PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Zhan Dhelan (ranked 1668 p4p, 2746 weight class) and Lorenzo Bataglia (ranked 181 p4p, 280 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Dhelan
vs
Bataglia

150 cm
38
145
29 - 18 - 1

170 cm
33
142
17 - 12 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 29 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Zhan Dhelan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lorenzo Bataglia!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bataglia comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bataglia. Dhelan does a little dance to reset his feet.

Dhelan decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Bataglia tries to roll over but Dhelan keeps him under control.
Bataglia is looking to escape.
Dhelan keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Dhelan is looking for a kimura here.
Dhelan is looking to advance position but Bataglia won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dhelan is keen to just control but Bataglia is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bataglia is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Bataglia is staying active underneath Dhelan, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Bataglia won't allow Dhelan to pass to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bataglia trying to hold on to Dhelan's head to control him but Dhelan postures up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Lorenzo Bataglia is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Dhelan shoots in for a double leg but Bataglia sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Dhelan takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Dhelan doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Dhelan takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

It looks like Zhan Dhelan has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dhelan tries to score a power double leg takedown but Bataglia sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Dhelan somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zhan Dhelan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice takedown defense from Bataglia. No joy for Dhelan on that attempt.
Dhelan connects with the punch.
Bataglia has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Dhelan fails with the takedown
and Bataglia counters with a three punch combo that has Dhelan backing up. Dhelan nods at Bataglia to acknowledge the strikes.
Dhelan misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Dhelan bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Nice body punch from Bataglia.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bataglia scores with a jab to the body.
Bataglia lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Dhelan closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bataglia circles away.
Dhelan closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bataglia circles away.

Dhelan feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dhelan sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Dhelan looking to pass the guard.
Bataglia wants to get back to his feet but Dhelan is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Dhelan passes Bataglia's left leg - he's now in half guard.

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.

Dhelan is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Dhelan looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Dhelan is trying to control. Bataglia wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Dhelan with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Dhelan trying to control from half guard but Bataglia is working away.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lorenzo Bataglia dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Zhan Dhelan's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Dhelan fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Dhelan throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bataglia sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Bataglia looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Dhelan fails to land the takedown.
Bataglia has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Dhelan darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Dhelan perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Dhelan wants to control but Bataglia is keeping him busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dhelan trying to advance position but Bataglia counters by regaining guard.
Dhelan trying to control but Bataglia is working from the bottom.
Dhelan sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Bataglia's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dhelan trying to work for an americana but Bataglia has managed to regain full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bataglia keeping moving, preventing Dhelan from controlling successfully.
Dhelan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bataglia is keeping the position for now.
Dhelan is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Bataglia trying to keep a closed guard but Dhelan is proving a slippery customer.
Dhelan is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Dhelan passes Bataglia's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Dhelan stalling.

Dhelan is trying to work for a kimura but Bataglia is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dhelan stops Bataglia from getting back to his feet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Dhelan shoots for a takedown but Bataglia saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zhan Dhelan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dhelan ducks right into an uppercut from Bataglia.
Dhelan takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Dhelan steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bataglia.
Bataglia slaps away a takedown attempt from Dhelan, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Bataglia counters with a body kick.
Dhelan will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Lorenzo Bataglia is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dhelan bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Bataglia throws a looping overhand right but Dhelan ducks down to avoid it.
Bataglia defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Dhelan.
Dhelan shoots in looking for a takedown but Bataglia manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Dhelan's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Dhelan shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bataglia as he avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dhelan shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Dhelan takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Dhelan shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bataglia sprawls well. Bataglia wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Dhelan gets slowly back to his feet.
Bataglia jabs Dhelan right on the nose. Dhelan blinks but takes it well.
Lorenzo Bataglia seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Good standup being displayed there by Bataglia as he connects with a hook.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dhelan uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bataglia.
Dhelan shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bataglia defends it nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bataglia tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Dhelan fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Bataglia is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Bataglia with a body punch. A glancing blow.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lorenzo Bataglia showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Zhan Dhelan's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Dhelan looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Dhelan is just content to waste time from the top position. Bataglia takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Bataglia keeping moving, preventing Dhelan from controlling successfully.
Dhelan might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Bataglia looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Dhelan puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Dhelan is taking a breather. Bataglia says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Dhelan is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Dhelan trying to control from half guard but Bataglia is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bataglia tries to kick Dhelan off but Dhelan keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Dhelan is looking for a kimura but Bataglia is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Dhelan to get the leverage.
Dhelan is looking to advance position but Bataglia won't allow it.
Dhelan working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Bataglia's thigh. Bataglia counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Dhelan wants to pass the guard but Bataglia is keeping the position.
Bataglia is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Dhelan is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Dhelan sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Bataglia's guard.
Bataglia looks like he's trying to stand up.
Bataglia is refusing to be controlled, as Dhelan sits in half guard.
Bataglia preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Dhelan tries for a takedown but Bataglia sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Bataglia throws a body punch but Dhelan moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dhelan tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Bataglia defends well and Dhelan ends up having to push Bataglia into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Bataglia has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Bataglia is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zhan Dhelan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dhelan looking for a takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bataglia displaying some good clinch control by pressing Dhelan up against the cage.
Bataglia pushes Dhelan back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Bataglia is trying to stall.
Dhelan is looking to take this one to the mat.
Zhan Dhelan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A short right hand to the side of the head by Bataglia.
Dhelan has Bataglia pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Bataglia manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Bataglia makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Bataglia looking to stall.

Bataglia manages to break the clinch.
Bataglia scores with a nice body kick.
Bataglia explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Bataglia lands with an uppercut that bounces Dhelan off the cage and back into range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bataglia leaves Dhelan with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Dhelan gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Dhelan on the wrong end of a nice jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bataglia scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Bataglia lands with a straight right. Dhelan didn't see that one coming.
Lorenzo Bataglia is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Dhelan with a lazy takedown attempt
and Bataglia counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Bataglia throws a head kick but Dhelan moves out of range.
Bataglia cracks Dhelan with a right hand to the side of the head.
Dhelan looks to land a right hand but Bataglia moved out of range.

Dhelan drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Dhelan is trying to move to mount but Bataglia reverses beautifully and ends up in Dhelan's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lorenzo Bataglia comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Bataglia winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lorenzo Bataglia!
After winning the bout, Lorenzo Bataglia thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.