PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chris Craig (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Obobo Bataka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Craig
vs
Bataka

195 cm
21
270 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
20
235 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chris Craig!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Obobo Bataka!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, George Francis and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bataka tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Craig manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Some wild striking there from Craig.
Craig misses with a body shot.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Bataka!

Bataka clinches up with Craig and pushes him back against the cage.
Bataka wants to get back to striking at distance but Craig won't allow it.
Craig keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Bataka's efforts to push away.

Craig's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bataka dodges the punch combination from Craig.
Bataka tries to clinch up but Craig circles away and keeps his distance.
Bataka shoots in looking for a takedown. Craig tries to sprawl out of it but Bataka keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Craig manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Bataka scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bataka instigates a clinch.
Craig working hard to break the clinch.
Craig wants to break the clinch but can't.
Bataka wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Craig wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Bataka jumps into guard, dragging Craig to the mat.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Craig wants to stand and escape but instead Bataka has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Bataka stops Craig from standing up.
Bataka postures up in Craig's guard and throws a big left but Craig blocks it.
Bataka postures up in Craig's guard and throws a big left but Craig blocks it.
Craig wants to stand and escape but Bataka is having none of it.
Craig avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bataka trying to control the position from guard on top but Craig is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Craig is working an open guard so Bataka takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Craig fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bataka manages to avoid it.
Craig dodges the punch combination from Bataka.
Bataka darts in looking for a takedown but Craig gets double underhooks and turns Bataka into the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Craig wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Bataka is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Chris Craig has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Obobo Bataka.
Craig looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Craig has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Bataka presses Craig against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Bataka avoids the elbow strike from Craig, against the cage.
Craig is trying to break the clinch but Bataka is controlling him.
Bataka lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Craig managing to block the knees to the body from Bataka.
Craig keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Bataka's efforts to push away.
Craig keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Bataka's efforts to push away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Craig has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Craig can't break the clinch.

Bataka jumps guard.
Craig has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Bataka pulls Craig in close to prevent any damage.
Craig in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bataka has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Bataka pushes Craig off and gets back to his feet.
Craig lands a front kick.
Bataka looks winded!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bataka tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bataka showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Craig.
Bataka tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Craig paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Craig tries to bum rush Bataka with a series of wild strikes but Bataka uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bataka shoots in and drives through. Craig sprawls well.
Bataka lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Craig circles away quickly and effectively.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Craig moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Craig lands a jab to the nose.

It looks like Obobo Bataka has been cut.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Craig misses with a two punch combination.
The fighters circle, before Craig throws a beautiful high kick that crashes into Bataka's neck, sending him stumbling to the floor! Craig lands more strikes and forces a referee stoppage! That one ended in an instant!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Kick & Punches). Chris Craig!