PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joe Ranieri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Beeboy Batongbakal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ranieri's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Eminem – Kings Never Die. Joe Ranieri has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Ranieri
vs
Batongbakal

186 cm
30
190 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

184 cm
26
200 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Dangerous knees
Very quick

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Powerful

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 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joe Ranieri!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Beeboy Batongbakal!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Sosuke Kotani and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ranieri keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ranieri went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Ranieri lands a leg kick that knocks Batongbakal off balance momentarily.
Good leg kick by Ranieri there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Ranieri looks to land a combination but Batongbakal avoids it well.
Ranieri fails to land with a series of punches.
Ranieri explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Batongbakal misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ranieri.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Batongbakal has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Ranieri tries to score with a low kick but Batongbakal moves his leg out of the way.
Ranieri tries to clinch but Batongbakal moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ranieri displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Batongbakal.
Ranieri tries to close the distance and clinch up but Batongbakal swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Batongbakal swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Ranieri tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Batongbakal now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Batongbakal just misses with a punch to the body.
Ranieri thows a leg kick but Batongbakal checks it
and Batongbakal counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Batongbakal connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Batongbakal takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Batongbakal looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Batongbakal connects with a single shot there.
Ranieri tries a head kick but it misses.
Nice shot lands for Ranieri.
A solid leg kick lands there for Ranieri.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ranieri thuds his shin into the meat of Batongbakal's side.
Batongbakal shoots in but Ranieri avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ranieri is looking to clinch.
Ranieri tries to close the distance and clinch up but Batongbakal swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ranieri tries to clinch up

and Batongbakal counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Batongbakal.

Ranieri working for a triangle but Batongbakal defends it easily.
Ranieri seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Batongbakal scoring with some ground and pound.
Batongbakal must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Batongbakal wants to control from the top but Ranieri keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ranieri is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Ranieri keeping full guard, as Batongbakal tries to pass.

Ranieri working for a triangle but Batongbakal defends it easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Ranieri looking for a guillotine here but Batongbakal defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Ranieri dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Ranieri throws a left and a right that both miss

and Batongbakal decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ranieri's guard.

Ranieri is looking for a triangle but Batongbakal pushes his legs off easily.
Ranieri looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Batongbakal controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Ranieri keeping moving, preventing Batongbakal from controlling successfully.

Ranieri working for submissions but it's allowed Batongbakal to get to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ranieri is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ranieri looking for a kimura from the bottom but Batongbakal passes into side control!
Batongbakal working away.
A lull in the action here as Batongbakal stalls from top position.
Ranieri manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Ranieri is trying to work for a kimura but Batongbakal is defending well.

Ranieri seems to be looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ranieri 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.
Batongbakal is concentrating on defense, preventing Ranieri from advancing position.
Batongbakal wants to improve his position but Ranieri is controlling well.

Ranieri is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Batongbakal keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Let's hope that Batongbakal has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Ranieri seems to be working for a kimura but Batongbakal defends the submission attempt.
Batongbakal holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

That's four 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.
Ranieri is looking to advance position but Batongbakal won't allow it.
Batongbakal is staying active underneath Ranieri, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Batongbakal has a hand on Ranieri's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Ranieri takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Ranieri trying to control but Batongbakal is having none of it.
Ranieri pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Ranieri moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Batongbakal has worked his arm free - good work by Batongbakal!
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 Joe Ranieri 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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

A head kick misses from Ranieri.
Batongbakal changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
A head kick misses from Ranieri.
Ranieri tries to clinch there but Batongbakal circles away.
Batongbakal slips under a jab from Ranieri.
It seemed like Batongbakal was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Batongbakal throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ranieri sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ranieri throws a sloppy head kick and Batongbakal moves out of range easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice straight punches there by Batongbakal. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Batongbakal.
Ranieri tries to close the distance and clinch up but Batongbakal swats him away and circles back towards the center.
It seemed like Batongbakal was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ranieri throws a hook but Batongbakal blocks it.
Ranieri looks to throw the jab but Batongbakal is out of range.
Batongbakal avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Batongbakal closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ranieri circles away.
Ranieri lands the left hand.
Batongbakal swings for the body but Ranieri moves out of range.
Ranieri seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Batongbakal misses with an uppercut. Ranieri saw that one coming.
Ranieri looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Batongbakal misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Beeboy Batongbakal has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ranieri swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ranieri connects with a solid leg kick.
Batongbakal moves away from the strike by Ranieri.
Ranieri swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Batongbakal bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ranieri lands a nice leg kick that just misses Batongbakal's sensitive parts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Batongbakal avoids the head kick by Ranieri.
Ranieri tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Batongbakal throws a body shot but no joy.
Batongbakal stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Ranieri.
A low kick from Ranieri is predictable there

and Batongbakal counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Ranieri isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Batongbakal stacks Ranieri on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Batongbakal!
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ranieri looks to move to half guard but instead Batongbakal has passed into mount! Damn!
Ranieri wants to hold on but Batongbakal pushes him away.
Ranieri in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Batongbakal controlling the pace for now.
Ranieri regains half guard.

Ranieri actively working from the bottom here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Batongbakal slows the pace down in half guard.

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 Joe Ranieri.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ranieri, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:27
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Joe Ranieri!
Joe Ranieri very nearly forgot to thank Spartan Nutrition amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.