater just wasn't active enough.
Bater throws a shot to the body.
McRae takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bater throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McRae moves out of range as Bater strikes.
McRae misses with a body shot
and Bater counters with a lovely shot to the body.
McRae uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bater.
Bater throws a body punch but McRae moves out of range.
Bater misses with a wild body shot.
McRae walks into a stiff left hand from Bater.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leroy Bater clearly takes that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Bater throws a big shot that misses.
Bater waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract McRae.
McRae keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bater throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bater throws a big shot that misses.
Nice cross by McRae.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McRae misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bater lands a really nice looking cross but McRae seems unphased.
Bater misses the body punch
and McRae counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McRae takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Bater misses with a straight left.
Bater slips a straight right by McRae.
Bater lands a lovely overhand right.
McRae fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bater manages to avoid it.
Bater throws a hook to the side of McRae's head but McRae sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Bater throws a right hand that McRae ducks under and follows up with a left that McRae also avoids with ease.
Bater swings for the body but McRae moves out of range.
McRae moves away from the strike by Bater.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Bater.
Bater jabs McRae right on the nose. McRae blinks but takes it well.
McRae doesn't manage to clinch there - Bater circles away.
McRae throws a shot from downtown. Bater moves away and avoids it.
Bater rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but McRae moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
McRae moves out of range of the strikes.
Bater doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Bater rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but McRae moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bater fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McRae manages to avoid it.
Bater misses with a jab to the body
and Bater takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Bater with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling McRae to score with a decent uppercut.
Bater ducks under a wild hook from McRae.
Bater misses with a combination
and McRae counters with a nice body shot.
Bater looks to throw the jab but McRae is out of range.
Good standup being displayed there by Bater as he connects with a hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McRae tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Donk. McRae catches Bater right on the button with a cross.
Bater moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Bater fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McRae manages to avoid it.
Bater slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
McRae shoots in for a takedown but Bater shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Bater jabs McRae to the body, keeping him at a distance.
McRae throws a head kick but Bater moves out of range.
McRae uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bater.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leroy Bater had his way with Rik McRae in that round.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

A big left from Bater misses.
McRae throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bater's waist but Bater gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing McRae off to one side.
Bater with a hook.
Bater stuffs the takedown.
Bater fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Bater blocks a jab.
Bater is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Bater uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McRae.
McRae lands a nice shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bater avoids the body shot from McRae.
McRae slips under a jab.
Bater throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bater throws a jab when McRae was well out of range.
McRae pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Leroy Bater is winning the standup battle so far.
Bater avoids the body shot from McRae.
McRae pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Bater just misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Bater throws a looping overhand right but McRae ducks down to avoid it.
Bater throws a right hand that McRae ducks under and follows up with a left that McRae also avoids with ease.
Bater scores with a jab to the body.
McRae moves out of range of the strikes.
McRae throws a head kick but Bater moves out of range.
McRae uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Bater.
McRae tries to clinch up.
Bater cracks McRae with an open hand slap.
Bater misses the jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bater waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract McRae.
McRae looks to land a left hand but Bater moved out of range nicely.
McRae defending well as Bater loads up on a big left hand.
McRae scores with the left hand. Bater knows he should have avoided that one.
Bater misses with a jab to the body
and McRae cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
McRae throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bater throws out a loose jab but McRae uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bater throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McRae uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bater.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

McRae fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Bater, pushing him back against the cage.
McRae fails to pull guard.
Leroy Bater has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rik McRae.
McRae swings wildly with an uppercut but Bater uses good head movement to avoid it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Bater.
Rik McRae has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McRae softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
McRae is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
McRae tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short right from Bater.
McRae throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Baters head.
Bater throws a punch but it's blocked by McRae.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
McRae misses with a punch to the body.
McRae content to slow the pace in the clinch.
McRae misses with a punch on the inside.
Bater pushes McRae back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
McRae is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
McRae tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Bater lands a body punch in the clinch.
Bater scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Bater pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leroy Bater showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Bater 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 50:45
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 49:46
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leroy Bater!
Leroy Bater retains his middleweight title!