PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hipolito Battle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Otta Solstafir (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Otta Solstafir will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Battle
vs
Solstafir

164 cm
18
193 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Hipolito Battle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Otta Solstafir!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Skip Squint and Francis DeMontford.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Solstafir rushes Battle and presses him up against the cage.
Solstafir lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Solstafir has Battle pushed against the cage.
Battle tries to circle away but Solstafir has him pinned against the cage.
Battle stalling.
Solstafir struggles to land a body shot inside as Battle controls his hands.
Battle tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Solstafir just stands there and leans against the cage.
Solstafir misses with a knee strike.

Solstafir breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Solstafir looks to throw a body kick

and Battle counters with a takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Solstafir keeps Battle under control for a moment.
Solstafir looking for a sweep but Battle has passed into full mount! Oh no!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Solstafir working to try and regain half guard.
Battle wants to control the pace but Solstafir is squirming around nicely.
Solstafir is working to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Battle controlling from mount.
Solstafir is looking to get to half guard.
Battle wants to control the pace but Solstafir is squirming around nicely.
Battle prevents Solstafir from getting the reversal.
Solstafir tries to hold on but Battle pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Battle looking to control but Solstafir is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Solstafir holds on to Battle around his waist, trying desperately to prevent any attacks.
Battle avoids the attempt from Solstafir to control.
Solstafir gets back to half guard.
Solstafir is refusing to be controlled, as Battle sits in half guard.
Solstafir wants to control but Battle is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Battle is trying to control the action in half guard but Solstafir is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Battle tries to keep at a distance but Solstafir has taken the fight into the clinch.
Solstafir drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Battle gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Solstafir will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Battle up against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Solstafir jumps guard but Battle stands there with Solstafir around his waist. Solstafir gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Otta Solstafir will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Solstafir.
Solstafir pushes Battle away with a front kick.

Solstafir forces Battle back against the cage and clinches.
Solstafir takes an elbow to the temple.

Solstafir escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Solstafir fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Battle drops down looking for a counter takedown but Solstafir sprawls and moves away.
No luck for Solstafir with that takedown attempt.
Hipolito Battle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Otta Solstafir.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Solstafir dives in for a single leg takedown but Battle sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Battle lands with a shot to the body.
Hipolito Battle is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Battle swinging wildly here.
Solstafir throws a head kick that Battle semi-blocks.
Battle swinging wildly here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Solstafir lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Battle backs up against the cage.
Battle swinging wildly here.
Solstafir tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Battle is able to avoid easily.
Battle tries to counter by clinching up but Solstafir breaks away and moves out of range.

Solstafir moves into the clinch successfully.
Battle is pushing Solstafir up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

Battle has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Solstafir uses from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Battle keeping moving, preventing Solstafir from controlling successfully.
Solstafir is standing up over Battle. Battle looks to escape but Solstafir dives into side control.
Battle really is a fat lump.
Solstafir is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Battle's shoulder. That is not cool.
Battle is trying to control Solstafir's posture but Solstafir avoids it.
Battle is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Solstafir thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Battle tries to buck Solstafir off but Solstafir is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Battle wants to control but Solstafir postures up.
Battle is not content to let Solstafir control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Solstafir stands up.

Solstafir clinches with his opponent.
Solstafir has had enough of the clinch but Battle keeps him there for the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Solstafir jumps guard but Battle turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Solstafir is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Otta Solstafir showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Solstafir.
Battle tries to counter by clinching up but Solstafir breaks away and moves out of range.
Battle throws a right hand that Solstafir ducks under and follows up with a left that Solstafir also avoids with ease.
Battle takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
A jab from Solstafir finds it's way through Battle's defenses.

It looks like Hipolito Battle has been cut.
Battle misses with a double jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Solstafir misses with a takedown attempt - Battle sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Battle feinted with a counter takedown.
Solstafir dives in and grabs Battle's left leg, looking for a takedown. Battle pushes down on Solstafir's head and hops out.
Hipolito Battle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Otta Solstafir.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Solstafir lands with a slapping head kick.
Solstafir takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Battle avoids the head kick by Solstafir.
Battle wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Solstafir swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Battle misses with a wild combination.

Solstafir clinches.
Battle misses with an elbow over the top.
Battle trying to control the position but instead, Solstafir has worked for underhooks and has pushed Battle into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Solstafir breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Solstafir drives through and clinches with Battle against the cage.
Battle holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Solstafir is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Solstafir has Battle pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Battle manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Solstafir pulls guard effortlessly.
Battle engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Battle seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Solstafir for as long as he can get away with.
Solstafir pulls Battle in close to prevent any damage.

Battle decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Solstafir, up you get!
Battle keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Battle closes the distance looking to clinch
and Solstafir counters with a slapping leg kick.
Battle throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Solstafir gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Battle counters with a two punch combo.
Solstafir shoots in looking for a takedown but Battle manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Solstafir's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Battle shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Hipolito Battle has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Otta Solstafir is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Solstafir controls Battle momentarily but Battle frees himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Hipolito Battle.
I think Solstafir 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 John Mangel scores the fight 29:29
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 28:29
Judge Francis DeMontford scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!