PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Zac Head (ranked 3097 p4p, 3092 weight class) and Saul Bateman (ranked 400 p4p, 402 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.

Head
vs
Bateman

179 cm
25
179
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
178
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 Rio de Janeiro, Zac Head!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Saul Bateman!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Felipe Paraventi and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Head tries to clinch there but Bateman circles away.
Bateman throws a sloppy head kick and Head moves out of range easily.

Bateman forces Head back against the cage and clinches.
Bateman drops down looking for an ankle pick but Head pulls his leg out and moves away.
Bateman is trying hard to land a takedown here. Head sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Head shoots for a takedown but Bateman saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Bateman lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Bateman shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Head but Head pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Zac Head has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Saul Bateman.
Bateman throws a series of punches but Head moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Head looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Head dives in for a single leg takedown but Bateman sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Head breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bateman keeps the fight on the outside.
Bateman lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Head tries to clinch but Bateman is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Head misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A leg kick checked by Bateman.
Head tries to score a power double leg takedown but Bateman sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Head somewhat.
Bateman throws a series of punches but Head moves out of range.
Bateman shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Head sprawls well. Head wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Bateman gets slowly back to his feet.
Head fails with the takedown.
Bateman misses with a takedown

and Head counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bateman jumps guard but Head turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Head is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Bateman is keeping busy.
Head misses with a hook from the clinch.
Head is trying to drag Bateman to the mat but Bateman just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Head pulls Bateman into guard.
Bateman is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Head controls Bateman momentarily but Bateman frees himself.
Bateman looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Head wants to stand up but Bateman is controlling him.
Head tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bateman stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Head swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Head trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Head is trying to keep Bateman in close.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

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.
Head avoids the head kick by Bateman.
Head fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Bateman avoids it really well and circles away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Bateman.
Bateman throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bateman shoots in but Head avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Head keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bateman fails in his attempt to clinch.

Head takes the fight into the clinch.

Head breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Saul Bateman will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Bateman goes for a double leg but Head avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Head continues to drive forward.
Head swings for the body but Bateman moves out of range.
Head fails with a takedown attempt.
Bateman shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Head but Head pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Bateman throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Head's waist but Head gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bateman off to one side.
Zac Head has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Saul Bateman.
Bateman waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Head.
Head looks for a takedown but Bateman sprawls well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Bateman.
Bateman stuffs the takedown attempt from Head. Head gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Head misses with a straight right.
Head shoots for a takedown but Bateman saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Bateman stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bateman wants it to stay on the feet.
Head is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bateman sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Bateman pushes Head up against the cage in a clinch.

Head pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Zac Head is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Bateman changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Head looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Bateman slows the pace down.
Head can't do much from the bottom here.
Bateman gets to mount! Head was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Head is squirming around, avoiding Bateman's attempts to control the action.
Bateman prevents Head from getting the reversal.
Head wants to control but Bateman is having none of it.
Head tries to reverse the position but Bateman maintains control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bateman trying to control but Head is having none of it.
Head is working to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bateman takes Head's back.
Bateman controlling the position well here. Head rolled but Bateman kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Head wants to escape the position.
Head is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Bateman is not going to allow Head to sit and survive in this position.
Bateman doesn't have the hooks in and Head manages to turn into his guard.

Bateman looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Bateman doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Bateman trying to keep a closed guard but Head is proving a slippery customer.
Bateman wants to sweep but no luck.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bateman seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Bateman is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Head defends well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Saul Bateman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Head will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Bateman lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Bateman throws a front kick aimed at Head's knee but Head avoids it well.
Head fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Saul Bateman seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Head tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Bateman manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Bateman cracks Head with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

Bateman takes the fight into the clinch.

Head manages to pull guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bateman throws a big elbow that misses.
Bateman wants to control from the top but Head keeps moving.
Head being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Head wants to stand but Bateman is controlling the position.
Head bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Bateman's guard.

Head passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Bateman is trying to improve his position.
Head wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bateman keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bateman tries to improve position but can't.

Head tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Head has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Head misses with the ground and pound.
Bateman tries to bench press Head off him but Head keeps the position.
Bateman parries the strikes from Head easily there. Head is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Bateman to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Head working away.
Zac Head overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bateman is not content to let Head control the position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Bateman is trying to improve his position.
Head grinds an elbow into Bateman's temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Bateman is trying to get back to half guard.
Bateman can't do much from the bottom here.
Bateman is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Head asserts his dominance and retains side control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Head throws a body punch but Bateman moves out of range.
Bateman tries to clinch there but Head circles away.
Head wants to clinch up but Bateman keeps it at a distance.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A punch combination from Head misses.
Bateman stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bateman wants it to stay on the feet.
Zac Head has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Saul Bateman is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zac Head. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bateman pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zac Head showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Bateman has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:29
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!