PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ernie Els (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Billy Batts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Els comes to the cage accompanied by Chamillionaire - Don't Shoot. Batts is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Pro-pain - Make war (not love) . Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Els
vs
Batts

188 cm
34
213 lbs
15 - 6 - 0

186 cm
34
203 lbs
29 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Hellbent
Milwaukee's Best 160 SALE $140

Conviction
Convicted Trap House

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ernie Els!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Billy Batts!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Els keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Batts misses with a kick to the body.
Batts looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Els is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

It looks like Billy Batts has been cut.
Els lands a nice leg kick that just misses Batts's sensitive parts.
Batts ducks under a wild hook from Els.
Batts lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Ernie Els seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Els throws a sloppy head kick and Batts moves out of range easily.
Batts lands with a slapping head kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Batts thuds a left hand into Els's body.
Els avoids the body shot from Batts.
Els scores with a decent looking hook.
A jab from Batts misses.
Batts steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Els.
Els tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Batts misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Els has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Batts.
Batts takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Els swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Batts counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Els creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Batts scores with a shoulder strike.
Els tries to stall but Batts uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Batts lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Els misses with a short punch on the inside.
Batts tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Els avoids it.
Batts misses with a punch to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Els.
A head punch on the inside from Els fails to land.
I was talking to Els's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Els misses with a punch on the inside.
Batts trying to land knees to the body.
A short right from Batts.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Batts with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Batts working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Els goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Els goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Batts blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Batts throws a knee to the head but misses.
Batts throws a knee to the head but misses.
Els lands a left hand that snaps the head of Batts backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Batts.
A knee to the head by Batts.
Els blocks an uppercut.
Els lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Els is looking to control Batts's arms but Batts gets an underhook and turns him. Now Els has his back to the cage.
Batts lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Els lands a shot to the body.
Els trying to control the position but instead, Batts has worked for underhooks and has pushed Els into the cage.
Batts is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Els is defending well for now.
Batts struggles to land a body shot inside as Els controls his hands.
Batts struggles to land a body shot inside as Els controls his hands.
Els is trying to maintain a safe position but Batts gets an underhook and turns Els into the cage.
Batts misses with a short punch on the inside.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Els creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Els tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Batts using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Els has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Els escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Els stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Batts.
Batts lands a nice shot to the body.
Els thows a body shot but no joy.
Els checks a low kick from Batts.
Els scores with a head kick. Batts tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Batts takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Els tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Batts is able to avoid easily.
Els misses the shot to the body.
Els takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Batts throws a jab when Els was well out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Els comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Batts lands a really nice looking cross but Els seems unphased.
Els lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Batts looks for the body kick but Els saw that one coming.
Batts connects with a body shot that sends Els's belly button to the back.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Els.
A head punch on the inside from Els fails to land.
Els gets through Batts's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Els lands with a right to the head.
Els swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Els lands a body punch in the clinch.
Batts is trying to stall.
Els misses with a short punch on the inside.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Batts tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Els on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Els tries to break free but Batts pushes him back against the cage.

Els breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Els keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ernie Els dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Billy Batts's cut.
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.

Batts throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Els misses with a combination

and Batts holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Els looking to slow down the pace here.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Els.
A nice left hand lands by Els.
Els lands an uppercut.
A right hand to the body from Batts.
Els trying to control the position but instead, Batts has worked for underhooks and has pushed Els into the cage.
Ernie Els has scored more points in the clinch so far.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Els.

Els escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Batts keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Els misses with a low kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Batts throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Els jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Els moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Batts lands a jab to Els's midsection.
Batts with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A chopping leg kick lands by Batts.
Batts takes one on the button.
Els jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Batts checks a leg kick.
Els tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Batts throws a sloppy head kick and Els moves out of range easily.
A jab from Batts does it's job there.
A lazy left from Els finds it's target.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Batts throws a looping overhand right but Els ducks down to avoid it.
Els misses with a hook. Batts ducked under it nicely.
Ernie Els is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Batts takes one on the button.
Batts moves forwards but Els connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Els tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Batts paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Els tries to clinch up but Batts circles away and keeps his distance.
Batts scores with a nice right hand.
Batts throws a leg kick which misses Els's front leg but catches the back leg as Els tries to avoid it.
Els misses with a head kick.
Els with a nice cross.
Els scores with a jab.
Crunch! Els slams his shin into Batts's torso.
Nice shot lands for Els.
Els tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Batts lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good exchange - Els coming out on top.
Batts fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Els.
Batts throws a looping overhand right but Els ducks down to avoid it.
Els misses with a body kick.
Els on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Els throws a nice inside leg kick.
Els throws a push kick but Batts slaps the foot to one side.
Els misses with a body shot

and Batts counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Batts.
Batts misses with a body punch.
Els swings wildly with an uppercut but Batts uses good head movement to avoid it.
Els working aggressively here.
Els lands a hook that snaps the head of Batts backwards.
Batts with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Els throws a head punch that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Batts lands a left hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Batts blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Batts scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Batts crunches a lovely knee into Els's ribcage.
Batts misses with a body punch.
Batts lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Batts blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Els misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short right from Els on the inside.
Batts tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Els swings wildly with an uppercut but Batts uses good head movement to avoid it.
Els tries to throw a body punch but Batts avoids it by throwing Els back against the cage.
Els's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Batts tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Batts tries to throw a body punch but Els avoids it by throwing Batts back against the cage.
Batts working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A nice left hand lands by Els.
Batts struggles to land a body shot inside as Els controls his hands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ernie Els dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Billy Batts's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Els blocks a head kick by Batts.
Els misses with a hook. Batts ducked under it nicely.
Els lands with a slapping head kick.
Els looks to throw the jab but Batts is out of range.
Els lands with a straight right. Batts didn't see that one coming.
Batts bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Els's head backwards.
Els misses with a low kick.
Batts connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Batts feints and then cracks Els's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Els down.
Els tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Batts was well out of range. Poor timing from Els.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Els clinches.
Batts lands a left hand that snaps the head of Els backwards.
Batts lands a body shot in the clinch.
Batts misses with some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Batts lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Batts tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Els blocking some punches.
Batts misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Els.
Batts tries to land a knee to the head but Els blocks with his arms.

Els breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Els fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Batts fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Els manages to avoid it.
Els ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Batts throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Batts fails to land with a series of punches.
Els sizes up Batts with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Els throws a low kick but Batts moves out of range easily.
Els on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Batts. Batts obviously looking to wear him down.
Els jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Billy Batts has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Els lands a leg kick that knocks Batts off balance momentarily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Batts walks into a left hand.
Els throws a shot to the body.
Batts dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Els. That did some damage!
Els fakes the leg kick and cracks Batts in the body.
Batts takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Els is looking to clinch but Batts is avoiding it.
Els on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
A looping hook to the body misses from Batts. Els does a little dance to reset his feet.
A big right from Els misses.
Batts will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Batts misses with a low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Els throws out a loose jab but Batts uses good head movement to avoid it.
Batts looks for the body kick but Els saw that one coming.
Els takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Els walks into a stiff left hand from Batts.
Sloppy strikes from Batts. Those never looked like landing.
Els pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Els connects with the punch.
Els misses with a body shot.
Els scores with a nice body kick.
Batts avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Els swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Els fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Batts misses with a wild body shot.
Batts misses with the combination.
Batts moves out of range of the body kick from Els.
Batts stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Els.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Batts misses with a low kick.
Batts tries to land a body kick
and Els counters with a straight right hand.
Batts throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Els lunges at Batts with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Batts's hand.
Els lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Els lands with a kick to the temple. Batts shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Nice defenses there by Batts.
Els listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ernie Els showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Els 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ernie Els!
Ernie Els decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.