PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dave Batista (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Batista comes to the cage accompanied by I Walk Alone. Dave Batista has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Batista
vs
James

185 cm
25
210 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

186 cm
25
208 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dave Batista!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ben James!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

James moves into range and clinches up with Batista.
James misses with the head strike.
Batista taking a breather.
A short left from James.
A short right hand to the side of the head by James.
Batista tries to land knees in the clinch but James avoids the damage to the body.
Batista is trying to pull guard but James has him pressed against the cage.
James scores with a hook to the body.
Batista jumps guard but James stands there with Batista around his waist. Batista gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
James makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Batista looking to stall.
Batista wants to break the clinch but can't.
Batista drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dave Batista. That's going to take a lot out of him.
James lands a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James lands with a right to the head.
Batista fails to pull guard.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, James creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Batista can't break the clinch.
James lands a shoulder strike.
A short uppercut from James.
James working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
James scores with a shoulder strike.
James digs a right hand underneath Batista's ribcage. Batista let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Batista takes a shot to the head.
James lands a right hand that snaps the head of Batista backwards.
James fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Batista wants to get back to striking at distance but James won't allow it.
Batista blocks a punch to the side of the head.
James lands a hook to the side of the head.
Batista blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Batista wants to break the clinch but can't.
James lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Batista backwards.
James scores with a nice hook to the head.
Batista wants a takedown.
Batista stalling in the clinch but James improves position.
James lands a hook that snaps the head of Batista backwards.
James avoiding damage.
James stalling in the clinch.
James digs a right hand underneath Batista's ribcage. Batista let out a lung full of air as it connected.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James lands with a left to the head.
James lands with a short shot to the head.
Batista goes for a takedown in the clinch but James prevents it.
Batista has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. James avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
James lands a nice uppercut.
James manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
A hook to the body from James.
James lands with a short punch from the clinch.
James pushes Batista back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
James lands with a right to the head.
Still in the clinch, James scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Batista is trying to stall.
James softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by James.
James is pushing Batista up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
James scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Batista is working for takedown but James is calmly controlling the position for now.
James lands a hook to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Batista drives through with a takedown into James's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Batista trying to control but James is working from the bottom.
James has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
James can't keep his opponent in guard - Batista advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
James tries to kick Batista off but Batista keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Batista wants to take a breather but James is having none of it.

Batista is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and James defends it well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Batista is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. James doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Batista.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Batista works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James working to try and regain half guard.
Batista can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as James is looking to escape.
Batista is looking to work his way around to James's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
You get the feeling that James really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Batista looking to control but James is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
James reaches up and holds on to Batista to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
James's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Batista takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.

Batista working for the rear naked choke here. He's got one arm under but James is defending well. A couple of punches soften him up though and Batista has tightened the hold! This one could be all over! It is! James taps out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:41 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Dave Batista!
After the fight, Dave Batista was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.