PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dre Battle (ranked 2429 p4p, 300 weight class) and Mike McCallum (ranked 1876 p4p, 235 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Battle
vs
McCallum

186 cm
20
191 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

187 cm
20
190 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dre Battle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mike McCallum!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Russell Pearce and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Battle uses good head movement to avoid the hook from McCallum.

Battle shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Battle was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
McCallum is looking to get back to his feet here but Battle is keeping cool and he's managed to take McCallum's back.
McCallum is trying to get back to his feet but Battle has full control of the position and if anything, McCallum has just worked his way into a worse spot.
I would not like to be McCallum right now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Battle seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down McCallum for as long as he can get away with.
McCallum avoids the strikes from Battle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Battle missing with strikes from the back.
McCallum really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Battle. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
McCallum covering up well under a barage of strikes.
McCallum is trying to stand back up.
Battle lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Battle.
Battle throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Battle misses with punches from the back.
McCallum covering up well and avoiding damage.
McCallum is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Battle thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Battle wants to control the position but McCallum frees himself and scrambles - Battle manages to regain control in side control.
Battle trying to control the position but McCallum is working away.
Battle in side control, throwing shots but McCallum defends.
Battle lands a decent elbow from side control.
Check out the look on Battle's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Battle misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Battle throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
McCallum is pushing Battle's head away, looking to escape. Battle manages to hold on to the position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCallum takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Battle controls the position.
Battle trying to control the action but McCallum is working from the bottom.
Battle looking to punish the body of his opponent here but McCallum is avoiding damage well.
McCallum defending against the ground and pound.
Battle creates some space and throws a big elbow, but McCallum sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Battle trying to control the position but McCallum is working away.
Battle throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and McCallum works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Battle.
Battle is trying to control the action in half guard but McCallum is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
McCallum is looking to escape.
Battle looks to land a strike but McCallum avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Battle tries to free his leg and advance position but McCallum is retaining full guard.
Battle missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Battle throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Battle lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Battle throws a big elbow that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dre Battle dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A big left from McCallum misses.
Battle looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
McCallum paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Battle tries to clinch but fails miserably
and McCallum counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Battle looks to throw the jab but McCallum is out of range.

Battle closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
McCallum misses with a hook to the ribs.
McCallum misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Battle fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Battle stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
McCallum is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Battle lands a nice uppercut.
Battle swings wildly with an uppercut but McCallum uses good head movement to avoid it.
Battle blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Battle working aggressively here.
Battle throws a punch but it's blocked by McCallum.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Battle tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Battle blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
McCallum stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Battle.
Battle lands a shoulder strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by McCallum.
McCallum tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Battle's elbow.
Battle throws a punch but it's blocked by McCallum.
McCallum blocks an uppercut.
Battle is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that McCallum can do to turn this around?
Battle lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Battle effectively controlling the action here.
McCallum misses with a hook to the ribs.
McCallum slows down the pace here.
McCallum blocking some punches.
Battle struggles to land a body shot inside as McCallum controls his hands.
McCallum tries to work over Battle's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCallum struggles to land a body shot inside as Battle controls his hands.

McCallum manages to break the clinch.
McCallum ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Battle moves away.
Battle looks to land a right hand but McCallum moved out of range.
A big right from Battle misses.
McCallum lunges at Battle with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Battle's hand.
Battle jabs McCallum right on the nose. McCallum blinks but takes it well.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Battle throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
McCallum throws a lazy uppercut
and Battle counters with a one-two to the body.
Battle punishes McCallum's body with a nice straight punch.
McCallum dips to his left and cracks Battle with an uppercut!
Battle drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Battle displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as McCallum throws out the jab.
Battle moves away from the strike by McCallum.
A jab from McCallum misses.
McCallum jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Battle uses good head movement to avoid the hook from McCallum.
McCallum has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Mike McCallum seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McCallum throws an ugly left hook that misses
enabling Battle to counter with a crisp jab.
Battle is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by McCallum.

Battle moves into range and clinches up with McCallum.
Battle blocks a body shot from McCallum.
McCallum blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
McCallum misses with a punch on the inside.
Battle fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Battle lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on McCallum's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A short left from McCallum.
Battle throws a punch but it's blocked by McCallum.
A head punch on the inside from Battle fails to land.
McCallum doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Battle.
Battle jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as McCallum walks away with a smile on his face. Battle gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Battle with a lazy takedown attempt
and McCallum counters with a right hand to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Battle cracks McCallum with a good jab.
Battle tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
McCallum lands a slapping body shot.

Battle instigates a clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Battle fails to land.
Battle lands a nice shot to the body.
Battle prevents a body shot from McCallum.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dre Battle dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! 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.

McCallum misses with the body kick

and Battle counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
McCallum tries to throw a body punch but Battle avoids it by throwing McCallum back against the cage.
McCallum is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Battle is keeping busy.
Battle misses with some punches.
Battle lands a right hand that snaps the head of McCallum backwards.
Battle misses with the head strike.
Battle misses with a short punch on the inside.
McCallum can't break the clinch.
Battle lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt McCallum or not.
Battle lands a body shot.
Battle swings wildly with an uppercut but McCallum uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Battle lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Battle not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Battle works his way into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Battle wants to lay and pray for a moment but McCallum keeps working.
Battle is putting a hurting on McCallum here, landing some big shots from side control.
Dre Battle overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Battle working the ground and pound but McCallum is defending the strikes.
McCallum is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Battle has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Battle wants to lay and pray for a moment but McCallum keeps working.
Battle works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Battle with the ground and pound but McCallum regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Battle throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Battle seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Battle throwing shots but McCallum is blocking nicely.
Battle thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Battle wants to take a breather but McCallum is having none of it.
Battle thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Battle frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Battle content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Battle lands with some vicious ground and pound - can McCallum hang on?
Battle controlling his opponent.
McCallum is trying to stand.
Battle throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
McCallum squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Battle with good strikes from the mount here!
Battle putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Battle with shots to the head and body - McCallum looks very uncomfortable down there.
Battle connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Battle throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
A nice elbow there by Battle.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Battle is in the full mount, landing strikes.

McCallum is rocked!
McCallum takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Battle is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Dre Battle is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
McCallum is still in real trouble! Can Battle finish him?
Battle is landing with some decent strikes but McCallum is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Battle lands with some vicious ground and pound - can McCallum hang on?
A big strike lands for Battle! That's really hurt McCallum and he's turned his back - Battle keeps firing away and the ref dives in to stop the fight! Battle jumps to his feet to celebrate the victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Dre Battle!
A relieved looking Dre Battle thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.