PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Juan Pablo Batallir (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michal Hebda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hebda has chosen Disturbed - Another way to die as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Pablo Batallir
vs
Hebda

188 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

170 cm
20
170 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Juan Pablo Batallir!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Michal Hebda!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Saam Ante and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hebda tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Batallir manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hebda tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Batallir counters with a nice double leg into side control. Hebda won't be happy with that.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
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.
Batallir will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hebda is trying to control Batallir's posture but Batallir avoids it.
Batallir has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Hebda trying desperately to get to his feet.
Batallir controlling his opponent.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Batallir scoring with strikes but Hebda is staying in there.
Batallir controlling the pace for now.
Batallir with shots to the head and body - Hebda looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Batallir takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Hebda wants to try and get back to his feet.
Batallir lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Hebda is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Batallir lands a heavy elbow.
Hebda wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Batallir.
Hebda tries to buck Batallir off but Batallir takes his back!
What can Hebda do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hebda is trying to break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Batallir trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Hebda doesn't escape.
Batallir cracks Hebda with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Hebda from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Batallir trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Hebda doesn't escape.

Hebda preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Batallir.
Batallir gets his hands free as Hebda looks to control.
Batallir somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Hebda looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

Batallir patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

Batallir has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

Hebda fending off the submission attempt from Batallir.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hebda is keeping busy.
Hebda controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hebda trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Batallir lands shots from the back.
Hebda wants to escape the position.

Batallir patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Batallir controlling from the back.
Batallir doesn't have the hooks in and Hebda manages to turn into his guard.
Batallir tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hebda wants to stand but Batallir is controlling his posture from full guard.
Hebda wants to control from the top but Batallir keeps moving.
Hebda must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Batallir is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hebda trying to control but Batallir is working from the bottom.
Batallir wants to get back to his feet but Hebda passes into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Pablo Batallir dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hebda closes the distance but Batallir moves to the side
and Batallir counters with a good, hard body kick but Hebda shrugs it off.
Hebda wants to clinch
and Batallir counters with a nice kick to the body.
Hebda misses with a jab, cross combination.
Batallir tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hebda swivels and escapes.
Batallir fails with a takedown attempt.
No luck for Batallir with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juan Pablo Batallir. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Batallir shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hebda but Hebda pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Batallir tries to clinch there but Hebda circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hebda tries to clinch up
and Batallir counters with a big head kick but Hebda shrugs it off.
Batallir swats away the attempt to clinch by Hebda.
Batallir will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hebda looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Batallir.
Hebda tries to close the distance and clinch up but Batallir swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hebda rushes Batallir and presses him up against the cage.
Batallir tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hebda's elbow.
Hebda working hard to break the clinch.
Hebda tries to break the clinch but Batallir is controlling the position.
Batallir has Hebda pressed against the cage, preventing Hebda from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Hebda gets through Batallir's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Batallir's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Batallir dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Hebda. That did some damage!

Batallir tries to keep at a distance but Hebda has taken the fight into the clinch.
Batallir goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hebda prevents it.
Hebda wants to break free but Batallir has control.
Hebda looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hebda is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Batallir is defending well for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hebda misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Hebda is trying to break the clinch but Batallir has him pressed against the cage.
Hebda is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Hebda misses with the head strike.
Hebda stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Batallir wants a takedown.
Hebda tries to circle away but Batallir has him pinned against the cage.
Hebda wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Hebda is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Batallir has Hebda pressed against the cage, preventing Hebda from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Hebda is trying to push Batallir away but Batallir has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Batallir looking to slow down the pace here.
Hebda is looking to break free of the clinch but Batallir has double underhooks.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Hebda as Batallir tries to tie him up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hebda pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Batallir shoots for a takedown but Hebda saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hebda doesn't manage to clinch there - Batallir circles away.
Hebda tries to clinch up but Batallir circles away and keeps his distance.
Batallir pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Batallir shoots for a takedown but Hebda saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hebda goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Hebda fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Batallir, pushing him back against the cage.
Hebda tries to work over Batallir's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hebda working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Hebda breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Hebda closes the distance and clinches.

Batallir breaks the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michal Hebda showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Batallir shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hebda pinned against the cage. Hebda gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Batallir tries for a takedown but Hebda sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Batallir closes the distance and pushes Hebda back into the cage.
Hebda swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Batallir ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Batallir no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Hebda trying to control the position from guard on top but Batallir is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hebda looking to sit in guard and control but Batallir gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Hebda wants to stand and escape but Batallir is having none of it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Batallir working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Batallir postures up in Hebda's guard and throws a big left but Hebda blocks it.
Hebda wants to stand but Batallir is controlling the position.
Batallir won't allow Hebda to sweep him here.
Hebda not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hebda looking for a sweep. Not yet Hebda, not yet.
Batallir tries to free his leg and advance position but Hebda is retaining full guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Batallir shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juan Pablo Batallir. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hebda moves in looking to clinch but Batallir pushes him off.
Hebda tries to close the distance and clinch but Batallir swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Michal Hebda seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Batallir has taken the fight to the clinch.
Hebda wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Batallir prevents Hebda from breaking the clinch.
Batallir tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hebda just stands there and leans against the cage.
Hebda wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Hebda wants to break the clinch but can't.
Hebda has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Batallir tries to pull guard but Hebda won't allow it.
Hebda scores a nice knee to the body.

Batallir manages to break the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hebda darts in trying to clinch
and Batallir counters with a body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hebda takes a kick to the side of the head.
Michal Hebda seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Batallir shoots in for a takedown but Hebda shows good takedown defense.
Batallir swats away the attempt to clinch by Hebda.
Hebda is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hebda tries to clinch but Batallir moves out of range.
Batallir throws a hook to the side of Hebda's head but Hebda sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Hebda tries to clinch but Batallir moves away
and Batallir counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Hebda is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Hebda wants to clinch.
Hebda tries to clinch up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hebda tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Batallir paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Some wild striking there from Batallir.
Hebda wants to clinch.
Hebda tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hebda tries to clinch up but Batallir circles away and keeps his distance.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hebda tries to clinch but Batallir is having none of it.
Batallir shoots in for a double leg but Hebda sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Hebda tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Batallir paws at him with a jab and circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Michal Hebda.
I think Hebda has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 28:29
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michal Hebda!