PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Andrew Hermiston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Niko Batchiska (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Hermiston might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Rusty Cage. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hermiston
vs
Batchiska

180 cm
18
152 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

165 cm
21
150 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

MMA's Best Nutrition
Team S.W.A.T.

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Andrew Hermiston!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Niko Batchiska!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Steve Smith and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hermiston instigates a clinch.
Nice elbow from Hermiston.
Hermiston is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Hermiston tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Hermiston lands an elbow that stopped Batchiska in his tracks for a moment.
Batchiska takes an elbow to the forehead.

Hermiston escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Batchiska avoids the head kick by Hermiston.
Andrew Hermiston seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Hermiston shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Batchiska's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hermiston is stalling in the full guard.

Hermiston gets to his feet - Batchiska follows without any prompting.

Batchiska scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Hermiston knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Batchiska on the ground.
Hermiston is trying to get back to full guard.

Batchiska looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Batchiska is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Hermiston keeping hold of Batchiska's head, controlling as best he can.
Batchiska is keen to just control but Hermiston is a slippery customer.

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.

Batchiska is looking for a kimura but Hermiston is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Batchiska to get the leverage.

Batchiska is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Batchiska wants to pass to mount but Hermiston is defending the position.
Batchiska looks gassed!

Batchiska trying to work for an americana but Hermiston has managed to regain full guard.
Hermiston keeping full guard, as Batchiska tries to pass.
Hermiston wants to stand up but Batchiska is controlling him.
Batchiska postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Batchiska trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hermiston trying to control the position here.
Batchiska trying to control but Hermiston is working from the bottom.
Hermiston is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hermiston is looking to clinch but Batchiska is avoiding it.
Hermiston tries to clinch up but Batchiska circles away and keeps his distance.

That's four 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.
Hermiston misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Batchiska tries a head kick but it misses.

Hermiston rushes Batchiska and presses him up against the cage.
Hermiston lands a damaging elbow.
Hermiston leaning against his opponent.
Hermiston trying to land knees to the body.

Hermiston escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Good leg kick by Hermiston there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

Hermiston closes the distance and clinches.
Hermiston with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Hermiston misses with a knee to the head.

Hermiston breaks the clinch.
Hermiston throws a series of punches but Batchiska avoids them all with ease.
Hermiston throws a head kick that misses

and Batchiska counters with a nice double leg into side control. Hermiston won't be happy with that.

Batchiska is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hermiston knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Niko Batchiska will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Batchiska avoids a kick to the body.

Batchiska scores a takedown into full mount!

Batchiska looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Batchiska is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Hermiston has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Hermiston is trying to escape the mount.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hermiston is hanging on here. He's in a desperate position.
Batchiska punching from mount but Hermiston doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Hermiston is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Hermiston regains half guard.
Hermiston gets back to full guard.

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.
Batchiska pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hermiston is keeping the position for now.

Batchiska postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Hermiston is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Batchiska, into his guard.
Hermiston will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Hermiston content to stall in guard here.

Batchiska had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Hermiston is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Batchiska Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Hermiston's back instead.
Niko Batchiska has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hermiston is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Hermiston is trying to get back to his feet but Batchiska has full control of the position and if anything, Hermiston has just worked his way into a worse spot.
A lull in the action here.

Batchiska seems to be going for a rear naked choke. He has an arm under Hermiston's chin but Hermiston turns very nicely into Batchiska's guard. Good BJJ skills being displayed there by Hermiston.

Hermiston decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Batchiska, up you get!

That's four 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.
The fight stays on the outside here - Batchiska looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hermiston doesn't manage to clinch there - Batchiska circles away.

Hermiston gets a clinch.
Hermiston lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Hermiston stops a takedown attempt from Batchiska.
A short uppercut from Hermiston.
Hermiston lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Hermiston gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Hermiston turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Hermiston manages to end up in side control.
Batchiska is trying to get back to half guard.
Batchiska is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrew Hermiston dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Hermiston wants to clinch up but Batchiska keeps it at a distance.

Hermiston moves into the clinch successfully.
Batchiska tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hermiston smiles and moves away.
Hermiston is looking to clinch but Batchiska is avoiding it.
Batchiska fails to land the takedown.
Batchiska shoots for a double leg takedown but Hermiston sprawls well. He's pushed Batchiska's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Andrew Hermiston has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Niko Batchiska.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hermiston 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hermiston is looking to stand up but Batchiska won't let him.
Hermiston stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Batchiska swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Batchiska looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hermiston pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Batchiska is keeping the position for now.

Batchiska looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Hermiston passes into side control.
Batchiska is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Hermiston shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Batchiska is trying desperately to improve position.
Hermiston content just to control the position here.
Batchiska working to try and regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Batchiska tries to lock up and control but Hermiston gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Batchiska is working to get back to half guard.
Hermiston content just to control the position here.
Batchiska is looking to improve his position but Hermiston isn't that keen on the idea.
Hermiston controlling the position easily from mount.

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.
Batchiska is trying to escape the mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andrew Hermiston showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hermiston 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andrew Hermiston!