PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vito Bartone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kirk Hammett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hammett has chosen For Whom The Bell Tolls as his entrance music. Vito Bartone has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Bartone
vs
Hammett

198 cm
22
280 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

187 cm
22
230 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

RIOT Fightwear
RIOT Fightwear

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vito Bartone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kirk Hammett!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Anthony Taglia and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hammett tries to move into range but Bartone moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Bartone misses the shot to the body.
Good work by Hammett as he checks the leg kick.
Bartone tries to clinch but Hammett moves out of range.
Bartone falls off balance throwing a combination
and Hammett counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Bartone shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Hammett counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Bartone dodges the punch combination from Hammett.
Hammett shoots in but Bartone avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Bartone misses with a body shot.
Bartone swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hammett shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bartone defends it nicely.
Bartone moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Hammett avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hammett ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammett looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bartone is fending him off so far but Hammett persists. Nope, Bartone circles away and we're back to standing.
Vito Bartone has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kirk Hammett.
Bartone dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Hammett. That did some damage!
Bartone misses with a series of wild punches.
Hammett moves to clinch but Bartone breaks away
and Bartone counters with a two punch combo.
Bartone fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hammett manages to avoid it.
Hammett missing with a left hand there. Bartone was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Bartone digs a good hook to Hammett's body.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Bartone.
Bartone defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hammett.
Hammett has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Bartone.
Bartone moves to clinch but Hammett breaks away
and Hammett counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hammett misses with a series of wild punches.

Bartone gets the takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bartone is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Hammett managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Bartone.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hammett manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Bartone has his hands clasped together around Hammett's back. He's all about the action.

Hammett is looking for a kimura but Bartone is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Hammett to get the leverage.
Bartone is positioning himself well to prevent Hammett advancing to mount.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Hammett trying to pass the guard but Bartone defending well.

Hammett is working for a submission of some sort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bartone is pressing down on Hammett's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Bartone wants to sweep here but Hammett controlling him for the moment.

Bartone looking for a guillotine here but Hammett defends easily.
Bartone pulls Hammett in close to prevent any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hammett wants to control from the top but Bartone keeps moving.
Hammett wants to pass the guard but Bartone is keeping the position.

Bartone working for a triangle but Hammett defends it easily.

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.
Bartone pulls Hammett in close to his closed guard and prevents Hammett from doing any damage or advancing position.
Hammett with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hammett wants to control from the top but Bartone keeps moving.
Hammett missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hammett stays in close to Bartone's body and controls the position.
Bartone keeping moving, preventing Hammett from controlling successfully.
Bartone bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hammett's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hammett not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vito Bartone dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

No luck with that takedown attempt from Hammett.
Vito Bartone is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hammett swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Bartone counters by clinching up.
Bartone is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Bartone for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Hammett avoiding damage as Bartone throws knees to the body.
Hammett wants to get back to striking at distance but Bartone won't allow it.
Bartone tries to work over Hammett's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bartone drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hammett pulls his leg out and moves away.
Bartone takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

Hammett shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Hammett was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Bartone is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bartone working to try and regain half guard.
Bartone tries to hold on but Hammett postures up.
Hammett throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

Hammett working for a guillotine from mount but Bartone is in no mood to give up.
Bartone is looking to get to half guard.
Bartone tries to hold on but Hammett postures up.
Bartone is desperately trying to improve his position but Hammett has a good base and remains in mount.
Bartone wants to control but Hammett is having none of it.

Hammett has control of Bartone's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Bartone regains control of the situation pretty easily.

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.
Hammett trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Hammett has control of Bartone's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Bartone regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Bartone slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Hammett thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Bartone's head.
Hammett is keen to just control but Bartone is a slippery customer.

Hammett is looking for a kimura here.
Bartone tries to get to full guard but Hammett has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Bartone manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Hammett preventing the sweep.
Hammett landing some decent shots from guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Bartone is on top in guard.
Bartone trying to control but Hammett is working from the bottom.

Hammett is looking for a triangle but Bartone pushes his legs off easily.

Hammett looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Hammett is breathing heavily.
Bartone loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bartone working some strikes from top position.
Hammett trying to strike off his back.
Hammett not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Bartone controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Bartone working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bartone is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Hammett keeping moving, preventing Bartone from controlling successfully.

We're going to have a standup here because Vito Bartone wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Bartone throws a chopping leg kick but Hammett manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Bartone does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Vito Bartone seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hammett keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Bartone connects with a solid leg kick.
Bartone fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Bartone looks to throw the jab but Hammett is out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Vito Bartone will probably get the nod.
That's time! Bartone's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Hammett throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bartone swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Hammett counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A jab lands there for Bartone.
Hammett throws a hook but Bartone avoids it easily.
Bartone loads up on a big right hand but Hammett slips the punch.
Nice shot by Bartone.
Bartone moves into range and connects with a jab.
Bartone lands a nice shot to the body.
Hammett slips a straight right by Bartone.
Bartone ducks under a wild hook from Hammett.
Bartone connects with the punch.
Bartone throws a front kick that sends Hammett stumbling back into the cage.
Bartone is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Hammett shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hammett slaps away a takedown attempt from Bartone, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hammett. Bartone does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammett is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bartone.

Bartone throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Hammett was covering up waiting for the punch and Bartone finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Bartoneis looking to pass into half guard but Hammett pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Hammett is in guard.
Bartone tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bartone keeping moving, preventing Hammett from controlling successfully.
Bartone utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Bartone 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.
Hammett pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bartone is keeping the position for now.
Bartone pulls Hammett in close to prevent any damage.
Bartone manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hammett manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bartone throws a big right hand that misses.
Bartone wants to control from the top but Hammett keeps moving.
Bartone works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Bartone trying to mount his opponent but Hammett defends it.
Hammett tries to get to full guard but Bartone has control of the leg.
Bartone perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Hammett is looking for a sweep. Bartone is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hammett is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Bartone's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Bartone's back!
Bartone tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Hammett takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hammett goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Bartone is on top in guard.

Hammett throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Bartone wants to control from the top but Hammett keeps moving.
Vito Bartone overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Hammett working for a triangle but Bartone defends it easily.
Hammett keeping moving, preventing Bartone from controlling successfully.
Bartone controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

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.
Hammett looking for a sweep. Not yet Hammett, not yet.
Bartone not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Vito Bartone wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Hammett shoots in and bounces Bartone off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Bartone bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hammett's guard.

Hammett looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hammett keeping moving, preventing Bartone from controlling successfully.
Kirk Hammett has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bartone stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hammett swivels though and keeps the full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vito Bartone showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Bartone has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vito Bartone!