PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Fergus Fightington (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Evanah HemiBateman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Fightington
vs
HemiBateman

185 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

174 cm
23
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Fergus Fightington!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Evanah HemiBateman!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Eliza Hachem and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fightington shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as HemiBateman sprawls well. HemiBateman wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Fightington gets slowly back to his feet.
HemiBateman shoots for a double leg takedown but Fightington sprawls well. He's pushed HemiBateman's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from HemiBateman.
HemiBateman looks for a takedown but Fightington sprawls well.
Fergus Fightington has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Evanah HemiBateman.
Fightington walks into a straight right hand from HemiBateman.
HemiBateman stuffs the takedown attempt from Fightington. Fightington gets slowly back to his feet.

HemiBateman tries to keep at a distance but Fightington has taken the fight into the clinch.
Fightington managing to block the knees to the body from HemiBateman.
Fightington fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fightington manages to break the clinch.

Fightington gets a takedown into half guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Fightington controlling the pace.
HemiBateman wants to control but Fightington is keeping busy.

HemiBateman is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Fightington pulls his head out easily.
Fightington looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Fightington's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Fergus Fightington.
HemiBateman lands a leg kick that knocks Fightington off balance momentarily.
Fightington dives in and grabs HemiBateman's left leg, looking for a takedown. HemiBateman pushes down on Fightington's head and hops out.
Crunch! HemiBateman slams his shin into Fightington's torso.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
HemiBateman looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
HemiBateman shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Fightington but Fightington pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fightington closes this distance looking for a takedown but HemiBateman circles away.
Fightington is breathing heavily.
HemiBateman shoots in but Fightington avoids the takedown attempt easily.
HemiBateman wants to clinch up but Fightington keeps it at a distance.
HemiBateman doesn't manage to clinch there - Fightington circles away.
HemiBateman fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Fightington clinches up against the cage.
HemiBateman tries to pull guard but Fightington holds him up against the cage and eventually HemiBateman drops back down to his feet.
Fightington jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as HemiBateman walks away with a smile on his face. Fightington gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
HemiBateman misses with a takedown attempt - Fightington sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Fightington leaves HemiBateman with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
HemiBateman fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Fightington avoids it really well and circles away.
HemiBateman fails with an attempt to clinch.
HemiBateman shoots in looking for a takedown but Fightington manages to keep the fight standing, pushing HemiBateman's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fightington closes the distance and clinches up with HemiBateman, looking for a takedown. Fightington pushes HemiBateman against the cage but HemiBateman circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
HemiBateman lands a head kick. Fightington smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Fightington circles away from the clinch attempt.
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 Fergus Fightington will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A nice leg kick lands there from HemiBateman.
HemiBateman tries to clinch but Fightington moves out of range.
Fightington looks for a takedown but HemiBateman sprawls well.
HemiBateman shoots in for a takedown but Fightington shows good takedown defense.
HemiBateman tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Fightington was well out of range. Poor timing from HemiBateman.
No luck for HemiBateman with that takedown attempt.
HemiBateman misses with a head kick.
HemiBateman stuffs the takedown attempt from Fightington. Fightington gets slowly back to his feet.
No luck for Fightington with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fergus Fightington. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fightington digs a good hook to HemiBateman's body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fightington throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
HemiBateman takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
No luck with that takedown attempt from HemiBateman.
HemiBateman shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Fightington defends it nicely.
Evanah HemiBateman seems to be getting the better of the standup.
HemiBateman fails with a takedown attempt.
Fightington looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fightington stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Fightington wants it to stay on the feet.
Fightington tries to clinch but HemiBateman is having none of it.
HemiBateman lands with a slapping head kick.
Fightington looks for the body kick but HemiBateman saw that one coming.
HemiBateman shoots in for a double leg but Fightington sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
No luck for Fightington with that takedown attempt.
HemiBateman tries to score a power double leg takedown but Fightington sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten HemiBateman somewhat.
HemiBateman shoots in and drives through. Fightington sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
HemiBateman lands a jab to Fightington's midsection.
HemiBateman sizes up Fightington with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
HemiBateman moves in looking to clinch but Fightington pushes him off.
HemiBateman shoots in but no luck this time.
HemiBateman tries to clinch but Fightington moves out of range.
HemiBateman shoots in for a takedown but Fightington shows good takedown defense.
HemiBateman scoring well with a low kick there.
HemiBateman tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Fightington swivels and escapes.
HemiBateman is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
HemiBateman doesn't manage to clinch there - Fightington circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
HemiBateman with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
HemiBateman closes this distance looking for a takedown but Fightington circles away.
HemiBateman misses with a takedown attempt - Fightington sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Fightington avoids the head kick by HemiBateman.
Fightington looks for a takedown but HemiBateman sprawls well.
Nice sprawl there from Fightington as HemiBateman shoots in.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fightington moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Fightington looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Evanah HemiBateman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

HemiBateman shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Fightington as he avoids it easily.

Fightington takes the fight into the clinch.
HemiBateman looking to stall.
HemiBateman tries to pull guard but Fightington holds him up against the cage and eventually HemiBateman drops back down to his feet.
HemiBateman is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Fergus Fightington has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Evanah HemiBateman.
HemiBateman takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Fightington manages to break the clinch.
HemiBateman with a hook.

Fightington takes the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fightington is looking for a takedown.
Fightington crunches a lovely knee into HemiBateman's ribcage.

Fightington pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Fightington blocks a head kick by HemiBateman.
Fightington moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
A nice inside leg kick there by HemiBateman. That's going to slow Fightington down.
HemiBateman with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Fightington will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Fightington slips a jab and a cross from HemiBateman.
Nice takedown defense from Fightington. No joy for HemiBateman on that attempt.
Fightington circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
HemiBateman tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Fightington swivels and escapes.
Fightington blocks a head kick by HemiBateman.
HemiBateman will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Fightington jumps guard but HemiBateman turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Fightington prevents a takedown attempt there.

Fightington pulls guard successfully.
HemiBateman trying to control but Fightington is working from the bottom.
HemiBateman must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fightington looking to control.

Fightington had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. HemiBateman defends it easily.
Fightington trying to control the position.
HemiBateman stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Fightington swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fightington is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as HemiBateman accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Fightington keeping moving, preventing HemiBateman from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
No luck for HemiBateman with that takedown attempt.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by HemiBateman!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
HemiBateman scores with a head kick.
HemiBateman fails to land the takedown.
Fightington fails to land the takedown.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Fergus Fightington.
I think Fightington has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:29
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!