PBP Commentary

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

Rounikki
vs
Batakovic

175 cm
26
160 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

180 cm
28
153 lbs
9 - 9 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jeremi Rounikki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Blagojevic Batakovic!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Chris Saunders and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Batakovic scores with a nice strike.

Batakovic shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Batakovic uses his free foot to push down on Rounikki's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Rounikki.
Rounikki is looking to improve his position but Batakovic isn't that keen on the idea.
Batakovic wants to control the pace but Rounikki is squirming around nicely.
Rounikki regains half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Batakovic is looking to stall here but Rounikki recovers full guard.
Batakovic must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Batakovic accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Batakovic trying to control the position from guard on top but Rounikki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Rounikki has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Batakovic can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Batakovic wants to control from the top but Rounikki keeps moving.
Batakovic throwing strikes from guard but Rounikki blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Batakovic stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rounikki swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rounikki is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Batakovic trying to control the position from guard on top but Rounikki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Batakovic tries to free his leg and advance position but Rounikki is retaining full guard.
Batakovic working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Batakovic trying to control but Rounikki is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Batakovic closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Batakovic jumps guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Batakovic is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Batakovic looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Rounikki has picked Batakovic up and slammed him! Batakovic can't keep hold of the triangle and Rounikki manages to pass to side control!
You can see the frustration on Batakovic's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Rounikki working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Batakovic manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Rounikki pushes down on Batakovic's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Batakovic is looking for a sweep. Rounikki is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rounikki trying to mount his opponent but Batakovic defends it.
Batakovic is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rounikki trying to control from half guard but Batakovic is working away.

Rounikki is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Batakovic wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blagojevic Batakovic dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rounikki gets tackled into the cage by Batakovic. Batakovic maintains the clinch.

Batakovic jumps guard.
Rounikki trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rounikki trying to control but Batakovic is working from the bottom.
Batakovic not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Batakovic working for a triangle but Rounikki defends it easily.
Rounikki pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Batakovic is keeping the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Batakovic escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rounikki gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
We've been informed that Batakovic has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Batakovic has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rounikki advances position into side control!
Rounikki trying to control the action but Batakovic is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Batakovic gets back to half guard.

Rounikki looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Batakovic is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Rounikki's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Rounikki's back!
Rounikki tries to roll but Batakovic sticks to his back.
Batakovic struggling to keep hold of the position.
Batakovic is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Rounikki is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Hilo Training Center, so we'll see if he gets out of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Batakovic throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.

Batakovic working for a choke but Rounikki is defending well.

Batakovic looking for the choke but no joy.

Batakovic is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Rounikki defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Rounikki tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rounikki is squirming around, avoiding Batakovic's attempts to control the action.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Batakovic throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Batakovic wants to control but instead Rounikki manages to regain half guard.

Batakovic is working for a kimura but Rounikki is defending it quite comfortably.

Rounikki actively working from the bottom here.

Batakovic seems to be working for a kimura but Rounikki defends the submission attempt.
Blagojevic Batakovic has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Batakovic is stalling here. Rounikki is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Batakovic seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Rounikki has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Batakovic is trying to improve his position.

Rounikki is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Batakovic is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Rounikki tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Rounikki has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Batakovic tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Rounikki wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blagojevic Batakovic showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Rounikki enables Batakovic to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Rounikki manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Batakovic looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Rounikki throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Batakovic trying to control but Rounikki is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rounikki is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Batakovic trying to control but Rounikki postures up.
Rounikki wants to pass the guard but Batakovic is defending well.
Batakovic wants to improve his position but Rounikki is controlling well.
Batakovic is looking to control Rounikki's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Batakovic avoid being mounted?
Batakovic is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rounikki is keen to just control but Batakovic is a slippery customer.
Batakovic is looking for a sweep. Rounikki is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Batakovic is defending against the submission attempts here by Rounikki.
Rounikki is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Jeremi Rounikki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Batakovic keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Rounikki looking for a guillotine from mount but Batakovic is having none of it.
Batakovic working to try and regain half guard.
Rounikki wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Blagojevic Batakovic is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Rounikki trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Batakovic regains half guard.

Rounikki looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Batakovic is looking for a sweep. Rounikki is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Rounikki seems to be working for a kimura but Batakovic defends the submission attempt.
Rounikki is thwarting Batakovic's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Batakovic is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Batakovic gets back to full guard.
Batakovic trying to control the position.
Batakovic looking for a sweep. Not yet Batakovic, not yet.
Batakovic is trying to control the position but Rounikki postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rounikki stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Batakovic swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Batakovic is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Rounikki is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jeremi Rounikki showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Batakovic has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Jeff Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 28:29
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Blagojevic Batakovic!
A victorious Blagojevic Batakovic thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.