PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kenny Hall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Crixus Batiatus (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.

Hall
vs
Batiatus

225 cm
25
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
21
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Valhalla Clothing
Dead Or Alive Nutrition 160

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 Helsinki, Kenny Hall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Crixus Batiatus!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Marco Blurström and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Batiatus misses with a leg kick

and Hall counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Batiatus controlling the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Batiatus wants to improve his position but Hall is controlling well.
Batiatus trying to hold on to Hall's head to control him but Hall postures up.

Hall decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Batiatus throws a head kick that misses
letting Hall counter with a right hand.
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!
Batiatus looks to land a combination but Hall avoids it well.
Hall fails with a takedown attempt.
Batiatus tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hall avoids a punch combination nicely.
Batiatus is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hall lands with a thumping leg kick.
Hall tries to clinch up but Batiatus circles away and keeps his distance.
An inside leg kick from Hall misses.
Hall throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Hall moves into range and clinches up with Batiatus.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Batiatus is looking to break free of the clinch but Hall has double underhooks.

Hall breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hall is looking to clinch.
Batiatus misses with a takedown
and Hall counters with a series of strikes. Batiatus will be more careful next time no doubt.
Batiatus looks gassed!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hall blocks a head kick by Batiatus.

Hall clinches up against the cage.
Batiatus is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Hall is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Hall is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Batiatus can't fight it off and eventually Hall manages to take the fight to the floor. Batiatus looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Batiatus looking to control.
Batiatus seems keen to control Hall's posture.
Hall throws a big elbow that misses.
Hall wants to stand but Batiatus is controlling his posture from full guard.
Hall being controlled here momentarily.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Crixus Batiatus hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Batiatus fails with the takedown.
Kenny Hall has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Crixus Batiatus.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Batiatus misses with a jab, cross combination.
Batiatus tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hall swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hall wants to clinch.
Batiatus doesn't manage to clinch there - Hall circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenny Hall dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Batiatus shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Hall kicks Batiatus off and gets to his feet.
Hall tries for a takedown but Batiatus sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kenny Hall is winning the standup battle so far.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Batiatus.
Batiatus with a lazy takedown attempt

and Hall counters with a single leg into guard. Batiatus didn't expect that.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Batiatus is controlling Hall's posture.
Hall won't allow Batiatus to get back to his feet.

Hall drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hall jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Batiatus keeping moving, preventing Hall from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hall is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Batiatus controls Hall momentarily but Hall frees himself.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Batiatus tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Hall manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Batiatus tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hall swivels and escapes.
Kenny Hall has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Crixus Batiatus.
Batiatus fails to land the takedown.
Hall scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Hall as Batiatus shoots in.
Batiatus looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hall is fending him off so far but Batiatus persists. Nope, Hall circles away and we're back to standing.
Batiatus tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hall sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Batiatus somewhat.
Batiatus shoots in but Hall avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Batiatus shoots in for a double leg but Hall sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Hall.
Hall really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Batiatus tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Batiatus tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hall just stands there and leans against the cage.

Hall breaks from the clinch.
Hall shoots in for a takedown but Batiatus shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Hall takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Batiatus lands a slapping body shot.
Batiatus tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hall sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Batiatus somewhat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Hall misses.

Batiatus pushes Hall up against the cage in a clinch.
Batiatus lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Hall backwards.
A frustrated look appears on Batiatus's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Hall breaks the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Batiatus.
Hall stuffs the takedown attempt from Batiatus. Batiatus gets slowly back to his feet.
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 Kenny Hall will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Batiatus looks for a takedown but Hall sprawls well.
Batiatus fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hall avoids it really well and circles away.
Nice sprawl there from Batiatus as Hall shoots in.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Batiatus looks to land a combination but Hall avoids it well.
Hall tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Batiatus paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Batiatus showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Batiatus looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hall looks to land a body kick but Batiatus moved away.
Batiatus blocks a low kick nicely.
Batiatus tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hall sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Batiatus somewhat.
Kenny Hall has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Crixus Batiatus.
Hall throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

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.
Batiatus shoots in looking for a takedown. Hall tries to sprawl out of it but Batiatus keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hall manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Sloppy strikes from Hall. Those never looked like landing.
Batiatus shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hall sprawls well. Hall wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Batiatus gets slowly back to his feet.
Batiatus shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hall as he jumps to the side.
Nice sprawl there from Batiatus as Hall shoots in.
Kenny Hall is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hall closes this distance looking for a takedown but Batiatus circles away.
Batiatus shoots in looking for a takedown. Hall tries to sprawl out of it but Batiatus keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hall manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Hall misses with a low kick.
Batiatus shoots in for a takedown but Hall shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Batiatus displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Batiatus shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hall as he avoids it easily.
Hall throws a combination that misses

and Batiatus counters by clinching up.

Hall manages to break the clinch.
Hall leaves Batiatus with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Hall lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Crixus Batiatus seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Batiatus shoots for a takedown but Hall saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Batiatus tries to clinch up but Hall circles away and keeps his distance.

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 Kenny Hall.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hall, 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kenny Hall!