PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Darius Badolato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kid Vera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Badolato comes to the cage accompanied by Nneka - Heartbeat. Vera is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: You are just a JOKE!. Darius Badolato has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Badolato
vs
Vera

180 cm
29
200 lbs
14 - 5 - 0

185 cm
28
192 lbs
17 - 9 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Zentrope Fighting Universe
$300

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Darius Badolato!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kid Vera!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Winston Howard and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Badolato clinches.
Badolato tries a body shot but Vera blocks it.
Badolato leaning his opponent against the cage.
Badolato makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Vera is trying to stall.
Vera is trying to break the clinch but Badolato has him pressed against the cage.
Vera is trying to break the clinch but Badolato has him pressed against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Badolato.
Badolato throws an elbow but it's blocked.

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

Vera fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Badolato sprawls well initially but Vera persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Badolato is trying to control but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Badolato wants to get back to full guard.

Badolato looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Badolato wants to get back to full guard.
Badolato is working hard here to advance position.
Vera is looking to advance position but Badolato won't allow it.
Badolato is refusing to be controlled, as Vera sits in half guard.
Badolato gets full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Badolato wants to sweep here but Vera controlling him for the moment.
Badolato pulls Vera in to control the position.
Vera stays in close to Badolato's body and controls the position.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Kid Vera hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Vera drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
You can see the frustration on Badolato's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Badolato gets back to half guard.
Vera really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Badolato. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Vera is looking to take a break and control but Badolato is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Badolato is trying to control but can't.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Badolato wants to improve his position but Vera is controlling well.
Badolato is looking to control Vera's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Badolato avoid being mounted?
Vera seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Vera not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Badolato is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Vera's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Vera's back!

Badolato looking for the RNC.

Badolato is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Vera knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Vera for a finish.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vera avoids the strikes from Badolato.
Badolato punches Vera on the ear.
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!
Badolato missing with punches from the back.

Badolato is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Vera is defending well though. Badolato let's go of the attempt for now.
Vera controlling Badolato 's hands.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Badolato connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Vera to escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darius Badolato dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Badolato shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Badolato takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Badolato not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Vera is not content to let Badolato control the position.

Badolato is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Badolato is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Vera doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Badolato.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Badolato slows the pace down in half guard.
Vera won't allow Badolato to pass to mount.
Badolato wants to control but Vera is keeping him busy.
Badolato landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Badolato stops Vera from getting back to his feet.
Badolato missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Badolato seems to be looking for submissions.
Vera wants to improve his position but Badolato is controlling well.
Badolato is pressing down on Vera's thigh, looking to free his foot. Vera is holding on for now.
Vera is trying to control but can't.
Badolato working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Badolato drops an elbow to the side of Vera's head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Badolato wants to pass the guard but Vera is defending well.
Vera blocking the ground and pound attempt from Badolato.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vera trying to control from the bottom.
Badolato sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Vera defending well though.
Badolato is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Badolato throwing shots but Vera is blocking nicely.
Badolato wants to take a breather but Vera is having none of it.
Still in half guard, Badolato seems content to control.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Badolato missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Badolato wants to pass to mount but Vera is defending the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Vera gets tackled into the cage by Badolato. Badolato maintains the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Badolato manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Vera wants to stall.
Badolato tries for a takedown but Vera manages to get underhooks.
Vera misses with a punch to the body.
Badolato tries to pull guard but Vera won't allow it.
Vera taking a breather.
Vera is trying to break the clinch but Badolato is controlling him.
Badolato is working Vera over against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Vera's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Vera gets the takedown into side control.
Vera with the ground and pound but Badolato regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darius Badolato dominated that second round.
That's time! Badolato's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Vera drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Badolato is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Badolato wants to improve his position but Vera is controlling well.
Badolato makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Badolato.
Vera wants to control from the top but Badolato keeps moving.
Badolato manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Vera manages to get himself to full guard.
Badolato loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Badolato lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Vera keeping moving, preventing Badolato from controlling successfully.
Badolato stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vera swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Badolato prevents Vera from getting back to his feet.
Badolato postures up.
Badolato loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Badolato throws a big elbow that misses.
Badolato postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Vera being controlled here, momentarily.
Kid Vera has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Badolato works over Vera with some ground and pound from guard.
Badolato postures up in Vera's guard and throws a big left but Vera blocks it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Badolato stands and throws Vera's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Vera is pushing Badolato's head away, looking to escape. Badolato manages to hold on to the position though.
Vera takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Badolato is looking to take a break and control but Vera is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Badolato is chipping away with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Badolato is looking to take a break and control but Vera is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Badolato has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Badolato tries to advance to mount but Vera instead regains half guard.
Badolato thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Vera's head.
Badolato works his foot free and advances to mount.
Badolato punching from mount but Vera doing a good job of avoiding damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Badolato fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

Vera is rocked!
Badolato connects with a bit shot that sees Vera covering up! More strikes from Badolato and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Badolato is our winner by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:30 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Darius Badolato!
After winning the bout, Darius Badolato thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.