PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pietro Donatelli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carlos Batistuta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Batistuta has chosen Deftones - You've Seen The Butcher as his entrance music. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Carlos Batistuta enters the ring!

Donatelli
vs
Batistuta

183 cm
26
215 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

182 cm
27
205 lbs
14 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 160

Fury Nutrition Inc.

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 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pietro Donatelli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Carlos Batistuta!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Donatelli scores with a one two! Batistuta had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

It looks like Carlos Batistuta has been cut.
Donatelli ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Batistuta moves away.
Batistuta keeps the fight on the outside.
Donatelli just misses with a punch to the body.
Donatelli fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Batistuta has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Donatelli throws out a loose jab but Batistuta uses good head movement to avoid it.
Donatelli is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Donatelli moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Batistuta ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Donatelli moves away.
Batistuta defending well as Donatelli loads up on a big left hand.
Batistuta misses with a leg kick.
Batistuta throws a leg kick that is checked
and Donatelli counters with a straight right hand.
A head kick misses from Donatelli.
Batistuta throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Batistuta misses with a takedown attempt - Donatelli sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Batistuta misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Batistuta takes one to the side of the head.
Batistuta moves in looking to clinch but Donatelli pushes him off.
Batistuta throws a head kick that misses.
A lazy left from Batistuta finds it's target.
Batistuta tries for a takedown but Donatelli sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Donatelli scores with a leg kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Donatelli.
Donatelli rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Batistuta moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Donatelli's jab looks to have found its range, popping Batistuta under the eye.
Batistuta walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Batistuta tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Batistuta slips a jab from Donatelli.
Batistuta avoids a kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Batistuta is trying hard to land a takedown here. Donatelli sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Pietro Donatelli has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carlos Batistuta.
Batistuta takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Batistuta fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Donatelli manages to avoid it.
Donatelli fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Batistuta.
Donatelli takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Batistuta lands a nice hook to Donatelli's body. Donatelli takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Batistuta shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Donatelli's guard.
Donatelli working a defensive guard here.
Donatelli looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Pietro Donatelli wasn't doing enough on the ground.
A head kick misses from Batistuta.
Batistuta is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Donatelli rather than just go for the knockout.
Batistuta moves in looking to clinch but Donatelli pushes him off.
Batistuta fails to land the takedown.
Donatelli takes a swing at Batistuta's ribcage but misses.
Donatelli takes a jab right on the kisser.
Batistuta tries for a takedown but Donatelli circles away easily
and Donatelli counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Donatelli thows a body shot but no joy.

Donatelli has taken the fight to the clinch.

Batistuta jumps into guard, dragging Donatelli to the mat.
Donatelli seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donatelli is fighting to break Batistuta's control of his arms but Batistuta is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Donatelli pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Batistuta is keeping the position for now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Batistuta has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Donatelli can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Donatelli passes into half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Batistuta trying to control but Donatelli postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pietro Donatelli dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Carlos Batistuta's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

That kick from Batistuta tenderised Donatelli's leg. Donatelli is trying to keep his angry face on.
Donatelli is looking to slow Batistuta down with leg kicks.
Batistuta takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Donatelli looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Batistuta stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Donatelli.
Batistuta gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Donatelli throws a head kick but Batistuta moves out of range.
Batistuta's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

Batistuta shoots in and gets a takedown into Donatelli's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Donatelli not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Batistuta stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Donatelli swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Donatelli wants to sweep here but Batistuta controlling him for the moment.
Donatelli keeping full guard, as Batistuta tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donatelli working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Batistuta.
Donatelli trying to control the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Batistuta wants to control from the top but Donatelli keeps moving.
Donatelli wants to sweep but no luck.
Batistuta throwing strikes but missing.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Donatelli looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Donatelli working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Pietro Donatelli.
Donatelli throws a hook but Batistuta avoids it easily.
Donatelli loads up on a big right hand but Batistuta slips the punch.
Donatelli doesn't manage to clinch there - Batistuta circles away.
Batistuta fails with a takedown attempt.
Batistuta cracks a nice hook into Donatelli's ribs.
A low kick from Donatelli is predictable there

and Batistuta counters with a nice double leg into guard.
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!
Batistuta wants to control from the top but Donatelli keeps moving.
Batistuta trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Batistuta trying to control the position from guard on top but Donatelli is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Donatelli looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Batistuta is in close to Donatelli's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Batistuta with a flurry of punches that miss.
Batistuta working some strikes from top position.
Batistuta wants to control from the top but Donatelli keeps moving.
Batistuta postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donatelli looking to hit a scissor sweep but Batistuta is one step ahead there.
Donatelli preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Donatelli trying to keep a closed guard but Batistuta is proving a slippery customer.
Batistuta is working Donatelli over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Donatelli holds on and takes a little breather.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Batistuta throwing strikes but missing.
Batistuta postures up in Donatelli's guard and throws a big left but Donatelli blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carlos Batistuta showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Carlos Batistuta's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Batistuta feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Donatellis jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Donatelli misses with a wild body shot.
That kick from Batistuta tenderised Donatelli's leg. Donatelli is trying to keep his angry face on.
Donatelli wants to clinch.

Donatelli closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Donatelli misses with some punches.
Donatelli stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Donatelli has a couple of punches blocked by Batistuta.
Donatelli swings wildly with an uppercut but Batistuta uses good head movement to avoid it.
Donatelli scores with a nice hook to the head.
Donatelli is pressed up against the ropes. Batistuta has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Donatelli down to the mat. Donatelli avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Batistuta keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Donatelli.
Batistuta tries to clinch up but Donatelli circles away and keeps his distance.
Donatelli throws a wild body kick that Batistuta sees coming a mile off.
Pietro Donatelli is winning the standup battle so far.
A slapping leg kick lands for Batistuta.
Donatelli throws a head kick that misses

and Batistuta decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Donatelli's guard.
Batistuta trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Donatelli looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Donatelli wants to get back to his feet but Batistuta is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Carlos Batistuta has got the better of the ground game so far.
Batistuta stays in close to Donatelli's body and controls the position.
Batistuta postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Batistuta loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Batistuta trying to control but Donatelli is working from the bottom.
Batistuta is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
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!

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Carlos Batistuta.
Donatelli lands with a cross.
A chopping leg kick lands by Donatelli.
Batistuta tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Donatelli - that will leave a mark!

Donatelli gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Batistuta landing with the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donatelli wants to sweep but no luck.
Batistuta trying to control the position from guard on top but Donatelli is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Batistuta postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Donatelli is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Batistuta, into his guard.
Donatelli controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Donatelli avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Batistuta wants to control the position but Donatelli says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Batistuta tries to get to full guard but Donatelli has control of the leg.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Batistuta is trying to control but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Carlos Batistuta.
I think Batistuta 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Carlos Batistuta!
In his post fight interview, Carlos Batistuta started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.