PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bot Botanovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ted Knight (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

Botanovic
vs
Knight

180 cm
28
175 lbs
15 - 6 - 0

183 cm
28
177 lbs
13 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Great elbows
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Powerful

Rōnin
Rōnin

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 15 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bot Botanovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ted Knight!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Gregory Folan and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Botanovic takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Botanovic shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Knight sprawls well. Knight wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Botanovic gets slowly back to his feet.

Botanovic fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Knight, pushing him back against the cage.
Knight throws a knee to the head but misses.
Botanovic slowing the pace effectively.
Botanovic is working for takedown but Knight is calmly controlling the position for now.

Botanovic drags the fight down to the ground.

Knight decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Knight lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Botanovic at a distance.
Botanovic throws a leg kick
and Knight counters with a good, hard body kick but Botanovic shrugs it off.
Knight tests Botanovic's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Botanovic fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bot Botanovic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Botanovic moves out of range of the strikes.
Knight misses with a jab to the body
and Botanovic counters with a nice kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knight moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Knight throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Knight tries to close the distance and clinch but Botanovic swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Knight misses with a body shot.
Knight misses with a head kick.

Botanovic shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Botanovic was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Botanovic thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Botanovic trying to control but Knight is having none of it.

Botanovic looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Botanovic has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Botanovic wants to control the pace but Knight is squirming around nicely.
Knight is hanging on here. He's in a desperate position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Botanovic wants to control the pace but Knight is squirming around nicely.
Knight tries to lock up and control but Botanovic gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Botanovic looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Botanovic is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Knight has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Knight!
Botanovic looking to hit a scissor sweep but Knight is one step ahead there.
Knight wants to stand but Botanovic has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Botanovic 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 four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Knight trying to stand up but can't free himself from Botanovic's guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Botanovic misses with a body kick.
Knight throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Botanovic sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Knight keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Knight moves to clinch but Botanovic breaks away

and Botanovic counters with a nice double leg into side control. Knight won't be happy with that.
Botanovic creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Botanovic looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Knight is avoiding damage well.
Botanovic cracks Knight with a big right hand but Knight just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Bot Botanovic will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Knight connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Knight!
Knight misses with a double jab.
Knight throws a body kick that misses.
Knight is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Knight swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Botanovic.
Knight throws a sloppy head kick

and Botanovic counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Knight's guard now.
Knight trying to control the position.
Knight utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Botanovic drops back, looking for a kneebar! Knight looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Knight looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Knight!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Botanovic is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Botanovic tries to contro but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Botanovic can't escape the position.
Knight can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Botanovic is looking to escape.
Botanovic tries to hold on but Knight postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Botanovic keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Botanovic tries to hold on but Knight pushes him away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Botanovic regains half guard.

Knight stands up out of the half guard.
Botanovic tries to clinch up.
Botanovic misses with a leg kick
and Knight counters with a big head kick but Botanovic shrugs it off.
Knight closes the distance looking to clinch
and Botanovic counters with a nice body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knight scores with a head kick.

Botanovic closes the distance and pushes Knight back into the cage.
Botanovic fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Botanovic is trying to drag Knight to the mat but Knight just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Knight misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Botanovic.
Botanovic fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bot Botanovic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Botanovic tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Knight just stands there and leans against the cage.

Botanovic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A thudding body kick lands there by Botanovic!
Knight throws a nice looking combination but Botanovic bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Botanovic lands a head kick. Knight smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
A low kick from Botanovic misses

and Knight counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Knight.
Knight tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Botanovic avoids it.
Knight is pressed up against the cage. Botanovic has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Knight down to the mat. Knight avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Good standup being displayed there by Knight as he connects with a hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Botanovic 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.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Botanovic tries to free his leg and advance position but Knight is retaining full guard.
Botanovic trying to control but Knight is working from the bottom.
Botanovic trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Botanovic looking to pass the guard.
Botanovic slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Botanovic looking to sit in guard and control but Knight gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ted Knight will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Knight clinches up with Botanovic and pushes him back against the cage.
Botanovic looking for a takedown.

Botanovic decides to pull guard.
Knight stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Botanovic swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Botanovic working a defensive guard but Knight manages to pass into side control anyway.
You can see the frustration on Botanovic's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Knight moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Botanovic tries to bench press Knight off him but Knight keeps the position.
Botanovic struggling a bit here.
Botanovic sneaks back into half guard.
Botanovic is in trouble now - Knight has advanced to mount!
Botanovic tries to lock up and control but Knight gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Botanovic gets back to half guard.
Botanovic tries to get to full guard but Knight has control of the leg.
Botanovic regains full guard. Nicely done.
Bot Botanovic overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Knight is pushing down on Botanovic's leg trying to pass to half guard. Botanovic is fighting to maintain full guard but Knight has managed to sneak the leg through.
Botanovic tries to roll over but Knight keeps him under control.
Botanovic works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Botanovic is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Knight defends well.
Botanovic wants to improve his position but instead Knight has moved into half guard.
Botanovic wants to get back to full guard.
Knight wants to free his trapped foot but Botanovic is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Botanovic is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Knight's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Knight's back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Knight is trying to break free.
Knight breaks Botanovic's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Botanovic is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Knight stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Botanovic swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Botanovic keeping moving, preventing Knight from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Botanovic looking for a sweep. Not yet Botanovic, not yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ted Knight.
I think Knight 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:29
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Ted Knight!