PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Axel Batista (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Scott Roper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Batista comes to the cage accompanied by Just close your eyes. Axel Batista has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Batista
vs
Roper

183 cm
19
176 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

182 cm
26
170 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue 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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Axel Batista!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Scott Roper!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Batista shoots in for a takedown but Roper shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Roper displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Batista.
Roper misses with a head kick.
Batista fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Axel Batista. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Roper misses with a double jab.
Scott Roper seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Roper rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Batista moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Roper stalks Batista and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Batista's face. Batista staggers backwards, shaken.
Roper stuffs the takedown.
Batista takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Roper throws a nice looking combination but Batista bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Batista doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Batista dodges the punch combination from Roper.
Batista shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Roper sprawls well. Roper wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Batista gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roper keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Batista gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Roper manages to break the clinch.
Roper lands the left hand.
Roper will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Roper misses with a head kick.
Roper lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Batista shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Roper defends it nicely.
Roper throws the kick towards the body but Batista avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roper scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Roper fails to land with a series of punches.
Roper looks to land a combination. Batista sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Roper misses with a head kick.
Batista takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Batista tries to score a power double leg takedown but Roper sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Batista somewhat.
Roper throws a series of punches but Batista avoids them all with ease.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice takedown defense from Roper. No joy for Batista on that attempt.
Batista shoots in looking for a takedown but Roper manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Batista's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Batista wants to clinch.
Roper throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Batista.
Roper throws a sloppy head kick and Batista moves out of range easily.
Batista blocks the body kick.
No luck for Batista with that takedown attempt.
Roper lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Roper.
Roper scores with a decent looking hook.
Roper lands with a cross.
Roper throws a nice looking combination but Batista bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Batista fails with the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roper throws a series of strikes that have Batista backpedaling.
Roper lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Roper.
Batista takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Roper cracks a nice hook into Batista's ribs.
Batista misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Batista is breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Batista misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Roper slaps away a takedown attempt from Batista, before circling back to the center of the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Batista takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Roper swings away with a leg kick that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Scott Roper dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Roper defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Batista.
Roper throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Roper moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Roper defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Batista.
Roper moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Roper will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Batista changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Roper tries to avoid it but Batista manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Roper to the ground. Roper escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Axel Batista. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Batista shoots in but Roper avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Nice sprawl there from Roper as Batista shoots in.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Roper.
Roper stuffs the takedown attempt from Batista. Batista gets slowly back to his feet.
The crowd cheers as Roper lands an impressive looking overhand right. Batista doesn't seem phased though.
Scott Roper seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roper scores with a decent looking hook.
Roper lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Roper.
A right-left combo lands from Roper.
Axel Batista is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Batista has a takedown stuffed.
Batista looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Batista avoids a kick to the body.
Roper works over Batista's head and body with a nice combination.
Roper lands a jab to the nose.
Roper throws a head kick that misses.
Roper misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Batista fails with a takedown attempt.
Batista misses with a takedown attempt - Roper sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Roper lands a jab-cross combination.
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!
Roper scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Roper throws a series of punches but Batista avoids them all with ease.
Batista shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Roper defends it nicely.
Roper feints a jab promting Batista to slip. Roper then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Batista slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Roper throws a right hand that Batista ducks under and follows up with a left that Batista also avoids with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Batista is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Roper.
Roper throws a right and a left that Batista avoids nicely.
Roper defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Batista.
Roper misses with a jab, cross combination.
Batista shoots for a double leg takedown but Roper sprawls well. He's pushed Batista's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Roper pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Batista back to the cage. Roper follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Roper misses with a head kick.
Roper throws a combination. Batista tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Scott Roper is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Batista shoots for a double leg takedown but Roper sprawls well. He's pushed Batista's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Roper scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Roper throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Batista throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Roper's waist but Roper gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Batista off to one side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Roper.
Roper tries to land a front kick but Batista steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Batista. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Batista is trying hard to land a takedown here. Roper sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Roper stalks Batista and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Batista's face. Batista staggers backwards, shaken.
Batista shoots in for a takedown but Roper shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Roper shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Batista eats them both and turns towards Roper to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Batista looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Batista.
A punch combination from Roper misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Batista tries to score a power double leg takedown but Roper sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Batista somewhat.
Roper lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Batista circles away quickly and effectively.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Scott Roper showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Roper throws a right and a left that Batista avoids nicely.
Roper tries a head kick but it misses.
Batista moves out of range as Roper throws a body kick.
Batista blocks a leg kick.
Batista shoots in for a takedown but Roper shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Roper misses with a jab, cross combination.
Roper throws a right and a left that Batista avoids nicely.
Batista looks for a takedown but Roper sprawls well.
Batista shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Axel Batista. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Roper lands a jab-cross combination.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Batista is defended easily by Roper.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Roper stalks Batista and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Batista's face. Batista staggers backwards, shaken.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A right-left combo lands from Roper.
Roper slaps away a takedown attempt from Batista, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Roper lands a jab-cross combination.
Batista fails with the takedown.
Roper ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Roper throws a head kick that misses.
Roper leaves Batista with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
A head kick misses from Roper.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roper throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Roper lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Batista backs up against the cage.
Roper throws a series of punches but Batista moves out of range.
Some wild striking there from Roper.
Batista shoots in for a takedown but Roper shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Batista has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Batista will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Roper lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Batista fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Roper avoids it really well and circles away.
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!
Roper misses with a combination

and Batista counters with a shoot takedown. Roper fights it but they end up in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Batista trying to control the position from guard on top but Roper is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Batista looking to sit in guard and control but Roper gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Batista is looking to stand up but Roper isn't so interested in that idea.

Batista has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Roper is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Batista.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Roper decides to stand up, so the ref orders Batista to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Batista has a takedown stuffed.
Axel Batista has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Scott Roper is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Roper works over Batista's head and body with a nice combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
Scott Roper comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Roper 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Scott Roper!
Scott Roper decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.