PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Caio Bottura (ranked 828 p4p, 92 weight class) and Teodors Ozolinsh (ranked 645 p4p, 69 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Bottura might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Face The Pain. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Bottura
vs
Ozolinsh

173 cm
24
165 lbs
13 - 5 - 1

178 cm
25
159 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Urban Fighter
Fanatic Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Caio Bottura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Teodors Ozolinsh!
The judges for this bout are Ben Watson, Damien Edna and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ozolinsh blocks a head kick by Bottura.
A chopping leg kick lands by Bottura.
Bottura throws a leg kick
and Bottura takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ozolinsh misses the body punch
and Bottura counters with an outside leg kick.
Bottura throws a leg kick
and Ozolinsh counters with a nice body shot.
Ozolinsh throws a shot from downtown. Bottura moves away and avoids it.
Bottura misses with a body kick.
Ozolinsh appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Ozolinsh pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Ozolinsh waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Bottura.
Ozolinsh takes a swing at Bottura's ribcage but misses.
Ozolinsh lands a body shot.
Ozolinsh fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bottura manages to avoid it.
Ozolinsh lands a jab to the head.
Ozolinsh shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Teodors Ozolinsh seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bottura on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Ozolinsh misses with a hook. Bottura ducked under it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bottura lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Ozolinsh with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Bottura has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Ozolinsh.
Ozolinsh has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Bottura.
Bottura throws a push kick but Ozolinsh slaps the foot to one side.
Ozolinsh only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Bottura uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ozolinsh.
Bottura wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Ozolinsh takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Bottura takes one to the chin there.
Ozolinsh misses with a body kick.
Ozolinsh scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
A big left from Ozolinsh misses.
Ozolinsh scores with a jab to the body.
Bottura tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ozolinsh was well out of range. Poor timing from Bottura.
Ozolinsh throws a solid leg kick but Bottura takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Ozolinsh.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ozolinsh moves out of range as Bottura strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ozolinsh blocks a head kick by Bottura.

Ozolinsh clinches up with Bottura and pushes him back against the cage.
Bottura is trying to pull guard but Ozolinsh has him pressed against the cage.
Ozolinsh lands a right hand that snaps the head of Bottura backwards.
Ozolinsh misses with a punch on the inside.
A short left from Ozolinsh.
Bottura tries to pull guard but Ozolinsh holds him up against the cage and eventually Bottura drops back down to his feet.
Bottura is trying to pull guard but Ozolinsh turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Caio Bottura. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ozolinsh lands with a short shot to the head.
Bottura is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Ozolinsh to keep the fight standing.

Ozolinsh pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bottura takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Bottura throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bottura keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Bottura throws out a powerful jab.
Ozolinsh stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Bottura.
Bottura will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bottura blocks a jab.
A lazy left from Ozolinsh finds it's target.
A bone on bone clash there as Ozolinsh blocks the leg kick.
Bottura just misses with a punch to the body.
Bottura feints and then cracks Ozolinsh's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Ozolinsh down.
Ozolinsh keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bottura closes the distance looking to clinch
and Ozolinsh counters with a nice uppercut.
Bottura takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Ozolinsh punishes Bottura's body with a nice straight punch.
Bottura slips a straight right by Ozolinsh.
Bottura feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Ozolinsh scores with a crisp jab that stopped Bottura in his tracks.
Good leg kick by Ozolinsh there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bottura uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ozolinsh.
Ozolinsh throws a body punch but Bottura moves out of range.
Ozolinsh scores with a hook.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bottura does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Ozolinsh let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Bottura throws a lazy uppercut
enabling Ozolinsh to counter with a crisp jab.
Bottura connects with a single shot there.
Ozolinsh misses with a shot to the body
and Ozolinsh takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ozolinsh throws a low kick but Bottura moves out of range easily.
Bottura throws a leg kick but Ozolinsh sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Bottura takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Ozolinsh misses with a hook to the body
and Bottura counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Ozolinsh thinking.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A leg kick checked by Bottura.
Some bone on bone action there as Ozolinsh checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Bottura tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Bottura lands a leg kick that knocks Ozolinsh off balance momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Teodors Ozolinsh dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Ozolinsh fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Bottura uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ozolinsh.
Ozolinsh throws a sloppy head kick and Bottura moves out of range easily.
Bottura is looking to counter punch.
Ozolinsh lands a body shot.
Ozolinsh takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Bottura throws a jab when Ozolinsh was well out of range.
Ozolinsh connects with a body shot that sends Bottura's belly button to the back.
Ozolinsh looks to land a right hand but Bottura moved out of range.
Ozolinsh has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Bottura looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Ozolinsh throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Ozolinsh throws a body punch but Bottura moves out of range.
Bottura moves into range and connects with a jab.
Ozolinsh wants to land a leg kick but Bottura is out of range.
Bottura throws a counter high kick but Ozolinsh was just alert enough to avoid it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bottura scores with a nice head shot.
Ozolinsh just misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bottura throws a leg kick but Ozolinsh sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Ozolinsh is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Bottura with a body shot.
Bottura loads up on a big right hand but Ozolinsh slips the punch.
Bottura blocks a head kick by Ozolinsh.
A head kick from Bottura lands but Ozolinsh takes it in his stride.
Bottura slips under a jab from Ozolinsh.
Ozolinsh throws a big shot that misses.
Ozolinsh misses with a straight left.
Bottura swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Ozolinsh makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Ozolinsh moves out of range of the body kick from Bottura.
Ozolinsh throws a head kick but Bottura moves out of range.
Teodors Ozolinsh seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bottura misses with a straight left.
Ozolinsh misses with a wild body shot.
Ozolinsh cracks Bottura with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Ozolinsh swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bottura lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Ozolinsh at a distance.
Bottura wants to land a leg kick but Ozolinsh is out of range.
Ozolinsh tries to score with a low kick but Bottura moves his leg out of the way.
Ozolinsh swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bottura is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ozolinsh.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Ozolinsh forces Bottura back against the cage and clinches.
Bottura blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Bottura pulls guard.

Ozolinsh avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Bottura is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ozolinsh is aware though and is defending well.

Bottura is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bottura is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ozolinsh defends well.
Ozolinsh must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Bottura is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ozolinsh defends well.

Bottura is looking for a triangle here but Ozolinsh uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Bottura wants to control but Ozolinsh postures up.

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.
Bottura is looking to regain half guard here but Ozolinsh keeps moving and retains side control.
Bottura is trying to control Ozolinsh's posture but Ozolinsh avoids it.
Bottura tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Bottura tries to control but Ozolinsh manages to take his back.
Bottura trying to control but not successfully.
Ozolinsh controlling well, preventing Bottura from escaping the position.
Ozolinsh gets his hands free as Bottura looks to control.
Good control from Ozolinsh.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Teodors Ozolinsh showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Bottura throws a body shot but no joy.
Bottura looks to land a combination but Ozolinsh avoids it well.
Bottura throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Ozolinsh tries to land a front kick but Bottura steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Ozolinsh scores with a jab.
Ozolinsh swings for the body but Bottura moves out of range.
A counter left hand to the body from Bottura misses its target.
Bottura tries to land a front kick but Ozolinsh steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Bottura wants to land a leg kick but Ozolinsh is out of range.
Ozolinsh throws a body shot but no joy.
Ozolinsh jabs Bottura to the body, keeping him at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ozolinsh swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Bottura.
Ozolinsh wants to land a leg kick but Bottura is out of range.
Bottura keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A slow jab from Bottura misses its intended target.
Ozolinsh swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bottura throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Bottura misses the shot to the body.
Ozolinsh swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Ozolinsh connects with a jab.
Bottura throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Ozolinsh stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Ozolinsh checks a leg kick nicely.
Ozolinsh is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Bottura rather than just go for the knockout.
Bottura dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Bottura moves away from the strike by Ozolinsh.
Bottura ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ozolinsh misses the jab.
It appears Bottura was looking to counter with a kick there.
Bottura is looking to clinch but Ozolinsh is avoiding it.
Ozolinsh bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Ozolinsh takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Bottura misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Ozolinsh misses.
Bottura was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Bottura chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Ozolinsh can pounce on him.
Ozolinsh lands a body shot.
Ozolinsh swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Bottura counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bottura takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Ozolinsh connects with a solid leg kick.
The fighters circling - Ozolinsh throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ozolinsh misses with a left hand
and Bottura counters with a stiff right hand.
Good leg kick by Ozolinsh there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Bottura throws a sloppy head kick and Ozolinsh moves out of range easily.
Bottura feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Ozolinsh's calf.
Ozolinsh's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Bottura checks a leg kick.
Bottura half committed to a counter leg kick.
Ozolinsh checks the leg kick nicely there.
Ozolinsh thows a body kick. Bottura tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Caio Bottura has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ozolinsh connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Good leg kick by Ozolinsh there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Ozolinsh misses with a body kick.
Ozolinsh scores with a crisp jab that stopped Bottura in his tracks.
Bottura tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bottura takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Bottura misses with a wild body shot.

Ozolinsh forces Bottura back against the cage and clinches.
Nice body punch from Ozolinsh.
Ozolinsh misses with a punch on the inside.

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

Bottura working for submissions but it's allowed Ozolinsh to get to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Bottura is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ozolinsh pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ozolinsh takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Bottura wants to get back to full guard.
Ozolinsh controlling the action here.

Bottura looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Teodors Ozolinsh comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ozolinsh has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ben Watson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Teodors Ozolinsh!
Teodors Ozolinsh managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Reaper Combatwear, into his post fight interview.