PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mavlet Batirov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tap Them (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Batirov's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Louna-Armageddon. This should be fireworks!

Batirov
vs
Them

158 cm
25
145 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

170 cm
25
145 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite 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 2 - 1 - 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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tap Them!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Columbo Gatti and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sloppy strikes from Batirov. Those never looked like landing.

Batirov closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Them's guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Batirov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Batirov content to stall in guard here.
Batirov might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Batirov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Batirov slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Batirov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Them swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Batirov is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mavlet Batirov wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Batirov decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Batirov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Them defending well though.
Them regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Batirov.
Batirov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Batirov wants to pass the guard but Them is keeping the position.
Batirov with a flurry of punches that miss.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Batirov throws an elbow that misses. Them uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Batirov's guard. Nice move by Them!
Them passes Batirov's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Them is working for a submission of some sort.

Them is looking for a kimura here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Them is looking to stall here but Batirov recovers full guard.
Batirov keeping full guard, as Them tries to pass.
Batirov pulls Them in close to prevent any damage.
Batirov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Them on the ground.
Them looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Them is fighting to break Batirov's control of his arms but Batirov is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Themis looking to pass into half guard but Batirov pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Batirov is in guard.
Batirov throws a big elbow that misses.
Batirov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Them swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Batirov looking to sit in guard and control but Them gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Them drops back, looking for a kneebar! Batirov looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Batirov looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Batirov!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mavlet Batirov dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Batirov has Them up against the cage in a clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Batirov takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Them is trying to pull guard but Batirov has him pressed against the cage.

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

Batirov gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Them is fighting off a takedown attempt but Batirov is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Them to the mat. Them regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Batirov trying to control but Them is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Batirov throws a strike but Them rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Batirov keeping full guard, as Them tries to pass.
Them wants to control from the top but Batirov keeps moving.
Mavlet Batirov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Them is pushing down on Batirov's leg trying to pass to half guard. Batirov is fighting to maintain full guard but Them has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Them seems to be looking for submissions.
Them wants to control but Batirov is keeping him busy.

Them is working for a submission of some sort.

Them is looking for a kimura here.
Batirov is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Them is trying to control the action in half guard but Batirov is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Them seems to be looking for submissions.
Them wants to lay and pray for a moment but Batirov keeps working.

Them is looking for a kimura but Batirov is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Them to get the leverage.
Them wants to lay and pray for a moment but Batirov keeps working.
Batirov moves into full guard.
Batirov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Batirov tries to get out of the position.
Batirov keeping moving, preventing Them from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Batirov keeping full guard, as Them tries to pass.
Them works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Them is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Them is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Them is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Batirov sees it coming and defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tap Them showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Batirov looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Batirov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Them is looking to control Batirov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Them avoid being mounted?
Them gets back to full guard.
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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Them avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Batirov sitting in guard here, content to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Mavlet Batirov.

Batirov gets a takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Batirov looks to land a strike but Them avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Batirov landing some decent shots from guard.
Batirov trying to control but Them is working from the bottom.
Batirov looking to sit in guard and control but Them gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Them looking to pass the guard.
Them advances to half guard.

Them is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Batirov trying to hold on to Them's head to control him but Them postures up.
Batirov slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Batirov can't keep his opponent in guard - Them advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Them wants to control but Batirov is keeping him busy.

Them seems to be working for a kimura but Batirov defends the submission attempt.

Them is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Batirov defends it well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Them is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mavlet Batirov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Batirov 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight for Mavlet Batirov!
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight for Mavlet Batirov!
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight for Mavlet Batirov!

Mavlet Batirov wins by unanimous decision!