PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Israeow Batista (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Liston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Batista
vs
Liston

180 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
22
160 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Israeow Batista!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jack Liston!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Yuuki Gou and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Batista tries to clinch up but Liston circles away and keeps his distance.
Batista wants to clinch

and Liston counters with a shoot takedown. Batista fights it but they end up in guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Liston is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Batista trying to control the position.
Liston wants to pass the guard but Batista is keeping the position.
Liston sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Batista's guard.

Batista actively working from the bottom here.
Batista is trying to get back to full guard.
Liston frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liston controlling his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Batista is trying to escape the mount.
Liston controlling from the full mount.
Let's hope that Liston has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Jack Liston hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Liston blocks a head kick by Batista.

Batista scores with a takedown into Liston's guard.
Batista throws an elbow that misses. Liston uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Batista's guard. Nice move by Liston!
Liston sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liston's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
It looks like Liston might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Liston forces his way into half guard.
Liston passes to full mount!
Liston controlling his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Liston dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Batista wants to clinch up but Liston keeps it at a distance.

Batista closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Liston quickly recovers to half guard.
Batista trying to pass the guard but Liston defending well.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Liston can do anything to dispel that myth.
Batista with the ground and pound but Liston uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Liston pulls Batista in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Batista is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Israeow Batista just wasn't active enough.

Batista closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Liston did well to prevent Batista getting side control.
Batista trying to control from half guard but Liston is working away.
Liston keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Batista throws a strike but Liston avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Liston pulls Batista in close to prevent any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Israeow Batista just wasn't active enough.

Batista closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Liston did well to prevent Batista getting side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Batista is trying to control. Liston wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Batista wants to stand up but Liston has a hold of him and won't allow it.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Liston preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Jack Liston has got the better of the ground game so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Israeow Batista just wasn't active enough.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Liston enables Batista to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Liston manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Batista has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Liston has his foot on Batista's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Batista works his way back into a safe position though.
Batista wants to control from the top but Liston keeps moving.

Batista has gone for a leg lock! Liston slips out almost immediately though and dives into Batista's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Liston controls from within his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Israeow Batista dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Batista feints and as Liston raises his hands in defense, Batista changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Batista being controlled here momentarily.
Batista trying to control but Liston is working from the bottom.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Israeow Batista.

Liston gets caught flat footed, as Batista shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liston keeping moving, preventing Batista from controlling successfully.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Israeow Batista just wasn't active enough.
Batista tries to close the distance and clinch but Liston swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Batista has Liston up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Liston gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Batista regains guard.
Liston slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Batista gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Liston controlling his opponent.

Liston working for a submission but Batista is keeping him at bay.
Batista keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liston looking to control and managing it successfully.

Liston working from mount. He moves in close and looks like he might be going for an arm triangle... He's hopped off to the side and he's transitioned into an Anaconda choke. Batista turning a nasty shade of purple. He's refusing to tap but he's gone! He's out! The ref rips Liston off and cradles Batista's limp body as Liston celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:29 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Anaconda Choke). Jack Liston!