PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hio Bazard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and George Goretti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Goretti is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: I'm Too Sexy. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Bazard
vs
Goretti

165 cm
19
135 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

163 cm
19
141 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Powerful

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Hio Bazard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, George Goretti!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Matti Vanhoillinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bazard swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Goretti throws out a counter right but Bazard avoids it with no problem.
Goretti takes a swing at Bazard's ribcage but misses.
Bazard slips under a jab from Goretti.
Goretti blocks a jab.
Bazard avoids the body shot from Goretti.
A shot to the liver by Goretti. Beautiful body shot.
Bazard is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Goretti.
Bazard throws an off balance right hand

and Goretti counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Goretti.
Goretti lands a nice uppercut.
Bazard swings wildly with an uppercut but Goretti uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Goretti gets through Bazard's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Goretti lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Bazard backwards.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Goretti creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goretti tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Bazard tries to break free but Goretti pushes him back against the cage.
Come on Goretti - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
A left hand lands to the body for Goretti.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Goretti throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Goretti managing to block the knees to the body from Bazard.
Bazard swings wildly with an uppercut but Goretti uses good head movement to avoid it.
Goretti struggles to land a body shot inside as Bazard controls his hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goretti misses with a hook to the ribs.
Goretti misses with a punch to the body.
Goretti lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Bazard backwards.
Goretti will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Bazard up against the cage.
Goretti tries a body shot but Bazard blocks it.
Bazard is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Goretti is keeping busy.
Goretti lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goretti has Bazard pressed against the cage, preventing Bazard from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Bazard trying to stall but Goretti improves his position.
Still in the clinch, Goretti scores with a nice short uppercut.
Good body shot from Goretti.
A head punch on the inside from Goretti fails to land.
Bazard swings wildly with an uppercut but Goretti uses good head movement to avoid it.
A hook to the body from Goretti.
Goretti lands a body shot.
Goretti throws a punch but it's blocked by Bazard.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bazard being controlled against the cage.
Goretti can't find room to land a body shot as Bazard controls the action.
Goretti scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Bazard blocking some punches.
Goretti cracks Bazard with a nice body shot.
Goretti has Bazard pushed against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Goretti tries to throw a body punch but Bazard avoids it by throwing Goretti back against the cage.
A right hand to the body from Goretti.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Goretti clinches up with Bazard and pushes him back against the cage.
Goretti lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Bazard.
Goretti is struggling to control the position.
Goretti goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A hook to the body from Goretti.
Goretti is leaning against Bazard and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Goretti tries a body shot but Bazard blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Goretti misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Goretti misses with the head strike.
With the fighters up against the cage, Bazard throws an elbow but misses.
Goretti misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goretti cracks Bazard with a nice body shot.
Goretti effectively controlling the action here.
Bazard lands a nice uppercut.
Goretti softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Bazard is trying to break the clinch but Goretti is controlling him.
Good body shot from Goretti.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Goretti.
Goretti misses with a body punch.
Goretti tries to work over Bazard's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Goretti.
Goretti has a couple of punches blocked by Bazard.
Goretti leaning his opponent against the cage.
Goretti lands with a short shot to the head.
Goretti has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Goretti stalling in the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Goretti as Bazard tries to tie him up.
Goretti lands with a left to the head.
Goretti on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bazard misses with a hook from the clinch.
Goretti lands a left hand that snaps the head of Bazard backwards.
The referee is keeping an eye on Goretti - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
A short uppercut from Goretti.
A short right from Goretti on the inside.
Goretti on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Bazard is struggling to control the position.
Goretti blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bazard throws a head punch that misses.
Bazard blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Goretti tries a body shot but Bazard blocks it.
George Goretti seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Bazard wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A right hand to the body from Goretti.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Bazard.
Goretti works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A short right from Goretti.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Goretti leaning against his opponent.
Goretti lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Bazard backwards.
Goretti makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Goretti showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Goretti has closed the distance and engaged Bazard in a clinch.
Goretti lands with a right to the head.
Good body shot from Bazard.
A short left from Bazard.
Goretti leaning his opponent against the cage.
Goretti throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Goretti lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Bazard blocks a body shot from Goretti.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bazard's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Bazard throws a head punch that misses.
Goretti's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
The crowd are getting on Goretti's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Goretti fails to land.
Goretti doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Goretti is working Bazard over against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goretti manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Bazard trying to control the position but instead, Goretti has worked for underhooks and has pushed Bazard into the cage.
Goretti has a couple of punches blocked by Bazard.
Bazard prevents a body shot from Goretti.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Goretti.
Bazard can't break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bazard wants to break the clinch but can't.
Goretti avoiding damage.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Goretti in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Goretti.
Goretti lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A short uppercut from Goretti.
Goretti has Bazard pushed against the cage.
Goretti lands with a right to the head.
A short right from Goretti.
Bazard throws a punch but it's blocked by Goretti.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Goretti misses with a punch to the body.
Goretti lands a right hand.
Goretti scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Goretti dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Bazard lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Goretti is stalling here.
Goretti tries to work over Bazard's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hio Bazard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
George Goretti is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Goretti has a couple of punches blocked by Bazard.

And that's the end of the fight!
George Goretti comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Goretti has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... George Goretti!
Our winner, George Goretti, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.