PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Averill Bateson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stepan Varlamovs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Averill Bateson has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Bateson
vs
Varlamovs

187 cm
25
215 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Averill Bateson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Stepan Varlamovs!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, John Mangel and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Varlamovs tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bateson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Horrible takedown by Bateson or perhaps it was just good defense by Varlamovs which made him look bad.
Varlamovs fails with the takedown

and Bateson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Varlamovs holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Varlamovs taking some punishment here, with Bateson in his half guard.
Bateson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Bateson lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Varlamovs can do anything to dispel that myth.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bateson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Varlamovs avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Bateson.
Varlamovs is trying to get back to full guard.
Bateson drops an elbow to the side of Varlamovs's head.
Bateson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Varlamovs wants to control but Bateson is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Varlamovs kicks Bateson off and gets back to his feet.
Varlamovs looks winded!

Bateson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bateson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Varlamovs's head.
Varlamovs has his hands clasped together around Bateson's back. He's all about the action.
Bateson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Ground and pound from Bateson.
Bateson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Bateson looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Varlamovs with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bateson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Bateson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Bateson is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bateson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Bateson throwing shots but Varlamovs is blocking nicely.
Bateson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Varlamovs avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Bateson.
Bateson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Bateson prevents Varlamovs from standing back up.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Bateson passes to full mount!
Bateson working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Bateson working the ground and pound effectively.
Bateson pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bateson is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Varlamovs can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Bateson dominating with strikes here.
Bateson landing shots from mount.
Bateson working the ground and pound effectively.
Bateson punishing his opponent with strikes.
A nice elbow there by Bateson.
Bateson putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bateson scoring with strikes but Varlamovs is staying in there.
Bateson unloading with bombs!
Bateson raining down shots from the mount!
Varlamovs tries to lock up and control but Bateson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bateson fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Bateson lands a nice shot to the head.
Varlamovs tries to lock up and control but Bateson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Bateson lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Varlamovs wants to control but Bateson is having none of it.
BOOM! Bateson connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Varlamovs is trying to stand.
Bateson pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Varlamovs is trying to escape the mount.
The referee warns Varlamovs that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Bateson lands a nice shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Averill Bateson dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Bateson gets a takedown into half guard.
Varlamovs regains full guard. Nicely done.
Bateson throwing strikes from guard but Varlamovs blocks nicely.
Bateson distracts Varlamovs with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Bateson postures up in Varlamovs's guard and throws a big left but Varlamovs blocks it.
Bateson distracts Varlamovs with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Varlamovs pulls Bateson in close to prevent any damage.

Varlamovs working for a triangle but Bateson defends it easily.
Bateson landing some decent shots from guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bateson postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Bateson is looking to work some ground and pound but Varlamovs has wrist control.
Bateson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Varlamovs's head.
Bateson is looking to work some ground and pound but Varlamovs has wrist control.
Bateson cracks Varlamovs with a solid left hand.
Varlamovs trying to control the position.
Bateson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bateson preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bateson lands a couple of elbows.
Bateson lands a couple of digs.
Varlamovs tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bateson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bateson with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Averill Bateson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bateson scoring with some ground and pound.
Bateson is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Varlamovs is looking for a triangle but Bateson pushes his legs off easily.
Bateson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Bateson won't allow Varlamovs to sweep him here.
Bateson with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Bateson throwing strikes from guard but Varlamovs blocks nicely.
Bateson lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bateson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Bateson scoring with some ground and pound.
Bateson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bateson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Varlamovs working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bateson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Varlamovs is tightening it up a little... Bateson has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Bateson reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Bateson taps out! Nice BJJ there by Varlamovs!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:43 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Stepan Varlamovs!