PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Aleksandr Petrovski (ranked 25407 p4p, 0 weight class) and Craig Bartholemew (ranked 3368 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Petrovski
vs
Bartholemew

175 cm
18
157 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

180 cm
25
155 lbs
4 - 3 - 1

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Aleksandr Petrovski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 1, fighting out of The Island, Craig Bartholemew!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Peter Branson and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bartholemew moves in looking to clinch but Petrovski pushes him off.
Bartholemew moves out of range of the body kick.
Bartholemew throws the kick towards the body but Petrovski avoids it.
Petrovski misses with an uppercut. Bartholemew saw that one coming.

Petrovski moves into the clinch successfully.

Petrovski pulls guard.
Bartholemew trying to control but Petrovski is working from the bottom.
Petrovski looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bartholemew is one step ahead there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Petrovski holds on and takes a little breather.
Bartholemew trying to control but Petrovski is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Petrovski looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Bartholemew passes into half guard.
Petrovski is trying to control but Bartholemew manages to pass to mount!
Bartholemew trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Bartholemew prevents Petrovski from getting the reversal.
Bartholemew sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Petrovski tries to hold on but Bartholemew pushes him away.

Bartholemew wants to finish this one by submission but Petrovski is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Bartholemew.
Petrovski is working to get back to half guard.
Bartholemew sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Petrovski knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Bartholemew on the ground.
Bartholemew wants to control the pace but Petrovski is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bartholemew avoids the attempt from Petrovski to control.
Petrovski really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Bartholemew wants to control the pace but Petrovski is squirming around nicely.
Petrovski is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

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.
Bartholemew trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Petrovski can't escape the position.

Bartholemew with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Petrovski is trying desperately to improve position.
Petrovski on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Petrovski tries to get out of the position.
Petrovski tries to lock up and control but Bartholemew gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Petrovski is squirming around, avoiding Bartholemew's attempts to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Bartholemew dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Petrovski closes the distance and pushes Bartholemew back into the cage.
Bartholemew stops a takedown attempt from Petrovski.
Petrovski drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Petrovski tries to pull guard but Bartholemew forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aleksandr Petrovski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bartholemew tries a knee to the head but Petrovski blocks it.

Bartholemew jumps guard.
Petrovski missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bartholemew is trying to keep Petrovski in close.
Bartholemew has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Bartholemew is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petrovski tries to get to full guard but Bartholemew has control of the leg.
Petrovski misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Bartholemew is trying to work for a kimura but Petrovski is defending well.
Petrovski tries to kick Bartholemew off but Bartholemew keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Petrovski wants to sweep but Bartholemew has passed to side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Petrovski is trying to control Bartholemew's posture but Bartholemew avoids it.
Petrovski is looking for a sweep.
Petrovski is trying to control Bartholemew's posture but Bartholemew avoids it.
Bartholemew wants to control but Petrovski is keeping him busy.
Petrovski tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Bartholemew wants to control but Petrovski is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petrovski is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Bartholemew wants to lay and pray for a moment but Petrovski keeps working.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Bartholemew tries to clinch but Petrovski is having none of it.
Bartholemew fails to land the takedown.

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.
Bartholemew shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bartholemew shoots in looking for a takedown. Petrovski tries to sprawl out of it but Bartholemew keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Petrovski manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Bartholemew shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Petrovski but Petrovski pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Petrovski drives through with a takedown into guard.
Petrovski is stalling in the full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Petrovski wants to pass the guard but Bartholemew is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Craig Bartholemew will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Petrovski throws a combination that misses
and Bartholemew counters with a three punch combo that has Petrovski backing up. Petrovski nods at Bartholemew to acknowledge the strikes.
Nice shot by Bartholemew.
Bartholemew fails to land the takedown.
Petrovski swats away the attempt to clinch by Bartholemew.

Petrovski closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Petrovski manages to pull guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Petrovski is trying to control the position but Bartholemew postures up.
Petrovski pulls Bartholemew in close to prevent any damage.
Bartholemew trying to control but Petrovski is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bartholemew won't allow Petrovski to get back to his feet.
Bartholemew wants to control from the top but Petrovski keeps moving.
Petrovski wants to stand but Bartholemew is controlling the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Petrovski keeping moving, preventing Bartholemew from controlling successfully.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Petrovski changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Bartholemew looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Petrovski throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Bartholemew is trying to buck Petrovski off.
Petrovski controls the position from side control.

Petrovski stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Petrovski gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Bartholemew counters with a left and a right that stings Petrovski.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bartholemew shoots in for a double leg but Petrovski sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Petrovski closes the distance and clinches.
Petrovski prevents the takedown attempt.
Aleksandr Petrovski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Craig Bartholemew.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Petrovski just misses with a elbow thrown towards Bartholemew's brow.
Petrovski jumps guard but Bartholemew turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
The referee calls for Petrovski to work.
Bartholemew has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Petrovski is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Petrovski using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Bartholemew has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bartholemew working hard to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Petrovski tightens his grip and picks Bartholemew up, before dumping him to the ground. Bartholemew manages to land in guard.
Bartholemew trying to control the position.
Bartholemew might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Petrovski haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Bartholemew is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Craig Bartholemew has got the better of the ground game so far.
Petrovski trying to control the position from guard on top but Bartholemew is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Petrovski controls from within his opponent's guard.
Aleksandr Petrovski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Craig Bartholemew is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Petrovski drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Bartholemew dives on top into guard.

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 Aleksandr Petrovski.
I think Bartholemew has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Bart Greer scores the fight 28:29
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Craig Bartholemew!