PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gobal Batra (ranked 2004 p4p, 268 weight class) and Sam McCullen (ranked 1339 p4p, 175 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Batra
vs
McCullen

190 cm
25
209 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

195 cm
26
200 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gobal Batra!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Sam McCullen!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Tiny Johnson and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Batra's corner calls for a 1-2. Batra obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
McCullen misses the jab.
McCullen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Batra lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Batra misses with a shot to the body
and McCullen counters with a nice uppercut.
McCullen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Batra moves away.
Batra connects with a body shot that sends McCullen's belly button to the back.
McCullen throws a half hearted mid kick.
Batra attempts a counter takedown but McCullen avoids it well and moves away.
McCullen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
McCullen misses with a hook to the body
and Batra counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
McCullen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Batra is looking to counter the offense by McCullen and move into the clinch.
McCullen swings widly with a right hand
and Batra counters with a nice leg kick.
McCullen misses with an uppercut
and Batra counters with a nice uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McCullen tries a low kick but Batra avoids it.
Batra avoids the body shot from McCullen.
McCullen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Batra was well out of range. Poor timing from McCullen.
An attempted straight right counter from Batra misses the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Batra uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McCullen.
McCullen takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

It looks like Sam McCullen has been cut.
McCullen is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Batra rather than just go for the knockout.
A slapping leg kick lands for McCullen.
McCullen throws a predictable looking body shot

and Batra counters by moving into the clinch.
McCullen blocks an uppercut.
Batra scores with an uppercut up the middle.
McCullen misses with a short punch on the inside.
McCullen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Batra tries to throw a body punch but McCullen avoids it by throwing Batra back against the cage.
Batra misses with some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by McCullen.
Batra has a couple of punches blocked by McCullen.
A frustrated look appears on McCullen's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Batra scores with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the cage, Batra throws an elbow but misses.
McCullen blocks a body shot from Batra.
Batra is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables McCullen to keep the fight standing.
Batra is trying to pull guard but McCullen turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Batra stalling against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Batra fails to land.
Batra throws a punch but it's blocked by McCullen.
Batra lands with a right to the head.
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!
Batra lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of McCullen backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for McCullen.
Batra can't find room to land a body shot as McCullen controls the action.
McCullen blocks a body shot from Batra.
Batra tries to work over McCullen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Batra scores with a hook to the body.
Batra scores with an uppercut up the middle.
McCullen blocks a body shot from Batra.

McCullen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Batra throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
McCullen throws a half hearted mid kick.
A big right from Batra misses.
Batra displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as McCullen throws out the jab.
Nice body kick there by McCullen.
McCullen on the wrong end of a nice jab.
McCullen throws an off balance right hand

and Batra moves into the clinch.
McCullen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

McCullen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Batra throws a body punch but McCullen moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Batra misses the shot to the body.
McCullen throws a right hand that Batra ducks under and follows up with a left that Batra also avoids with ease.
Sam McCullen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McCullen changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McCullen connects with a right hand. Batra shakes it off.
McCullen misses with an uppercut.
McCullen gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Batra counters with a two punch combo.
Batra avoids the head kick by McCullen.
McCullen darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
McCullen connects with a jab.
Batra tries to clinch up but McCullen circles away and keeps his distance.
McCullen lands with a nice body punch.
McCullen throws a hook to the side of Batra's head but Batra sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
McCullen staying out of range there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gobal Batra dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sam McCullen's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

McCullen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Batra throws a quick counter kick to the body but McCullen avoids it.
Batra 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.
A swing and a miss from Batra.
McCullen tried to score with a low kick but Batra checks it.
McCullen throws a hook but Batra avoids it easily.
Batra throws a body shot but no joy.
McCullen throws a head kick that misses.
Batra tries to counter by moving into the clinch but McCullen manages to circle out of the way.
Batra looks to land a combination but McCullen avoids it well.
McCullen scores with a crisp jab that stopped Batra in his tracks.
McCullen wants to land a leg kick but Batra is out of range.
McCullen misses with a hook. Batra ducked under it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Batra missing with a left hand there. McCullen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
McCullen throws a head kick but Batra moves out of range.
Sam McCullen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
McCullen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Batra.
Batra throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Batra fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Batra misses with a body shot.
Batra ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Batra lands with a hook. McCullen tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Batra throws a nice outside leg kick.
McCullen works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
McCullen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Batra has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from McCullen.
McCullen misses with a looping left.
McCullen lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
McCullen with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Batra swings for the body but McCullen moves out of range.
It seemed like McCullen was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
McCullen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Batra throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
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!
McCullen bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
McCullen misses with a low kick.
McCullen swings widly with a right hand
and Batra counters with a straight right hand.
Nice uppercut there from McCullen.
Batra misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from McCullen.
Batra ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
McCullen lands a body shot.
Batra's jab looks to have found its range, popping McCullen under the eye.
Batra jabs McCullen right on the nose. McCullen blinks but takes it well.
McCullen misses with a hook.
Batra misses with a straight right.
McCullen looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Batra moves away from the strike by McCullen.
Batra quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCullen fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Batra checks it well.
McCullen misses with a low kick as Batra jumps back.
McCullen just misses with a punch to the body.
Batra drops down looking for a counter takedown but McCullen sprawls and moves away.
Batra swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A nice inside leg kick there by McCullen. That's going to slow Batra down.
McCullen throws a sloppy body shot
and Batra counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Batra takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Batra lands a jab to the head.
Batra tries to clinch up.
Batra throws a sloppy head kick and McCullen moves out of range easily.
McCullen throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Batra on the side of the head.
McCullen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Batra.
McCullen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Batra manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Batra misses with a looping right.
McCullen lands with a slapping head kick.
Batra keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
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!
Batra throws a series of punches but McCullen avoids them all with ease.
A nice side step and McCullen releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
McCullen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Batra.
McCullen throws a body punch but Batra moves out of range.
McCullen tries to land a front kick but Batra steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
McCullen thows a leg kick but Batra checks it
and Batra counters with a left to the body.
McCullen throws a hook to the side of Batra's head but Batra sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Batra swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
McCullen connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
McCullen throws a poor cross that misses

and Batra holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
McCullen looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sam McCullen will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Sam McCullen's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

No joy there for Batra, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Batra bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Batra throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
McCullen blocks a leg kick.
McCullen throws a head kick that misses.
McCullen misses with a lunging right hand
and Batra counters with a lovely straight right hand!
McCullen takes a swing at Batra's ribcage but misses.
Batra ducks under a wild hook from McCullen.
McCullen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McCullen just misses with a punch to the body.
Batra changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
McCullen misses with a looping left.
McCullen tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Batra wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
McCullen misses the jab.
Batra is looking to counter the offense by McCullen and move into the clinch.
A head kick misses from McCullen.
Batra was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Batra looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Batra gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
McCullen getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Batra lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
McCullen on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Batra. Batra obviously looking to wear him down.
McCullen takes one to the chin there.
McCullen throws a low kick, looking for Batra's leg but Batra calmly moves out of range.
McCullen avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Batra displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as McCullen throws out the jab.
McCullen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A big right from McCullen misses.
McCullen slips under a jab from Batra.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Batra lands a right hook to the body.
McCullen throws a leg kick which misses Batra's front leg but catches the back leg as Batra tries to avoid it.
McCullen looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Batra sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by McCullen.
McCullen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Batra.
Batra has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Batra there as he acknowledges the shot.
Batra takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
McCullen misses the jab.
McCullen misses with a lunging right hand

and Batra counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Batra.
Batra tries to work over McCullen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Batra swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from McCullen fails to land.
McCullen blocks an elbow strike from Batra.
Batra swings wildly with an uppercut but McCullen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Batra doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
McCullen misses with some punches.
Batra has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. McCullen avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

McCullen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
McCullen lands a nice shot that snaps Batra's head back.
Batra scores with the left hand. McCullen knows he should have avoided that one.
Batra lands a head kick. McCullen smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Batra fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt McCullen.
A punch combination from McCullen misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Batra forces McCullen back against the cage and clinches.
McCullen struggles to land a body shot inside as Batra controls his hands.
Batra tries to pull guard but McCullen forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Batra tries to throw a body punch but McCullen avoids it by throwing Batra back against the cage.
Batra misses with a body punch.
Batra lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Batra doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Batra swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Batra misses with a hook to the ribs.
Batra blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Batra lands a shoulder strike.
Batra tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

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 Gobal Batra.
I think Batra 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 George Francis scores the fight 29:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!