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 entrance music is Eminem – Kings Never Die. A fine choice. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Ranieri
vs
Batongbakal

186 cm
32
190 lbs
15 - 11 - 0

184 cm
27
200 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

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 15 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Joe Ranieri!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Beeboy Batongbakal!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Joseph Jones and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Batongbakal blocks a head kick by Ranieri.

Ranieri connects with a vicious head kick that knocks Batongbakal to the floor! Ranieri dives in looking for the finish!

It looks like Beeboy Batongbakal has been cut.

Ranieri is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Ranieri is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Batongbakal has managed to free his arm - good work.
Ranieri tries to pass the half guard into mount. Batongbakal knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Batongbakal slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Batongbakal keeping moving, preventing Ranieri from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Batongbakal working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Ranieri has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Batongbakal can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Batongbakal sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Ranieri's guard.
Still in half guard, Batongbakal seems content to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ranieri wants to control but Batongbakal is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ranieri wants to control the action here but instead Batongbakal manages to pass to full mount!
Ranieri gets back to half guard.
Ranieri is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Ranieri is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Batongbakal pulls his head out easily.

Ranieri looking for submissions off his back.
Batongbakal is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ranieri tries to roll over but Batongbakal keeps him under control.

Ranieri looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Batongbakal prevents Ranieri from improving his position.
Ranieri trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Ranieri is looking to get to half guard.
Ranieri wants to control but Batongbakal is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ranieri is in all sorts of trouble here.
Batongbakal controlling from mount.
Batongbakal raining down hammerfists from mount.
Batongbakal looking to control and managing it successfully.
Ranieri tries to hold on but Batongbakal pushes him away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ranieri tries to reverse the position but Batongbakal maintains control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Joe Ranieri will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Beeboy Batongbakal's cut.
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 lands with a nice combination. Batongbakal backs away looking to recover.
Ranieri rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Batongbakal moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ranieri looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Batongbakal! But no joy.
Ranieri looks to land a body kick but Batongbakal moved away.
It seemed like Batongbakal was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Ranieri misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ranieri lands a head kick!
Ranieri closes the distance but Batongbakal moves to the side
and Batongbakal counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Some wild striking there from Ranieri.
Ranieri falls off balance throwing a combination
and Batongbakal connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ranieri swinging wildly here.
Ranieri avoids the body shot from Batongbakal.
Batongbakal just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromRanieri.
Batongbakal avoids the head kick by Ranieri.
Batongbakal doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Ranieri tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A nice side step and Batongbakal releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Batongbakal blocks a head kick by Ranieri.
Batongbakal changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Ranieri is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Batongbakal can do to turn this around?
Ranieri misses with a head kick.
Joe Ranieri is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Batongbakal connects with a jab.
Batongbakal fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Ranieri looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Some wild striking there from Ranieri.
Ranieri throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ranieri throws a head kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ranieri will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Batongbakal looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Ranieri thows a leg kick but Batongbakal checks it

and Batongbakal counters with a shoot takedown. Ranieri fights it but they end up in guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Batongbakal content to stall in guard here.

Ranieri is looking for a triangle but Batongbakal pushes his legs off easily.
Batongbakal sitting in guard here, content to control.

Ranieri had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Batongbakal defends it easily.

Ranieri working for a triangle but Batongbakal defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ranieri has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Batongbakal 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 Ranieri.
Ranieri sneaks back into half guard.
Batongbakal stalling.

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 wants to improve his position but Batongbakal is controlling well.
Batongbakal works his foot free and advances to mount.
Batongbakal takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Ranieri tries to hold on but Batongbakal postures up.
Batongbakal takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
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.
The cut man is working on Beeboy Batongbakal's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Ranieri misses with a double jab
and Batongbakal counters with a stiff right hand.

Ranieri gets a clinch.
Ranieri with a knee to the head.
Ranieri is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Batongbakal is defending well for now.
Ranieri missing with knees to the body.
Batongbakal stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Ranieri working Batongbakal over with knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ranieri scores with a knee to the head.
Ranieri lands a knee to the head.
Ranieri trying to land knees to the body.
Ranieri misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Batongbakal avoiding damage.
Ranieri tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A head punch on the inside from Ranieri fails to land.
Ranieri lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Batongbakal breaks from the clinch.
Ranieri throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Batongbakal.
Batongbakal looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Ranieri throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ranieri tries to clinch up.
Ranieri tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Batongbakal paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Joe Ranieri is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Batongbakal ducks under a wild hook from Ranieri.
Ranieri tries to clinch but Batongbakal moves out of range.
Beeboy Batongbakal has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Batongbakal doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Ranieri instigates a clinch.
Ranieri misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Batongbakal.
Ranieri tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ranieri misses with a knee strike.

Batongbakal jumps into guard, dragging Ranieri to the mat.
Batongbakal managing to control the position.
Batongbakal is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The fighters are battling for position here. Ranieri manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ranieri has an active guard here but Batongbakal has managed to pass into half guard.
Batongbakal looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Ranieri wants to control but Batongbakal is keeping busy.
Ranieri is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Batongbakal's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Batongbakal's back!
Beeboy Batongbakal has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ranieri tries to get the hooks in deep but Batongbakal pushed the leg off.

Ranieri is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ranieri not allowing Batongbakal to control his hands.

Ranieri looking to break Batongbakal's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Batongbakal remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Ranieri will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Will Ranieri go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Batongbakal wants to escape the position.

Ranieri is persistently looking for the submission but Batongbakal is defending it well.
Ranieri tries to get the hooks in deep but Batongbakal pushed the leg off.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Ranieri showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:27
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Ranieri!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Joe Ranieri waved his t-shirt featuring Spartan Nutrition's logo in front of the cameras.