PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jack Daniels (ranked 232 p4p, 32 weight class) and Valerio Bartoli (ranked 221 p4p, 29 weight class). Bartoli comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Modulate - Bass Alert kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Daniels
vs
Bartoli

179 cm
44
163 lbs
44 - 23 - 3

180 cm
28
170 lbs
17 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Aspire Clothing
Groove Gear

Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 44 - 23 - 3, fighting out of New York, Jack Daniels!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Valerio Bartoli!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Daniels thuds a left hand into Bartoli's body.
Bartoli's jab looks to have found its range, popping Daniels under the eye.
Bartoli attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Bartoli lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Bartoli misses with a leg kick.
Daniels lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bartoli circles away quickly and effectively.
Bartoli misses with an uppercut.
Daniels steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bartoli.
Daniels connects with a body shot that sends Bartoli's belly button to the back.
Daniels takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Daniels looks to throw the jab but Bartoli is out of range.
Bartoli checks a low kick from Daniels.
Daniels tries to close the distance and clinch but Bartoli swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Daniels swings for the body but Bartoli moves out of range.
Bartoli moves out of range as Daniels throws a body kick.
Bartoli moves out of range of the strikes.
Bartoli tries a low kick but Daniels avoids it.
Daniels misses with a straight right.
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!
Bartoli sizes up Daniels with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Bartoli throws a lazy right hand but Daniels sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Daniels looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Daniels tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bartoli was well out of range. Poor timing from Daniels.
Bartoli slips under a jab.
Daniels cracks Bartoli with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Bartoli cracks Daniels with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Daniels listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

Daniels moves into the clinch.
Daniels lands a left hand that snaps the head of Bartoli backwards.

Bartoli manages to break the clinch.
Bartoli misses with a straight right.
Bartoli tries to score with a low kick but Daniels moves his leg out of the way.
A counter left hand to the body from Daniels misses its target.
A slow jab from Bartoli misses its intended target.
Daniels moves away from the strike by Bartoli.
Daniels blocks a jab.
Daniels defending well as Bartoli loads up on a big left hand.
Daniels was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Bartoli uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Daniels.
Daniels throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bartoli sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Daniels lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Good standup being displayed there by Bartoli as he connects with a hook.
Bartoli misses with a body shot.
Bartoli misses with a hook.
Daniels scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bartoli feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Danielss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Daniels finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Bartoli punishes Daniels's body with a nice straight punch.
Daniels digs a good hook to Bartoli's body.
Bartoli cracks Daniels with a right hand to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bartoli slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Good exchange - Bartoli coming out on top.
Bartoli misses with an uppercut. Daniels saw that one coming.
Daniels tries to clinch but Bartoli is having none of it.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Bartoli! But no joy.
Daniels on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Bartoli. Bartoli obviously looking to wear him down.
Bartoli keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Daniels.
Bartoli throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Bartoli misses the jab.
Daniels ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Bartoli bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Daniels throws a leg kick which misses Bartoli's front leg but catches the back leg as Bartoli tries to avoid it.
Daniels throws a looping overhand right but Bartoli ducks down to avoid it.
Bartoli looks to land a right hand but Daniels moved out of range.
Daniels half committed to a counter leg kick.
Daniels takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Daniels tries to clinch up but Bartoli circles away and keeps his distance.
Daniels bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Daniels tries to clinch but Bartoli is having none of it.

Daniels closes the distance and pushes Bartoli back into the cage.
Daniels keeps control of Bartoli as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Bartoli is trying to force a seperation but Daniels has the dominant position.
Daniels lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Daniels scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bartoli manages to break the clinch.
Bartoli dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Daniels throws a jab when Bartoli was well out of range.
Daniels swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Good exchange - Bartoli coming out on top.
Daniels throws out a leg kick but Bartoli moves out of range and Daniels only half commits.
A big right from Bartoli misses.
Bartoli fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Daniels has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Daniels lands a really nice looking cross but Bartoli seems unphased.
Valerio Bartoli seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bartoli takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Daniels misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Bartoli throws an overhand right that lands on Daniels's shoulder, as Daniels tries to avoid the shot.
Bartoli slips under a jab.
Bartoli moves into range and connects with a jab.
Bartoli looks to land a left hand but Daniels moved out of range nicely.
A slow jab from Daniels misses its intended target.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Daniels takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Daniels bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Daniels scores with a punch to the head.
Bartoli lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Daniels ducks right into an uppercut from Bartoli.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Daniels lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Bartoli uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Daniels.
Bartoli tries a quick counter leg kick but Daniels is wise to it.
A shot to the liver by Bartoli. Beautiful body shot.
Daniels slips under a jab.
Daniels throwing a counter right hand but Bartoli manages to avoid it.
Daniels fails in his attempt to clinch.
Daniels tries to clinch but Bartoli moves out of range.
Daniels fails in his attempt to clinch.
Daniels connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Bartoli avoids a kick to the body.
Bartoli throws a hook but Daniels blocks it.
The fighters circling - Daniels throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Bartoli looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Daniels checks a low kick from Bartoli.
Bartoli moves away from the strike by Daniels.
Daniels moves out of range of the strikes.
Daniels blocks a jab.
Bartoli throws a jab but it's blocked by Daniels.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Daniels missing with a left hand there. Bartoli was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A jab lands there for Daniels.
Daniels is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Bartoli blocks a head kick by Daniels.
It seemed like Bartoli was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Bartoli misses with a looping right.
Decent striking displayed by Daniels there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Valerio Bartoli will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A looping hook to the body misses from Bartoli. Daniels does a little dance to reset his feet.
Daniels fails in his attempt to clinch.
A shot to the liver by Bartoli. Beautiful body shot.
Daniels on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Bartoli looks to land a left hand but Daniels moved out of range nicely.
Daniels ducks under a wild hook from Bartoli.
Daniels moves out of range as Bartoli strikes.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A head punch on the inside from Daniels fails to land.
Daniels misses with some punches.

Daniels's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Daniels lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Bartoli connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Bartoli moves away from the strike by Daniels.
Bartoli stuns Daniels with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Daniels scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bartoli misses with a low kick.
Bartoli misses with a wild body shot.
Bartoli with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Daniels to score with a decent uppercut.
Bartoli moves out of range as Daniels strikes.
Bartoli appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Daniels closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bartoli tries to break free but Daniels pushes him back against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Daniels scores with a nice short uppercut.
Daniels tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Bartoli's elbow.

Bartoli's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Daniels tries to clinch up but Bartoli circles away and keeps his distance.
Nice shot lands for Daniels.
Bartoli is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Daniels moves out of range as Bartoli strikes.
Bartoli throws out a loose jab but Daniels uses good head movement to avoid it.
A slow jab from Daniels misses its intended target.
Bartoli slips under a jab.
Daniels tries to clinch but Bartoli is having none of it.
A cross from Bartoli lands.
Bartoli throws a hook but Daniels blocks it.
Bartoli just misses with a punch to the body.
Bartoli sizes up Daniels with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Bartoli moves away from the strike by Daniels.
Bartoli circles away from the clinch attempt.
Daniels uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bartoli.
Bartoli throws a hook but Daniels avoids it easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jab, jab by Bartoli - just one landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bartoli misses with a leg kick.
Daniels tries to clinch there but Bartoli circles away.
Bartoli looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Bartoli misses the jab.
Daniels defending well as Bartoli loads up on a big left hand.
Daniels fails with an attempt to clinch.
A telegraphed right hand from Daniels misses the target.
Bartoli appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Bartoli throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Bartoli thuds a left hand into Daniels's body.
Jab from Daniels.
Bartoli scores with a shot to the body.
Bartoli throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Jab, jab by Bartoli - just one landing.

Daniels has managed to clinch.

Daniels breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bartoli lands a jab to the head.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Daniels, as that shot connected.
Daniels fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Bartoli looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Bartoli moves out of range as Daniels strikes.
Daniels misses with a straight left.
Bartoli avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bartoli looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Daniels defending well as Bartoli loads up on a big left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Daniels with a nice cross.
Bartoli lands a nice leg kick that just misses Daniels's sensitive parts.
Daniels moves away from the strike by Bartoli.
Daniels stuns Bartoli with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Daniels misses with a looping left.
Bartoli looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Daniels tries to clinch but Bartoli moves out of range.
Bartoli slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Daniels wants to clinch up but Bartoli keeps it at a distance.
Jab, jab by Bartoli - just one landing.
Daniels looks to land a left hand but Bartoli moved out of range nicely.
Bartoli takes one on the chin but seems OK.
The fighters circle momentarily. Bartoli darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
A big right from Daniels misses.
Daniels throws a nice looking combination but Bartoli bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Bartoli dips to his left and cracks Daniels with an uppercut!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bartoli is looking to score with low kicks.

Daniels has taken the fight to the clinch.
Daniels tries to throw a body punch but Bartoli avoids it by throwing Daniels back against the cage.
Bartoli is trying to break the clinch but Daniels is controlling him.
Daniels misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A right hook to the body lands for Daniels.
Daniels looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

Bartoli breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Daniels takes a swing at Bartoli's ribcage but misses.
Bartoli throws a body shot but no joy.
Daniels pivots, looking for a leg kick but Bartoli is out of range and Daniels settles back down.
Bartoli keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Bartoli misses with a wild body shot.
Daniels has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Bartoli throws an off balance right hand
and Daniels counters with a two punch combo.
Bartoli takes one on the button.

Daniels rushes Bartoli and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Daniels tries a body shot but Bartoli blocks it.
Daniels doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Bartoli breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Daniels loads up on a big right hand but Bartoli slips the punch.
Donk. Bartoli catches Daniels right on the button with a cross.
Bartoli wants to land a leg kick but Daniels is out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Daniels tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bartoli paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bartoli pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Daniels bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Bartoli's head backwards.
Daniels is looking to clinch.
An inside leg kick from Bartoli misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Valerio Bartoli will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Bartoli misses the shot to the body.
Bartoli uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Daniels wants to clinch.
Bartoli ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Daniels moves away.
Bartoli dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Daniels looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Bartoli! But no joy.
Daniels pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Bartoli slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Valerio Bartoli seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Daniels clinches with his opponent.
Bartoli is looking to break free of the clinch but Daniels has double underhooks.
Bartoli blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Daniels scores with a shot to the side of Bartoli's head.

Daniels escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bartoli throws a hook to the side of Daniels's head but Daniels sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Bartoli cracks Daniels with a right hand to the side of the head.
Nice defenses there by Daniels.
Bartoli avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Daniels is looking to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Daniels misses with a hook.
Bartoli throws a hook but Daniels blocks it.
Bartoli cracks Daniels with an open hand slap.
Bartoli scores with a sloppy right hand. Daniels should have avoided that one.
Bartoli cracks Daniels with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Bartoli attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

Daniels closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Daniels can't find room to land a body shot as Bartoli controls the action.

Bartoli manages to break the clinch.
Daniels lands a right hook to the body.
Daniels avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Daniels misses with a straight right.
Bartoli missing with a left hand there. Daniels was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Bartoli slips under a jab.

Daniels closes the distance and pushes Bartoli back into the cage.

Bartoli breaks the clinch.
Daniels moves out of range of the strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Daniels fails to land with a series of punches.
Daniels lands a jab to the head.
Daniels slips a jab from Bartoli.
Bartoli pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bartoli throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Daniels tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bartoli paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bartoli avoids the head kick by Daniels.
Bartoli tests Daniels's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Daniels steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bartoli.
Daniels tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bartoli connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Bartoli's jab looks to have found its range, popping Daniels under the eye.
Daniels tries to clinch up.
A jab from Daniels misses.
Jab by Bartoli.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Bartoli crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Daniels - the referee stops the clock and Bartoli gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Daniels. Bartoli manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Bartoli connects with a nice looking jab.
Daniels throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Jab, jab by Daniels - just one landing.
Daniels tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Daniels takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Bartoli connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Daniels tries to clinch but Bartoli moves out of range.
Bartoli scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Daniels misses the shot to the body.
Bartoli uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Daniels.
Bartoli misses with a wild body shot.
Bartoli throws a poor cross that misses
and Daniels counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Daniels wants to clinch up but Bartoli keeps it at a distance.
Bartoli getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Daniels, as that shot connected.
Bartoli throws a hook but Daniels blocks it.
Bartoli slips under a jab.
Valerio Bartoli is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Daniels rushes Bartoli and presses him up against the cage.
Daniels tries to throw a body punch but Bartoli avoids it by throwing Daniels back against the cage.
Bartoli blocks a body shot from Daniels.
Bartoli is looking to break free of the clinch but Daniels has double underhooks.

Daniels's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bartoli keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Bartoli throws a quick inside leg kick.
Jack Daniels has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Daniels slips a jab from Bartoli.
Daniels looks to throw the jab but Bartoli is out of range.
A punch lands to the side of Daniels 's head but he takes it in his stride.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bartoli swings for the body but Daniels moves out of range.
Daniels misses the shot to the body.
Bartoli swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Bartoli scores with a jab. Daniels acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Daniels ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Daniels jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Jab, jab by Bartoli - just one landing.
Daniels throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Bartoli pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Daniels wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Daniels throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bartoli works Daniels's body with a nice hook.
Bartoli digs a good hook to Daniels's body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Daniels moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Bartoli scores with the left hand. Daniels knows he should have avoided that one.
Bartoli takes one to the side of the head.
Bartoli misses the jab.
Daniels uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bartoli.
Daniels jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.

And that's the end of the fight!
Valerio Bartoli comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Bartoli winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jack Daniels!
Jack Daniels decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.