PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bryan Habana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rocky Scalante (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Scalante's choice of entrance music: Started from the bottom. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Habana
vs
Scalante

191 cm
28
195 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

188 cm
41
185 lbs
25 - 16 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bryan Habana!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rocky Scalante!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Paul Gruel and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Scalante shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Habana as he avoids it easily.
Scalante just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromHabana.

Scalante shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Habana is looking to control Scalante's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Habana avoid being mounted?
Scalante prevents Habana from improving his position.
Habana is pressing down on Scalante's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Habana is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Habana is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Habana looking for a guillotine here but Scalante defends easily.
Scalante really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Habana. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Habana working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Scalante doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Scalante manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Habana is looking for a triangle but Scalante pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Habana looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Habana looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Scalante has picked Habana up and slammed him! Habana can't keep hold of the triangle and Scalante manages to pass to side control!
Habana can't do much from the bottom here.
Habana is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Scalante has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Scalante wants to lay and pray for a moment but Habana keeps working.
Habana struggling a bit here.
Habana manages to work his way to half guard, despite Scalante's best efforts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Habana gets back to full guard.

Habana is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Habana looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Scalante has picked Habana up and slammed him! Habana can't keep hold of the triangle and Scalante manages to pass to side control!
Habana wants to control but Scalante postures up.
Habana regains half guard.
Habana is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Habana looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Habana works his way to full guard. Good work.

Habana has his foot on Scalante's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Scalante works his way back into a safe position though.

Habana had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Scalante defends it easily.
Scalante engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Habana looking for subs off his back but Scalante has passed one foot through into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Bryan Habana will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Scalante showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Habana.
Scalante scoring well with a low kick there.
Habana tries to clinch up but Scalante circles away and keeps his distance.
Scalante slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Scalante looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Habana is fending him off so far but Scalante persists. Nope, Habana circles away and we're back to standing.
Habana lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Habana blocks a head kick by Scalante.
Habana went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Rocky Scalante seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Habana tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Habana slips a straight right by Scalante.
Habana throws a sloppy head kick and Scalante moves out of range easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Habana scores with a leg kick.
Scalante looks to land a combination but Habana avoids it well.
Scalante avoids the head kick by Habana.
Scalante fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Habana manages to avoid it.
Habana throws a head kick but Scalante moves out of range.
Habana has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Habana throws a sloppy head kick
and Scalante counters with a left and a right that stings Habana.
Scalante looks to land a combination but Habana avoids it well.
A right-left combo lands from Scalante.
Scalante walks into a jab.
Scalante misses the jab.
Habana throws a big counter combination but Scalante scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Scalante swinging wildly here.
Scalante takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Scalante blocks a head kick by Habana.
No joy there for Scalante, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A combination from Scalante does no damage.
Scalante scores with a three punch combo!
Scalante scores with a head kick.

Habana is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Habana is looking to slow Scalante down with leg kicks.
Oh Habana is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Habana, right into the meat.
Habana fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Scalante manages to avoid it.
Habana seems to have got his legs back now.
Nice shot lands for Habana.
A jab from Habana finds it's way through Scalante's defenses.
Scalante misses with a straight left.
Scalante lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Habana circles away quickly and effectively.
Scalante throws an overhand right that lands on Habana's shoulder, as Habana tries to avoid the shot.
Bryan Habana is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Scalante blocks a head kick by Habana.
Scalante scores with a nice strike.
Scalante thows a left - swing and a miss!
Habana dodges the punch combination from Scalante.
Habana is looking for a counter combo.
Habana takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Scalante throws a right hand that misses
and Habana counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Scalante shoots in but Habana avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Scalante misses with a two punch combination.

Habana darts in and clinches Scalante up against the cage.
Habana throws a knee to the head but misses.
I was talking to Habana's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Scalante tries to throw a body punch but Habana avoids it by throwing Scalante back against the cage.
Scalante goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Habana misses with a hook from the clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Habana throws an elbow but misses.
Habana has Scalante pushed against the cage.
Habana blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Habana manages to break the clinch.
Scalante scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Scalante goes for a double leg but Habana avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Habana continues to drive forward.
Bryan Habana has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rocky Scalante.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Habana drives through and clinches with Scalante against the cage.
Scalante misses with the head strike.
Habana blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Habana lands a good knee to the midsection. Scalante won't want to take too many of those.
Scalante is breathing heavily.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Scalante as Habana tries to tie him up.
Habana lands an elbow that stopped Scalante in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Rocky Scalante has been cut.
Habana lands an uppercut.
Habana landing knees to the head.
Habana blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Habana tries to throw a body punch but Scalante avoids it by throwing Habana back against the cage.
Habana blocks an uppercut.

Habana breaks from the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Scalante gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Habana lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Scalante misses with a right hand
and Habana counters with a leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rocky Scalante will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Rocky Scalante's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Habana lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Scalante throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Scalante looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Habana is looking to counter with head kicks.
Scalante will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Scalante swats away the attempt to clinch by Habana.
Scalante throws a head kick but Habana moves out of range.

Habana closes the distance and pushes Scalante back into the cage.
Habana lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Habana blocks a body shot from Scalante.
Scalante has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Habana seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Scalante can turn it around.

Habana breaks from the clinch.
Habana connects with a nice looking jab.
Scalante goes for a double leg but Habana avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Habana continues to drive forward.
Rocky Scalante is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Habana connects with a high kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Scalante misses with a wild combination.
Nice defenses there by Habana.
Habana quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Habana lands with a nice body kick.

Habana closes the distance and clinches.
Scalante misses with a punch to the body.
Scalante misses with the head strike.
Habana tries to throw a body punch but Scalante avoids it by throwing Habana back against the cage.
Habana avoiding damage.
Scalante tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Habana's elbow.
Habana wants to stall.
Habana blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Scalante tries a body shot but Habana blocks it.
Nice elbow from Habana.
Habana throws an elbow but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Scalante lands a left hand that snaps the head of Habana backwards.
Habana blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Habana escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Scalante misses with a wild combination.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A nice right hand lands inside from Scalante.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Habana breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Scalante throws a good cross that connects.
Scalante fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Scalante misses with a takedown

and Habana counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Bryan Habana has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rocky Scalante.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Habana.
Scalante takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Habana makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Scalante misses with some punches.
Scalante fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Habana creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Habana digs a right hand into Scalante's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Scalante's gas tank.
Habana misses with a knee to the head.
Habana creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Scalante's defenses.
Scalante lands a right hand that snaps the head of Habana backwards.
Habana lands an elbow that stopped Scalante in his tracks for a moment.
Habana blocks an uppercut.
Habana taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Scalante misses with the head strike.
Scalante misses with the head strike.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Habana landing some nice looking knees to the body.
A shot in the inside from Habana.
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!
Scalante tries to throw a body punch but Habana avoids it by throwing Scalante back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Habana stalling against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Habana throws an elbow but misses.
Scalante misses with a hook to the ribs.
Habana using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Habana softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Habana.
Scalante throws a punch but it's blocked by Habana.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Scalante.

Habana's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Scalante looks to land a body kick but Habana moved away.
Habana cracks Scalante with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Scalante pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Habana tries to close the distance and clinch up but Scalante swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Scalante might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Habana lands a leg kick that knocks Scalante off balance momentarily.
Scalante fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bryan Habana showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Habana has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 30:28
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bryan Habana!
Bryan Habana gave a mention to Bunny Clothing in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).
Rocky Scalante was interviewed post fight and said '“What does it mean to be the best? It means you have to be better than the number two guy. But what gratification is there in that? He's a loser—that’s why he's number two.” '.