PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gannicus Battiatus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Dagg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Battiatus
vs
Dagg

200 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Gannicus Battiatus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Nick Dagg!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Eliza Hachem and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dagg leaves Battiatus with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Dagg swats away the attempt to clinch by Battiatus.
Battiatus throws a push kick but Dagg slaps the foot to one side.
Dagg tries to clinch up
and Battiatus counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Battiatus fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Dagg manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Battiatus swats away the attempt to clinch by Dagg.
Dagg closes the distance but Battiatus moves to the side
and Battiatus counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Dagg is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Battiatus fails to land the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dagg looks to clinch
and Battiatus cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Dagg tries to clinch
and Dagg takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Battiatus shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Dagg sprawls well. Dagg wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Battiatus gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gannicus Battiatus. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dagg tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Battiatus manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Dagg stuffs the takedown attempt from Battiatus. Battiatus gets slowly back to his feet.
Battiatus throws a head kick that misses.
Dagg moves in looking to clinch but Battiatus pushes him off.
Dagg tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Battiatus counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Battiatus wants a takedown but no success here.
Dagg connects with a knee to the head.
Dagg with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Knees in the clinch landing for Dagg.
Battiatus is breathing heavily.
Dagg using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Battiatus has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Dagg unloads a knee to the mid-section.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dagg using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Battiatus has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Battiatus takes a knee right on the jaw!
Dagg looking to throw knees to the head but Battiatus is blocking nicely.
Dagg with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Dagg looking to throw knees to the head but Battiatus is blocking nicely.
Dagg misses with a knee to the head.
Dagg utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Battiatus takes a knee to the side of the body.
Dagg lands a nice knee to the body.
Battiatus really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Dagg misses with a knee to the head.
Dagg lands a knee to the head.
Dagg scores a nice knee to the body.
Dagg working Battiatus over with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dagg throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Battiatus blocks it with crossed arms.
Battiatus can't find room to land a body shot as Dagg controls the action.
Dagg using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Battiatus has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Dagg throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Battiatus blocks it with crossed arms.
Battiatus looking for a takedown.
Dagg tries a knee to the head but Battiatus blocks it.
Dagg tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Dagg throws a knee to the head but misses.
Dagg throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Battiatus blocks it with crossed arms.
Dagg tries a knee to the head but Battiatus blocks it.
Dagg throws a knee to the head but misses.
Dagg has Battiatus pressed against the cage, preventing Battiatus from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Battiatus can't get the takedown.
Battiatus is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Battiatus just leaning against Dagg, taking a breather.
Dagg tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Dagg misses with a knee strike.
Dagg tries a knee to the head but Battiatus blocks it.
Dagg misses with a knee strike.
Battiatus avoiding damage as Dagg throws knees to the body.
Battiatus throws an elbow but it misses.
Dagg tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Dagg tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Dagg with a knee to the head.
Dagg gets underhooks to prevent Battiatus's takedown attempt.
Dagg misses with a knee to the head.
Dagg tries a knee to the head but Battiatus blocks it.
Dagg with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Battiatus taking a breather.
Dagg misses with a knee strike.
Battiatus can't get the takedown.

Battiatus successfully pulls guard.
Dagg is stalling in the full guard.
Battiatus wants to stand up but Dagg is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Dagg dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Dagg gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Dagg tries to land a knee to the head but Battiatus blocks with his arms.
Dagg misses with a knee to the head.
Dagg lands a knee to the head.
Dagg connects with a nasty looking knee right to Battiatus's face.

Battiatus pulls guard.
Dagg's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Battiatus working a defensive guard but Dagg manages to pass into side control anyway.
Dagg taking a breather here.
Battiatus tries to escape but Dagg is in control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dagg is staying tight to Battiatus's torso, preventing him from escaping.

Dagg decides to stand back up.

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

and Dagg counters by clinching up.
Battiatus wants to break free but Dagg has control.
Dagg lands a knee to the body.
Dagg tries a knee to the head but Battiatus blocks it.
Dagg misses with a knee to the head.
Dagg misses with a knee to the head.
Dagg is breathing heavily.
Dagg tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Dagg using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Battiatus has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A knee to the head by Dagg.
Dagg swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Dagg tries to land a knee to the head but Battiatus blocks with his arms.
Battiatus fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Battiatus changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Dagg fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Battiatus wants to clinch

and Dagg counters by moving into the clinch.
Battiatus jumps guard but Dagg stands there with Battiatus around his waist. Battiatus gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gannicus Battiatus. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dagg lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dagg tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
With the fighters up against the cage, Battiatus throws an elbow but misses.
Dagg misses with a knee to the head.
Dagg managing to block the knees to the body from Battiatus.

Battiatus pulls guard successfully.
Battiatus controls Dagg momentarily but Dagg frees himself.
Dagg stopping the sweep attempt from Battiatus.

Battiatus looking for a guillotine here but Dagg defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Battiatus looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Dagg looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Dagg tries to free his leg and advance position but Battiatus is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Dagg showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Battiatus closes the distance and clinches.
Dagg tries to land a knee to the head but Battiatus blocks with his arms.
A knee to the head by Dagg.
Dagg has Battiatus pressed against the cage, preventing Battiatus from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Dagg using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Battiatus has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Dagg tries to land a knee to the head but Battiatus blocks with his arms.
Dagg connects with a knee to the head.
Dagg lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Battiatus is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Dagg misses with a knee to the head.
Dagg throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Battiatus blocks it with crossed arms.
Dagg misses with a knee to the head.
Battiatus drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Battiatus tries for a takedown. No joy.
Battiatus fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gannicus Battiatus. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dagg missing with knees to the body.
Dagg looking to throw knees to the head but Battiatus is blocking nicely.
Battiatus wants to break free but Dagg has control.
Battiatus fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dagg tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A nice right hand lands inside from Battiatus.
Dagg tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Battiatus avoids it.
Dagg with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Dagg is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Battiatus is defending well for now.
Battiatus goes for a takedown attempt but Dagg pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Dagg tries to clinch up but Battiatus circles away and keeps his distance.
Dagg keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Gannicus Battiatus is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dagg looks to clinch
and Battiatus counters with a nice body shot.
Dagg closes the distance looking to clinch
and Battiatus connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Dagg is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Battiatus shoots in but Dagg avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A big right from Dagg misses.
Dagg tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Battiatus paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Dagg tries to close the distance and clinch up but Battiatus swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dagg circles away from the clinch attempt

and Dagg counters by clinching up.
Dagg tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Dagg landing knees to the body.
Dagg misses with a knee strike.
Battiatus is trying to break the clinch but Dagg is controlling him.
Dagg tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Dagg with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Battiatus fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Dagg throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Battiatus blocks it with crossed arms.
Battiatus wants a takedown.
Battiatus can't get the takedown.
Dagg tries to land a knee to the head but Battiatus blocks with his arms.
Dagg throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Battiatus blocks it with crossed arms.
Dagg throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Battiatus blocks it with crossed arms.
Dagg tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Dagg tries to land a knee to the head but Battiatus blocks with his arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dagg with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Battiatus tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Dagg smiles and moves away.
Battiatus throws a chopping leg kick but Dagg manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Battiatus closes the distance looking to clinch

and Dagg counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Dagg.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dagg tries to land a knee to the head but Battiatus blocks with his arms.
Dagg tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Gannicus Battiatus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Battiatus wants to get back to striking at distance but Dagg won't allow it.
Battiatus misses with the head strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nick Dagg comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Dagg winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 John Mangel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nick Dagg!