PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Salieri (ranked 1274 p4p, 161 weight class) and Arzlan Bathory (ranked 1537 p4p, 190 weight class). Salieri's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, DMX - Ain’t No Sunshine. Arzlan Bathory will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Salieri
vs
Bathory

179 cm
26
162 lbs
12 - 11 - 0

175 cm
27
160 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

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 12 - 11 - 0, fighting out of New York, Antonio Salieri!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Arzlan Bathory!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Salieri looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bathory is fending him off so far but Salieri persists. Nope, Bathory circles away and we're back to standing.
Bathory slips a jab from Salieri.
Bathory feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Salieris jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Salieri throws the kick towards the body but Bathory avoids it.
Bathory keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Salieri.
Salieri throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bathory sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Bathory connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Salieri momentarily.
Bathory catches Salieri with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Bathory throws a body shot but no joy.
A jab from Salieri misses.
Bathory walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Salieri looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Salieri throws an overhand right that lands on Bathory's shoulder, as Bathory tries to avoid the shot.
Salieri lands with a right hand.
Salieri throws a leg kick
and Bathory counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Salieri with a hook.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Salieri missing with a left hand there. Bathory was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Bathory dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Salieri. That did some damage!
Salieri misses with an uppercut. Bathory saw that one coming.
Bathory looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Bathory walks into a jab.
Salieri fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Bathory checks it well.
Bathory wants to land a leg kick but Salieri is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bathory throws a front kick aimed at Salieri's knee but Salieri avoids it well.
A telegraphed right hand from Bathory misses the target.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Bathory, as that shot connected.
Salieri shoots for a takedown but Bathory saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Bathory tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Salieri was well out of range. Poor timing from Bathory.
Bathory keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Salieri.
Bathory misses the shot to the body.
Bathory misses with a hook. Salieri ducked under it nicely.
Salieri waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Bathory.
Bathory on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Bathory lands a nice looking body shot.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Bathory lands with a good body shot.
Salieri takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Salieri's jab looks to have found its range, popping Bathory under the eye.
Salieri just misses with a punch to the body.
Salieri throws a leg kick which misses Bathory's front leg but catches the back leg as Bathory tries to avoid it.
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!
Bathory throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Bathory checks a leg kick.
Bathory throws a half hearted mid kick.
It looked like Salieri wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Bathory bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bathory throws a series of punches but Salieri avoids them all with ease.
Arzlan Bathory is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Salieri misses with a straight right.
Salieri misses with a straight left.
A jab from Bathory misses.
Bathory throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Salieri looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Salieri lands a front kick.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Salieri.
Bathory changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Bathory throws out a leg kick but Salieri moves out of range and Bathory only half commits.
Bathory tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Salieri was well out of range. Poor timing from Bathory.
Salieri fires out a quick counter leg kick but Bathory just manages to avoid it.
Salieri lands with a slapping head kick.
Salieri keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Salieri throws a nice looking combination but Bathory bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Bathory looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
A bone on bone clash there as Bathory blocks the leg kick.
Bathory throws a wild body kick that Salieri sees coming a mile off.
Bathory is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Salieri rather than just go for the knockout.
A clash of legs there as Salieri blocks the low kick.

Salieri closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Salieri lands in his opponent's guard.
Salieri trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salieri postures up in Bathory's guard and throws a big left but Bathory blocks it.
Bathory preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Salieri throws an elbow that misses. Bathory uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Salieri's guard. Nice move by Bathory!

Salieri looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bathory is one step ahead there.
Salieri managing to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Bathory slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Salieri seems keen to control Bathory's posture.
Salieri manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bathory manages to get himself to full guard.

Salieri wants to control from the top but Bathory keeps moving.
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 Antonio Salieri will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nice shot lands for Bathory.
Bathory throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Bathory misses with a wild body shot.
Bathory ducks under a wild hook from Salieri.
Bathory lands with an overhand left.
Bathory just misses with a punch to the body.
Good work by Salieri as he checks the leg kick.
Bathory cracks Salieri with an open hand slap.

Salieri shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Bathory manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Bathory looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Salieri puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Bathory gets back to full guard.
Salieri trying to control the position from guard on top but Bathory is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Salieri with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salieri postures up in Bathory's guard and throws a big left but Bathory blocks it.
Salieri postures up and lands a big shot to Bathory's brow.
Salieri with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Salieri loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Salieri throws an elbow that misses. Bathory uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Salieri's guard. Nice move by Bathory!

Salieri has his hands on Bathory's head, controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bathory looking to pass the guard.
Salieri pulls Bathory in to control the position.
Bathory controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Salieri looking to control.
Salieri manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bathory manages to get himself to full guard.

Salieri throws an elbow that misses. Bathory uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Salieri's guard. Nice move by Bathory!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bathory won't allow Salieri to sweep him here.
Bathory controls from within his opponent's guard.
Salieri managing to control the position.
Salieri continues to stall.

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.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Salieri is on top in guard.

Salieri trying to control but Bathory is working from the bottom.
Salieri looking to sit in guard and control but Bathory gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Salieri wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Bathory is now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Arzlan Bathory will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Salieri checks a leg kick.
Bathory has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Bathory there as he acknowledges the shot.
Salieri tries to move into range but Bathory moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Bathory. Salieri shrugs it off though.
Bathory keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Salieri.
Salieri sizes up Bathory with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Bathory misses with an uppercut.
Salieri throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bathory blocks a jab.
Bathory lands with a straight right. Salieri didn't see that one coming.
Salieri with a nice cross.
A head kick by Salieri misses
letting Bathory counter with a right hand.
Bathory throws a hook but Salieri avoids it easily.
Salieri moves out of range of the body kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bathory ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Salieri moves away.
Bathory stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bathory wants it to stay on the feet.
Salieri connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Bathory swings for the body but Salieri moves out of range.
Bathory throws the kick towards the body but Salieri avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salieri looks for the body kick but Bathory saw that one coming.
A countering left hand to the body from Bathory misses.
Salieri dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Bathory. That did some damage!
Bathory connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Bathory ducks under a wild hook from Salieri.
Salieri throws out a powerful jab.
Bathory darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Bathory.
Bathory slips a jab from Salieri.
Bathory throws out a counter right but Salieri avoids it with no problem.
Salieri closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bathory circles away.
Bathory steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Salieri.
Salieri dives in for a single leg takedown but Bathory sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antonio Salieri. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bathory blocks a leg kick.
Salieri tries to land a leg kick but Bathory saw it coming and moves away.
Salieri is looking to score with low kicks.
Bathory blocks a head kick by Salieri.
Salieri takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Salieri shoots in for a double leg but Bathory sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bathory lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Bathory fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A clash of legs there as Bathory blocks the low kick.
Bathory misses with a lunging right hand
letting Salieri counter with a right hand.
Salieri uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bathory.
Bathory avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Bathory connects with a looping right hand.
Bathory takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Bathory.
No joy there for Salieri, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Bathory fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Salieri manages to avoid it.
Bathory pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The fighters circling - Salieri throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Bathory misses the shot to the body.
Salieri stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Bathory.
Bathory uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Salieri.
Bathory misses with a low kick.
Salieri throws a lazy right hand but Bathory sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Salieri misses with a right hand
and Bathory counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Salieri thinking.
Bathory throws a looping overhand right but Salieri ducks down to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salieri looks to land a left hand but Bathory moved out of range nicely.
Salieri takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Bathory keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Salieri.
Salieri just misses with a punch to the body.
Bathory tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Salieri was well out of range. Poor timing from Bathory.
The crowd cheers as Bathory lands an impressive looking overhand right. Salieri doesn't seem phased though.
Bathory throws a push kick but Salieri slaps the foot to one side.
Good work by Salieri as he checks the leg kick.
Bathory buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Salieri misses with a jab, cross combination.
Bathory follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
A punch combination from Bathory misses.
Salieri shoots for a double leg takedown but Bathory sprawls well. He's pushed Salieri's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Bathory looks to land a body kick but Salieri moved away.

Salieri drives through with a takedown into Bathory's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Salieri slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Salieri distracts Bathory with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Salieri trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Salieri trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bathory is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Salieri forces his way into half guard.
Bathory avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Salieri.
Bathory wants to control but Salieri is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Bathory regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Salieri.
Salieri throwing strikes but missing.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Arzlan Bathory.
I think Bathory has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Arzlan Bathory!
During a confident post fight interview, Arzlan Bathory thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.