PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mavlet Batirov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexandro Megaludis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Megaludis is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Zombie Nation. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Batirov
vs
Megaludis

158 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

168 cm
25
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mavlet Batirov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alexandro Megaludis!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Jonathan Paton and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Megaludis misses with a takedown attempt
and Batirov counters with a left and a right that stings Megaludis.
Megaludis shoots in looking for a takedown. Batirov tries to sprawl out of it but Megaludis keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Batirov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Megaludis is looking to clinch.
Megaludis dives in and grabs Batirov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Batirov pushes down on Megaludis's head and hops out.
Mavlet Batirov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexandro Megaludis.

Batirov changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Megaludis looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
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.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Batirov controlling the position from side mount.
Batirov lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Megaludis defending against the ground and pound.
Megaludis misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Megaludis sneaks back into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Batirov.
Batirov thows a huge punch but Megaludis dodges it nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Batirov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Megaludis is looking for a sweep. Batirov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Megaludis can do anything to dispel that myth.

Megaludis is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Batirov pulls his head out easily.
Megaludis wants to control but Batirov is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Batirov seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Megaludis wants to get back to his feet.
Batirov is pressing down on Megaludis's thigh, looking to free his foot. Megaludis is holding on for now.
Megaludis slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Megaludis controls Batirov momentarily but Batirov frees himself.

Megaludis looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Megaludis not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Batirov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Batirov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Megaludis keeping moving, preventing Batirov from controlling successfully.
Batirov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Megaludis swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Batirov throws a big elbow that misses.
Megaludis wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Batirov manages to pass to side control.
Megaludis is positioning himself well to prevent Batirov advancing to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Megaludis blocking the ground and pound attempt from Batirov.
Megaludis is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Megaludis is not content to let Batirov control the position.
Megaludis wants to get back to his feet.
Batirov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Megaludis's head.
Batirov trying to control from Megaludis's half guard. Megaludis has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Megaludis looking for a sweep. Not yet Megaludis, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mavlet Batirov dominated that 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.

Batirov tries for a takedown but Megaludis circles away easily

and Megaludis counters with a single leg into guard. Batirov didn't expect that.
Megaludis wants to control from the top but Batirov keeps moving.
Megaludis might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Batirov kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Megaludis wants to get up but he can't break Batirov's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Megaludis trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Alexandro Megaludis has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Megaludis tries to close the distance and clinch up but Batirov swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Batirov closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Megaludis's guard.
Batirov scoring with some ground and pound.
Batirov trying to control the position from guard on top but Megaludis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Megaludis looking to hit a scissor sweep but Batirov is one step ahead there.
Megaludis controls Batirov momentarily but Batirov frees himself.
Batirov stopping the sweep attempt from Megaludis.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Batirov is looking to work some ground and pound but Megaludis has wrist control.

Megaludis looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Batirov looking to sit in guard and control but Megaludis gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Megaludis wants to pass the guard but Batirov is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Megaludis is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Megaludis wants to stand but Batirov has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Megaludis in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Batirov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Megaludis is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Megaludis trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Alexandro Megaludis hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Megaludis shoots for a takedown but Batirov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Batirov shoots in but Megaludis avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Batirov pivots, looking for a leg kick but Megaludis is out of range and Batirov settles back down.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Megaludis looks to score with a jab to the body but Batirov is just out of range.
Batirov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Megaludis forces Batirov back against the cage and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexandro Megaludis showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Batirov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Batirov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Megaludis avoids it really well and circles away.

Megaludis darts in and clinches Batirov up against the cage.

Megaludis escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Batirov throws a low kick but Megaludis avoids it.
Megaludis tries to score a power double leg takedown but Batirov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Megaludis somewhat.
Batirov misses the shot to the body.
Megaludis closes this distance looking for a takedown but Batirov circles away.
Megaludis displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Batirov.
Megaludis lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Batirov circles away quickly and effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Batirov fails with the takedown

and Megaludis moves into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mavlet Batirov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Megaludis avoiding damage.

Megaludis successfully pulls guard.
Megaludis striking off his back but it's not causing Batirov any problems.
Megaludis wants to sweep here but Batirov controlling him for the moment.
Batirov throws an elbow that misses. Megaludis uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Batirov's guard. Nice move by Megaludis!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Megaludis sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Megaludis trying to control the position from guard on top but Batirov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Alexandro Megaludis.
Megaludis is looking to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Megaludis tries to close the distance and clinch up but Batirov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Batirov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Megaludis counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Batirov shoots in and drives through. Megaludis sprawls well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Megaludis looks to land a body kick but Batirov moved away.
A clash of legs there as Megaludis blocks the low kick.
Batirov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Batirov gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Alexandro Megaludis has got the better of the ground game so far.
Megaludis trying to control but Batirov is working from the bottom.
Batirov seems keen to control Megaludis's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Megaludis gets to his feet. Batirov looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Megaludis slips a jab and a cross from Batirov.

Megaludis shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Batirov napping and manages to drive through into side control!
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!
You can see the frustration on Batirov's face as Megaludis controls the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Megaludis trying to control the action but Batirov is working from the bottom.
Batirov tries to bench press Megaludis off him but Megaludis keeps the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexandro Megaludis comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Megaludis 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 John Roberts scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexandro Megaludis!
A very excited looking Alexandro Megaludis made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.