PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Derek Bateman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodrigo Zarco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Bateman
vs
Zarco

200 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
20
180 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Prefers standup

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Derek Bateman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rodrigo Zarco!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Steve Montenegro and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bateman shoots in for a double leg but Zarco sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Zarco throws a sloppy head kick and Bateman moves out of range easily.
Nice takedown defense from Zarco. No joy for Bateman on that attempt.
Zarco tries to bum rush Bateman with a series of wild strikes but Bateman uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Zarco will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Zarco gets tackled into the cage by Bateman. Bateman maintains the clinch.

Bateman has hold of one of Zarco's legs. Zarco is fighting the takedown attempt but Bateman gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Bateman passes into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bateman controlling the pace.

Bateman is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Zarco doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Bateman.
Zarco on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Zarco really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bateman. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zarco is trying to stand.
Zarco tries to kick Bateman off in order to stand up. Bateman Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Zarco is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Bateman has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Bateman decides to stand up, so the ref orders Zarco to his feet.
Bateman darts in looking for a takedown but Zarco gets double underhooks and turns Bateman into the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Derek Bateman. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Bateman's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zarco stuns Bateman with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bateman closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Zarco did well to prevent Bateman getting side control.
Bateman is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Bateman will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Bateman looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Zarco wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bateman content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Derek Bateman.
Zarco feints a jab promting Bateman to slip. Zarco then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Bateman slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zarco keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Zarco scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Zarco paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

Bateman clinches with his opponent.
Bateman controlling the action here for a moment.
Zarco is trying to break the clinch but Bateman is controlling him.
Zarco wants to get back to striking at distance but Bateman won't allow it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bateman keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Zarco's efforts to push away.
We've been informed that Zarco has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Zarco wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Bateman has him pressed against the cage.
Bateman keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Zarco's efforts to push away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Bateman closes the distance and pushes Zarco back into the cage.

Bateman ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Bateman no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Zarco has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Bateman is proving hard to escape from.
Bateman wants to sweep here but Zarco controlling him for the moment.
Bateman on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Bateman tries to get out of the position.
Bateman is working hard here to advance position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zarco being controlled here momentarily.
Zarco has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Bateman is proving hard to escape from.

That's one minute gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Zarco goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Zarco lands a two punch combo.

Bateman rushes Zarco and presses him up against the cage.
Zarco is trying to break the clinch but Bateman is controlling him.

Bateman pulls guard successfully.
Bateman manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Zarco manages to get himself to full guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Bateman's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Zarco wants to stand but Bateman is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bateman controls from within his opponent's guard.
Bateman sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Zarco's guard.
Zarco tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Bateman manages to move to mount!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bateman content just to control the position here.
Bateman scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zarco wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Bateman scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Bateman controlling the pace for now.
Bateman scoring with strikes but Zarco is staying in there.
Zarco is breathing heavily.
BOOM! Bateman connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Bateman landing strikes from the mount.

Zarco is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bateman postures up and lands a whopping elbow - oh that's hurt Zarco bigstyle! Two more strikes land for Bateman and the fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Derek Bateman!