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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hitmon Lee (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carlos Batistuta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Batistuta has chosen Deftones - You've Seen The Butcher as his entrance music. Hitmon Lee could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Carlos Batistuta's chin.
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| 195 cm
34
222 lbs
30 - 16 - 0 |
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182 cm
28
205 lbs
15 - 7 - 0 |
Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin |
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Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank |
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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
30 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Hitmon Lee!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Carlos Batistuta!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Richard Clark and Donald Grub.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Batistuta fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Lee, pushing him back against the cage.
Batistuta has Lee pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Batistuta pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Lee tumbling to the mat - Batistuta dives into Lee's guard.
Batistuta throwing strikes from guard but Lee blocks nicely.
Batistuta postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Batistuta accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Batistuta stands and throws Lee's legs to the side, diving into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Batistuta goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Lee rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Batistuta's guard! Nice work there by Lee!
Lee wants to pass the guard but Batistuta is keeping the position.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee postures up in Batistuta's guard and throws a big left but Batistuta blocks it.
Lee got a little sloppy there for a moment and Batistuta has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Lee has managed to get both his arms back between Batistuta's legs - danger averted.
Batistuta had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Lee defends it easily.
Lee throws a big elbow that misses.
Lee stands up over Batistuta, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Batistuta keeping full guard, as Lee tries to pass.
Batistuta is looking for a triangle but Lee pushes his legs off easily.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lee trying to control but Batistuta is working from the bottom.
Batistuta has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Lee can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Lee with a flurry of punches that miss.
Batistuta keeping moving, preventing Lee from controlling successfully.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Batistuta is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Lee is aware though and is defending well.
Lee scoring with some ground and pound.
Batistuta working for a triangle but Lee defends it easily.
Lee trying to control the position from guard on top but Batistuta is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Batistuta working for a triangle but Lee defends it easily.
Batistuta is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Lee trying to control but Batistuta is working from the bottom.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Batistuta's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Lee connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Batistuta scrambles back to his feet.
Lee takes a jab right on the kisser.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lee. Batistuta does a little dance to reset his feet.
Lee manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Batistuta on his heels. He'll look to pass Batistuta's guard now, I'm sure.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Batistuta is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Batistuta preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Carlos Batistuta will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
Batistuta blocks a jab.
Batistuta jabs Lee to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Lee moves in looking to clinch but Batistuta pushes him off.
Batistuta scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
The fighters circle momentarily. Lee darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Batistuta showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Lee.
Lee shoots in but Batistuta avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Batistuta is looking to land body kicks.
Batistuta shoots in but no luck this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lee throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Batistuta ducks under a wild hook from Lee.
Lee throws out a powerful jab.
Batistuta swinging wildly here.
Batistuta throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
A punch combination from Lee misses.
Batistuta tries to land a front kick but Lee steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Carlos Batistuta seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Batistuta.
Batistuta takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Batistuta throws a jab when Lee was well out of range.
Lee defending well as Batistuta loads up on a big left hand.
Lee has taken the fight to the clinch.
Batistuta has a couple of punches blocked by Lee.
Lee lands a right hand.
Batistuta stops a takedown attempt from Lee.
Batistuta blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Lee misses with a body punch.
Batistuta pushes Lee back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lee tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Lee misses with a punch to the body.
Lee blocks an uppercut.
Lee cracks Batistuta with a nice body shot.
Batistuta lands with a light punch inside.
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!
Batistuta gets control of Lee's arms and successfully pulls guard. Batistuta will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Batistuta has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Lee can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Lee has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Lee trying to control the position from guard on top but Batistuta is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lee throws a big elbow that misses.
Lee lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Batistuta wants to sweep but no luck.
Batistuta is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Lee wants to control from the top but Batistuta keeps moving.
Batistuta throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lee lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Lee will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
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.
Lee distracts Batistuta with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Lee pushes down on Batistuta's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Lee throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Batistuta won't allow Lee to pass to mount.
Lee looks to land a strike but Batistuta avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Batistuta is looking to sweep but instead, Lee has passed into half guard.
Lee thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Batistuta's head.
We've been hearing that Lee has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Lee not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Lee is trying to control the action in half guard but Batistuta is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close second round but I would say that Hitmon Lee will probably get the nod.
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!
Batistuta looks for the body kick but Lee saw that one coming.
Batistuta goes for a double leg but Lee avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Lee continues to drive forward.
Batistuta drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Batistuta has a couple of punches blocked by Lee.
Batistuta lands a shoulder strike.
Batistuta is trying to pull guard but Lee has him pressed against the cage.
Hitmon Lee has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carlos Batistuta.
Batistuta can't find room to land a body shot as Lee controls the action.
Batistuta is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Lee to keep the fight standing.
Batistuta has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Lee seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Batistuta can turn it around.
Batistuta blocks an elbow strike from Lee.
Batistuta blocks a body shot from Lee.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lee lands a nice shot to the body.
Batistuta managing to block the knees to the body from Lee.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lee.
Lee misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Batistuta scores with a nice hook to the head.
Lee breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Batistuta misses with a lunging right hand
and Lee decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Batistuta's guard.
Lee throws an elbow that misses. Batistuta uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Lee's guard. Nice move by Batistuta!
Hitmon Lee overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lee not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Batistuta looking to pass the guard.
Batistuta with a flurry of punches that miss.
Batistuta stopping the sweep attempt from Lee.
Batistuta scoring with punches to the head and body.
Batistuta trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lee throwing rabbit punches from the bottom - showing the judges that he's keeping busy.
Lee is pulling down on Batistuta's head. It's preventing any offense from Batistuta, at least for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lee is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Batistuta blocking the ground and pound attempt from Lee.
Lee prevents Batistuta from improving his position.
Lee is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Batistuta tries to roll over but Lee keeps him under control.
It looks like Lee is going to stand back up.
Batistuta on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Batistuta blocking the ground and pound attempt from Lee.
Batistuta gets back to full guard.
Lee working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
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.
Lee cracks Batistuta with a solid left hand.
Batistuta has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Lee 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 Batistuta.
Lee lands a few punches from side control.
Lee tries to stand but Batistuta is controlling his head.
Batistuta takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lee sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Batistuta is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
And that's the end of the fight!
Hitmon Lee showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Lee has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 30:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:28
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:28
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hitmon Lee!
During a confident post fight interview, Hitmon Lee thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
21% |
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