PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Carlos Batistuta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Les Sobrante (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Batistuta might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Deftones - You've Seen The Butcher. Sobrante comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Primus - Fisticuffs kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Batistuta
vs
Sobrante

182 cm
33
205 lbs
18 - 8 - 0

185 cm
28
221 lbs
12 - 13 - 0

Great wrestler
World class MT
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 18 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Carlos Batistuta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Les Sobrante!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yukihiro Shimada and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Batistuta misses with a takedown
and Sobrante counters with a straight right hand.

Batistuta clinches.
Sobrante goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Batistuta misses with a body punch.
Sobrante tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Batistuta digs a right hand into Sobrante's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Sobrante's gas tank.

Sobrante breaks from the clinch.
Batistuta uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sobrante.
Sobrante looks to score with a jab to the body but Batistuta is just out of range.
Sobrante takes one to the side of the head.
Sobrante's coach down at Tōshi was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Sobrante's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Batistuta defending well as Sobrante loads up on a big left hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Batistuta keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Batistuta half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Batistuta.

Sobrante gets tackled into the cage by Batistuta. Batistuta maintains the clinch.
Sobrante gets underhooks to prevent Batistuta's takedown attempt.
Sobrante is struggling to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Batistuta lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Batistuta wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Batistuta misses with some punches.
Sobrante goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Batistuta gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Batistuta trying to control but Sobrante is working from the bottom.
Sobrante looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Batistuta chips away with some ground and pound.
Batistuta with a flurry of punches that miss.
Batistuta trying to control the position from guard on top but Sobrante is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Batistuta wants to pass the guard but Sobrante is keeping the position.
Sobrante tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Batistuta throws a big elbow that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Sobrante looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Batistuta passes into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sobrante tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Batistuta wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Batistuta looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Sobrante is trying to improve his position.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Batistuta lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
We've been hearing good reports from Batistuta's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Batistuta tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Batistuta has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Batistuta is looking to take a break and control but Sobrante is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Batistuta is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Sobrante knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Batistuta grinds an elbow into Sobrante's temple.
Sobrante tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sobrante takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Sobrante is looking for a sweep.
Batistuta looks up at the clock and then as Sobrante takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Batistuta smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

Batistuta wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Sobrante, who protects the arm well.
Batistuta working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

Sobrante is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Batistuta is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Sobrante knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Batistuta advances to mount.
Sobrante slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Batistuta is working for a submission of some sort.
Batistuta trying to control the action but Sobrante is working from the bottom.
Batistuta moves into full mount! Sobrante won't be happy about that!
Sobrante tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carlos Batistuta dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Batistuta misses with a body shot.
Sobrante changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Sobrante ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Batistuta moves in looking to clinch but Sobrante pushes him off.
Carlos Batistuta seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sobrante throws an overhand right that lands on Batistuta's shoulder, as Batistuta tries to avoid the shot.
Sobrante misses the shot to the body.

Batistuta darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Batistuta is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Batistuta prevents Sobrante from improving his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Batistuta is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Sobrante is just riding it out for now. Batistuta eventually gives up the hold.
Batistuta is trying to control. Sobrante wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Batistuta looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Sobrante moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Sobrante has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Batistuta is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Sobrante.
Batistuta scoring with punches from side control.
Batistuta working the ground and pound.
Batistuta grinds an elbow into Sobrante's temple.
Batistuta grinds an elbow into Sobrante's temple.
Sobrante manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Sobrante is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Batistuta looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Batistuta is looking for a kimura but Sobrante is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Batistuta to get the leverage.

Sobrante is defending against the submission attempts here by Batistuta.
Sobrante tries to get to full guard but Batistuta has control of the leg.
Sobrante is pressing down on Batistuta's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Batistuta pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sobrante is keeping the position for now.
Sobrante wants to sweep here but Batistuta controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sobrante is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Batistuta defends well.
Batistuta keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Sobrante's head.
Batistuta trying to control the position from guard on top but Sobrante is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Batistuta trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Sobrante manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Sobrante looking to pass the guard.
Sobrante advances position into side control!
Batistuta struggling a bit here.
Batistuta tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Sobrante wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sobrante scoring with punches from side control.

Sobrante wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Batistuta, who protects the arm well.
Carlos Batistuta overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sobrante landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Batistuta regains half guard.
Batistuta trying to control from the bottom.
Sobrante thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sobrante is looking to advance position but Batistuta won't allow it.
Batistuta is trying to maintain the position but Sobrante is very close to passing his half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sobrante trying to pass the guard but Batistuta defending well.
Batistuta is looking to control Sobrante's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Batistuta avoid being mounted?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Carlos Batistuta will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Sobrante wants to land a leg kick but Batistuta is out of range.
Sobrante lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Sobrante takes a jab right on the kisser.
Sobrante avoids the body shot from Batistuta.
Batistuta tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sobrante paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Batistuta throws a head kick but Sobrante moves out of range.
Sobrante connects with an inside leg kick.
Sobrante ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Batistuta moves away.
Batistuta misses with an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Batistuta throws a head kick but Sobrante moves out of range.
Batistuta tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Sobrante counters with a stiff right hand.
Batistuta bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Batistuta tries to close the distance and clinch but Sobrante swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Batistuta looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Batistuta shoots in but no luck this time.
Nice sprawl there from Sobrante as Batistuta shoots in.
Sobrante looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Batistuta scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
A telegraphed right hand from Sobrante misses the target.
Batistuta is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sobrante can do to turn this around?
Sobrante lands a nice hook to Batistuta's body. Batistuta takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Batistuta throws a sloppy body shot
and Sobrante counters with a nice uppercut.
Les Sobrante seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sobrante on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Batistuta. Batistuta obviously looking to wear him down.
A lazy left from Batistuta finds it's target.
Batistuta scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Sobrante doesn't seem bothered though.
Batistuta looks to clinch
and Sobrante counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sobrante avoids the head kick by Batistuta.
Les Sobrante has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Batistuta shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carlos Batistuta. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Batistuta thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sobrante keeps the fight on the outside.
Batistuta tries to clinch up.
A nice inside leg kick there by Batistuta. That's going to slow Sobrante down.
Sobrante ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Batistuta moves away.
Batistuta attempts a counter takedown but Sobrante avoids it well and moves away.
Batistuta throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Batistuta tries a head kick but it misses.
Sobrante swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Sobrante misses with a head kick.
Nice sprawl there from Sobrante as Batistuta shoots in.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Batistuta looks to land a left hand but Sobrante moved out of range nicely.
Batistuta scores with a push kick.
Sobrante throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A left lands for Batistuta.
Batistuta is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sobrante throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A big left from Sobrante misses.
Batistuta was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Batistuta misses with a leg kick.
Sobrante bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Sobrante shoots for a takedown but Batistuta saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Batistuta tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sobrante paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Batistuta wants to clinch but Sobrante slips to the side

and Sobrante counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Batistuta is trying to maintain the position but Sobrante is very close to passing his half guard.
Sobrante trying to pass the guard but Batistuta defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Batistuta manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Sobrante pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Batistuta is keeping the position for now.
Batistuta looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sobrante is looking to work some ground and pound but Batistuta has wrist control.
Batistuta bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sobrante's guard.

The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Batistuta trying to control but Sobrante is working from the bottom.
Batistuta throws a big right hand that misses.
Batistuta working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Sobrante's head.

Sobrante is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Batistuta defends well.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sobrante is on top in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Les Sobrante.
I think Batistuta has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Carlos Batistuta!
A relieved looking Carlos Batistuta thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.