PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Taj al Din (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Billy Batts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). al Din comes to the cage accompanied by قنب هندي. Batts is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Pro-pain - Make war (not love) . Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

al Din
vs
Batts

187 cm
30
209 lbs
31 - 6 - 0

186 cm
31
208 lbs
24 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Conviction
Convicted Trap House

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 31 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Taj al Din!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Billy Batts!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
al Din staying out of range there.
al Din is looking to clinch but Batts is avoiding it.
Batts lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
A telegraphed right hand from Batts misses the target.
al Din feints and then cracks Batts's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Batts down.
al Din walks forward, straight into a front kick from Batts.
Batts pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
al Din scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Batts doesn't seem bothered though.
A thudding body kick lands there by al Din!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Batts with a hook.
A solid leg kick lands there for Batts.
al Din misses with a low kick.
Batts throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Batts throws a hook to the side of al Din's head but al Din sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
al Din misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
al Din lands a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.

al Din shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Batts manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Batts utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
al Din wants to control from the top but Batts keeps moving.
al Din tries to free his leg and advance position but Batts is retaining full guard.
al Din throwing strikes but missing.
Batts is trying to control the position from the bottom.
al Din pushes down on Batts's leg and manages to get into half guard.

al Din is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Batts sees it coming and defends easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

al Din seems to be working for a kimura but Batts defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Batts is trying to maintain the position but al Din is very close to passing his half guard.
Batts avoiding damage under a succession of punches from al Din.
Batts trying to control from the bottom.
al Din scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Batts looking for submissions off his back.

al Din seems to be looking for submissions.
al Din wants to lay and pray for a moment but Batts keeps working.
Batts tries to roll over but al Din keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Batts won't allow al Din to pass to mount.
al Din prevents Batts from improving his position.
Batts gets full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

al Din drops back, looking for a kneebar! Batts looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Batts looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Batts!
al Din is looking to regain half guard here but Batts keeps moving and retains side control.
al Din is working hard here to advance position.
Batts tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
al Din is looking to reverse the position.
al Din wants to control but Batts postures up.

Batts stands up and beckons al Din to his feet.
al Din tries a low kick but Batts avoids it.
al Din checks a leg kick.
Batts with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A big left from al Din misses.
Batts misses with a wild body shot.
Batts tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
al Din keeps the fight on the outside.
al Din throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Batts tries a head kick but it misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Taj al Din will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Batts looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Batts takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
al Din keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Batts takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
al Din connects with an inside leg kick.
al Din connects with a solid leg kick.
al Din fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Batts tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. al Din manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Batts moves out of range of the body kick from al Din.
al Din throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Batts.
al Din loads up on a big right hand but Batts slips the punch.
al Din just misses with a punch to the body.
Batts moves in looking to clinch but al Din pushes him off.
al Din moves out of range of the body kick from Batts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
al Din tries a low kick but Batts avoids it.
al Din scores with a nice body kick.
al Din scores with a leg kick.
al Din moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Batts shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Batts wants to clinch up but al Din keeps it at a distance.
Batts tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

al Din has taken the fight to the clinch.
al Din lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Batts backwards.
Batts is trying to maintain a safe position but al Din gets an underhook and turns Batts into the cage.
al Din throws an elbow but it misses.
al Din tries to throw a body punch but Batts avoids it by throwing al Din back against the cage.
Batts pushes al Din back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
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!
al Din goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
al Din misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Batts tries to throw a body punch but al Din avoids it by throwing Batts back against the cage.
al Din blocks a body shot from Batts.
al Din misses with a knee strike.
al Din looking to throw knees to the head but Batts is blocking nicely.
Batts has a couple of punches blocked by al Din.
A body shot lands from al Din.
al Din misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Batts.
Batts looking to throw knees to the head but al Din is blocking nicely.
Batts struggles to land a body shot inside as al Din controls his hands.
al Din tries to throw a body punch but Batts avoids it by throwing al Din back against the cage.
Batts throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but al Din blocks it with crossed arms.
al Din lands a body punch.
Batts is breathing heavily.
al Din makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
al Din avoiding damage as Batts throws knees to the body.
al Din is working Batts over against the cage.
al Din pushes Batts back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
al Din misses with a punch to the body.
al Din tries to work over Batts's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Batts throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but al Din blocks it with crossed arms.
al Din misses with a hook to the ribs.
Batts blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Batts fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
al Din goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
al Din with an attempt at a knee that misses.
al Din swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Batts avoiding damage as al Din throws knees to the body.
A short uppercut from al Din.
Still in the clinch, al Din scores with a nice short uppercut.
Batts lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
al Din tries to throw a body punch but Batts avoids it by throwing al Din back against the cage.
al Din tries to land knees in the clinch but Batts avoids the damage to the body.
al Din prevents a body shot from Batts.
al Din managing to block the knees to the body from Batts.
Batts blocks a body shot from al Din.
al Din tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Batts's elbow.
Batts using the Thai plumb to throw knees but al Din has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
al Din tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
al Din goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
al Din on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
al Din lands a body punch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Batts blocks a body shot from al Din.
A short left from Batts.
al Din with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Batts misses with a knee strike.
al Din with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A short right from al Din on the inside.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from al Din.
al Din misses with a shot to the kidneys.
al Din blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
al Din lands a right hand.
Batts blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
al Din tries a body shot but Batts blocks it.
al Din tries to throw a body punch but Batts avoids it by throwing al Din back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taj al Din dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

al Din buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
al Din avoids the head kick by Batts.
Batts throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
al Din stalks Batts and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Batts's face. Batts staggers backwards, shaken.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by al Din.
Batts misses with a wild body shot.
Batts uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from al Din.
al Din throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A jab from Batts finds it's way through al Din's defenses.
Batts scores with a shot to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Batts walks into a left hand.
Batts fakes a jab and throws a low kick but al Din checks it well.
al Din feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Battss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Batts swings for the body but al Din moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Batts lands a nice looking body kick.
al Din jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Batts throws a half hearted mid kick.
al Din takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Batts misses with a double jab.
al Din throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Batts misses with a wild body shot.
Good leg kick by al Din there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Batts is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down al Din rather than just go for the knockout.
Batts takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
al Din ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Batts checks a low kick from al Din.
al Din scores with a spinning back kick!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
al Din fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Batts looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Billy Batts has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Batts tries to clinch up.
Batts lands a nice looking body shot.
Batts takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Batts misses with a right hand
and al Din counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
al Din cracks a nice hook into Batts's ribs.
Batts throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
al Din digs a good hook to Batts's body.
al Din connects with a looping right hand.
al Din changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Batts keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A thudding body kick lands there by al Din!
Batts on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by al Din. al Din obviously looking to wear him down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from al Din. Batts does a little dance to reset his feet.
al Din lands a jab.
al Din lands with a hook. Batts tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
al Din lands with a thumping leg kick.
al Din keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
al Din lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Batts takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Batts's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
A nice inside leg kick there by al Din. That's going to slow Batts down.
al Din turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
al Din scores with a shot to the body.
Batts has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from al Din.
Good leg kick by al Din there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Batts misses with a lunging right hand
and al Din connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
al Din throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
al Din lands a nice hook to Batts's body. Batts takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
al Din uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Batts has time to react.
Batts throws a hook but al Din blocks it.
Nice body kick from al Din.

al Din shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Batts keeping moving, preventing al Din from controlling successfully.
al Din pushing down on Batts's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
al Din is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Batts flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Taj al Din showed his dominance in that final round.
Well al Din 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Taj al Din!
Taj al Din seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.