PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Matt Kroblur (ranked 581 p4p, 79 weight class) and Paddy Bateman (ranked 1416 p4p, 184 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Kroblur
vs
Bateman

186 cm
34
196 lbs
21 - 15 - 1

185 cm
36
195 lbs
15 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Aspire Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Matt Kroblur!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Paddy Bateman!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Alec Ball and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bateman connects with a body shot.
Kroblur definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Bateman doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Kroblur misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A lazy left from Kroblur finds it's target.

It looks like Paddy Bateman has been cut.
Some wild striking there from Bateman.
Kroblur misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
The fighters circling - Bateman throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Bateman looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Kroblur tests Bateman's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A lazy left from Kroblur finds it's target.
Kroblur throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kroblur lands a head shot.
Kroblur fails with a takedown attempt.
Bateman looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Kroblur looks for a takedown but Bateman sprawls well.
Kroblur misses with a wild body shot.
Kroblur throws a body shot but no joy.
Bateman uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kroblur.
Kroblur misses with a double jab

and Bateman counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Kroblur!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bateman tries to move into full mount but can't pass Kroblur's legs.
Bateman is looking to take a break and control but Kroblur is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Bateman wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kroblur, who protects the arm well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bateman wants to control but Kroblur is keeping him busy.
Bateman controls the position.

Bateman looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Kroblur being controlled for a moment.
Bateman tries to move to mount but Kroblur blocks the move with his legs.

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.
Kroblur tries to buck Bateman off but Bateman is having none of it.
Kroblur is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Bateman off and has taken his back!
Bateman tries to escape but Kroblur has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Bateman just trying to survive but Kroblur is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Kroblur throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Bateman avoids the strikes from Kroblur.
Kroblur trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Bateman trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Kroblur scores with punches to the body.
Bateman is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Kroblur dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Paddy Bateman's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Good shot there by Kroblur.
Kroblur connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Bateman momentarily.
Bateman takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Bateman with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Kroblur to score with a decent uppercut.
No joy there for Bateman, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
As Bateman looks to move away, Kroblur throws a big counter combo but Bateman just gets out of the way.
Bateman throws a right hand that misses
and Kroblur counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kroblur is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bateman can do to turn this around?
Bateman fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Kroblur on the side of the head.
Bateman paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Kroblur throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kroblur scoring well with a low kick there.
Kroblur shoots in but Bateman avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kroblur ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bateman moves away.
Bateman misses with a right hand
and Kroblur counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Bateman tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kroblur was well out of range. Poor timing from Bateman.
A jab from Kroblur finds it's way through Bateman's defenses.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kroblur.

Bateman closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Kroblur quickly recovers to half guard.
Kroblur is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bateman is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Kroblur reverses the position - he's now on top in Bateman's guard.
Bateman is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kroblur wants to control from the top but Bateman keeps moving.
Bateman bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kroblur's guard.

We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bateman tries to free his leg and advance position but Kroblur is retaining full guard.
Kroblur keeping moving, preventing Bateman from controlling successfully.
Kroblur keeping full guard, as Bateman tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bateman preventing the sweep.
Kroblur seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Bateman looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Bateman trying to control but Kroblur is working from the bottom.
Bateman wants to pass the guard but Kroblur is keeping the position.

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.
Bateman sitting in guard here, content to control.
Bateman trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bateman trying to control but Kroblur 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.

Bateman drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Kroblur is wriggling around but Bateman manages to pass to half guard.

Kroblur is in trouble now - Bateman has advanced to mount!
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 Matt Kroblur will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Paddy Bateman's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Bateman misses with a shot to the body
and Kroblur counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Nice body punch from Bateman.

Kroblur scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Bateman makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Matt Kroblur is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kroblur is defended easily by Bateman.
Kroblur closes the distance and lands a one-two.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kroblur lands with a shot to the body.
Kroblur misses with an uppercut.
Bateman rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kroblur moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kroblur moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Bateman dodges the punch combination from Kroblur.
Bateman stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Kroblur keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kroblur lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.

Bateman drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bateman controls the position.
You can see the frustration on Kroblur's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Kroblur is looking for a sweep.
Bateman controlling the position from side mount.
Kroblur regains half guard.
Kroblur is trying to maintain the position but Bateman is very close to passing his half guard.
Bateman is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bateman is looking to advance position but Kroblur won't allow it.
Bateman is trying to control the action in half guard but Kroblur is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Well, if Bateman is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Bateman is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Kroblur doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Bateman.
Bateman trying to control the action but Kroblur is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Bateman is looking to advance position but Kroblur won't allow it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kroblur slips under a jab.
Paddy Bateman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kroblur blocks a jab.
Kroblur misses with an uppercut.
Kroblur misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kroblur misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sloppy strikes from Kroblur. Those never looked like landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Matt Kroblur.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kroblur, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:27
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Kroblur!
Matt Kroblur spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.