PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jake Butler (ranked 1221 p4p, 160 weight class) and Leonel Ventura (ranked 3509 p4p, 380 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Butler
vs
Ventura

188 cm
33
205 lbs
14 - 6 - 0

189 cm
24
265 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

Great wrestler
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jake Butler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Leonel Ventura!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Lou da Vinci and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Butler takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Butler shoots for a takedown but Ventura saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Butler shoots in looking for a takedown. Ventura tries to sprawl out of it but Butler keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ventura manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ventura is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Butler with a body shot.
Nice takedown defense from Ventura. No joy for Butler on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jake Butler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ventura keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ventura looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Butler fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ventura avoids it really well and circles away.
Butler with a poor takedown

and Ventura counters by clinching up.
Ventura told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ventura lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Butler changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ventura fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Ventura misses with a body shot.
Ventura leaves Butler with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Butler moves into range and clinches up with Ventura.
Ventura lands a body shot.
Ventura is pressed up against the cage. Butler has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Ventura down to the mat. Ventura avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Butler is breathing heavily.

Butler clinches with his opponent.
Butler is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Ventura gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Ventura lands a nice shot to the body.
Ventura will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Butler up against the cage.
Butler goes for a takedown in the clinch but Ventura prevents it.
Butler wants a takedown.
Ventura lands an elbow just above Butler 's eye.

It looks like Jake Butler has been cut.
Ventura working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Ventura landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Ventura landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Butler takes a knee right on the jaw!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ventura has Butler pressed against the cage.
Ventura is leaning against Butler and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Ventura lands an elbow inside that Butler shrugs off.
Butler blocks a body shot from Ventura.
Ventura stalling against the cage.
Ventura landing knees to the body.
Ventura misses with a punch to the body.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Ventura goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ventura displaying some good clinch control by pressing Butler up against the cage.
Ventura tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Butler's elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Butler takes an elbow to the temple.
Ventura with a knee to the head.
Ventura tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Butler has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Ventura is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Butler is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Ventura pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Ventura drops Butler with a big knee straight up the middle! Butler is covering up against the cage but manages to escape and gets back to his feet!

Butler is rocked!
Ventura weaves into range and cracks Butler right on the temple with a beautiful overhand right! Butler goes down! He's out cold! Wow, what a beautiful knockout! Ventura is strutting round the canvas like a movie star as the camera bulbs flash frantically.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:32 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Leonel Ventura!
Leonel Ventura really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Dr. Dogood (160 quality for $135) logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.