PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Hank Bridges (ranked 3291 p4p, 3667 weight class) and Saul Bateman (ranked 447 p4p, 485 weight class). Hank Bridges could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Saul Bateman's chin.

Bridges
vs
Bateman

190 cm
25
178
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
26
178
1 - 1 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

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, Hank Bridges!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Saul Bateman!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Matheus Silva and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bateman fails with the takedown.
Bridges shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Bridges moves into the clinch.

Bridges breaks the clinch.
Bateman shoots in but Bridges avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Bateman has a takedown stuffed.
Hank Bridges has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Saul Bateman.

Bridges darts in and clinches Bateman up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bridges goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Bridges using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Bateman has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Bateman looking for a takedown.
Bridges has Bateman pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bridges keeps control of Bateman as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Bridges pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bateman is looking to clinch but Bridges is avoiding it.
Bateman on the wrong end of a nice hook.

Bateman gets tackled into the cage by Bridges. Bridges maintains the clinch.

Bridges pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Bridges takes the fight into the clinch.

Bateman jumps guard and drags Bridges to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Bridges is looking to stand up but Bateman won't let him.
Bridges not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Bateman is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bateman being controlled here, momentarily.
Bridges trying to stand up but can't free himself from Bateman's guard.
Bridges working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Bridges stands and steps away. Bateman gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Bridges is looking to clinch but Bateman is avoiding it.
Bridges is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bateman gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Bridges cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
No luck for Bridges with that takedown attempt.
Bridges throws a body shot but no joy.
Horrible takedown attempt by Bateman or perhaps it was just good defense by Bridges, which made it look bad.
Bridges pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Bridges misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Bateman replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Bridges blocks it well.
A clash of legs there as Bridges blocks the low kick.
Bateman tries to score a power double leg takedown but Bridges sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Bateman somewhat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bateman leaves Bridges with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Bateman closes the distance and clinches up with Bridges, looking for a takedown. Bateman pushes Bridges against the cage but Bridges circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Bridges throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bateman.
Good work by Bridges as he checks the leg kick.
Bateman shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bridges but Bridges pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Bridges shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bateman defends it nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bridges tries to clinch but Bateman is having none of it.
Horrible takedown attempt by Bridges or perhaps it was just good defense by Bateman, which made it look bad.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Bridges displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Bateman.
A combination from Bateman does no damage.
Bateman throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bridges tries to land a leg kick but Bateman saw it coming and moves away.
Hank Bridges is winning the standup battle so far.
Bridges dives in and grabs Bateman's left leg, looking for a takedown. Bateman pushes down on Bridges's head and hops out.
Bateman misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Bateman dives in and grabs Bridges's left leg, looking for a takedown. Bridges pushes down on Bateman's head and hops out.
Hank Bridges has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Saul Bateman.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bridges tries to clinch but Bateman is having none of it.
Bridges throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bateman tries to counter with a clinch but Bridges shakes him off and moves away.

Bridges fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Bateman, pushing him back against the cage.

Bridges drags the fight down to the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bateman is fighting to break Bridges's control of his arms but Bridges is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bateman wanted to stand there but Bridges had control of the position.
Bridges trying to control the position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bridges looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bateman is one step ahead there.
Bateman being controlled here momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bridges throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Bridges wants to sweep here but Bateman controlling him for the moment.
Bridges working a defensive guard here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Bateman throws a head kick but Bridges moves out of range.
As Bateman tries to get set, Bridges tries to push him back and clinch up but Bateman manages to avoid the attempt.
Bridges shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bateman pinned against the cage. Bateman gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hank Bridges is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bridges fails with the takedown
and Bateman counters with a right hand to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bridges gets a clinch.
Bateman is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Bridges throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Bateman blocks it with crossed arms.
Bridges is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bateman can do to turn this around?
Bateman is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Bridges is keeping busy.
Bateman is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Bridges to keep the fight standing.
Bateman wants a takedown but no success here.
Bridges is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Bateman is defending well.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Bridges is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bridges is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Bateman is defending well.
Bridges prevents a takedown attempt there.
Bateman blocks a body shot from Bridges.
Bridges can't get the takedown.
Bridges drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bridges drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Hank Bridges will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Bateman dodges the punch combination from Bridges.
Bridges shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bateman defends it nicely.
Bridges will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nice takedown defense from Bridges. No joy for Bateman on that attempt.
Bridges throws the kick towards the body but Bateman avoids it.
Bridges slaps away a takedown attempt from Bateman, before circling back to the center of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bateman closes the distance and pushes Bridges back into the cage.
Bridges is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hank Bridges. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bateman prevents the takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bridges pressing his opponent against the cage.

Bridges manages to break the clinch.

Bateman looking to score a takedown here. Bridges is defending well but Bateman drives through and ends up in Bridges's guard.

Bridges has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Bateman off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Bateman clinches up with Bridges and pushes him back against the cage.
Bateman is pressed up against the cage. Bridges has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Bateman down to the mat. Bateman avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Bridges moves in looking to clinch but Bateman pushes him off.
Bridges tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Bateman defends well and Bridges ends up having to push Bateman into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Bateman looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Bateman wants a takedown but no success here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bateman is trying to break the clinch but Bridges is controlling him.
Bateman tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Bridges just stands there and leans against the cage.
Hank Bridges has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Bateman is trying to break the clinch but Bridges is controlling him.
Bridges is trying to pull guard but Bateman turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Bridges jumps guard but Bateman turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bridges is trying to pull guard but Bateman has him pressed against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Bateman tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Bridges smiles and moves away.
Bridges fails to land the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bateman gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Bridges moves into the clinch.

Bridges has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Bateman uses from the top position.
Bridges looking to control.
Bridges wants to sweep here but Bateman controlling him for the moment.
Bridges wants to stand up but Bateman is controlling him.
Bridges not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Bateman wants to control from the top but Bridges keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bridges is looking for a triangle but Bateman pushes his legs off easily.
Bateman is fighting to break Bridges's control of his arms but Bridges is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Bridges misses with a takedown
and Bateman counters with a left to the body.
Bateman wants to clinch.
Saul Bateman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hank Bridges is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bridges goes for a spinning back kick but it 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 Hank Bridges.
Well Bridges has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:27
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hank Bridges!