PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Arturo Wuzalak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bato Bato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Wuzalak
vs
Bato

180 cm
25
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
25
165 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Arturo Wuzalak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Bato Bato!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Peter Branson and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bato changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Wuzalak looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Bato misses with the ground and pound.
Wuzalak is looking for a sweep.
Bato landing strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wuzalak can't do much from the bottom here.
Bato controlling the position from side mount.
Wuzalak is not content to let Bato control the position.
Wuzalak can't do much from the bottom here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bato throws a strike aimed at the side of Wuzalak's head but Wuzalak avoids it well.
Bato in side control, throwing shots but Wuzalak defends.
Wuzalak on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Bato tries to score with some ground and pound. Wuzalak controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
The strikes coming from Bato are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bato scoring with punches and elbows.
Bato creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Wuzalak sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bato wants to lay and pray for a moment but Wuzalak keeps working.
Bato looks up at the clock and then as Wuzalak takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Bato smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Wuzalak tries to buck Bato off but Bato is having none of it.
Bato is looking to take a break and control but Wuzalak is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bato landing strikes.
Bato working the body and head with strikes.
Wuzalak parries the strikes from Bato easily there. Bato is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Wuzalak to escape.
Wuzalak takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Bato throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Bato is looking to take a break and control but Wuzalak is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bato scores with punches from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wuzalak is working to avoid the ground and pound but Bato connects with a decent elbow.
Bato throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Bato throws a strike aimed at the side of Wuzalak's head but Wuzalak avoids it well.
Bato creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Wuzalak sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Wuzalak struggling a bit here.
Bato throwing strikes but Wuzalak manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Bato struggling a bit here.
Bato sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Bato wants to control but Wuzalak is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Bato controlling the position well.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Bato looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Bato scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Wuzalak bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Wuzalak is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bato Bato seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A left and a right from Bato both land. Nice combination.
Bato throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Wuzalak.

Wuzalak manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Bato on his heels. He'll look to pass Bato's guard now, I'm sure.
Wuzalak throws a big elbow that misses.
Bato looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Wuzalak slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Bato.
Bato controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Bato has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Wuzalak is working away from the top position though.
Still in half guard, Wuzalak seems content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bato taking some punishment here, with Wuzalak in his half guard.
Wuzalak keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Wuzalak is keen to just control but Bato is a slippery customer.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Bato feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Wuzalak has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Bato has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Bato has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Wuzalak uses from the top position.
Bato working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Wuzalak.
Wuzalak is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Wuzalak won't allow Bato to sweep him here.
Wuzalak controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Bato bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Wuzalak's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Wuzalak looking to score a takedown here. Bato is defending well but Wuzalak drives through and ends up in Bato's guard.
Bato throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Bato looking to control but Wuzalak passes into half guard.
Bato trying to hold on to Wuzalak's head to control him but Wuzalak postures up.
Bato is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Wuzalak jumps into side control!
Bato has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Wuzalak moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bato gets back to half guard.
Bato is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bato is looking to improve his position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Bato gets caught flat footed, as Wuzalak shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Bato trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Bato trying to control the position here.
Bato is trying to keep Wuzalak in close.

Wuzalak stands up and waves to Bato to follow him.
Wuzalak dodges the punch combination from Bato.
Bato wants to clinch up but Wuzalak keeps it at a distance.

Wuzalak closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Bato to the mat! Bato manages to get full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wuzalak loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Our spies down at at Cozad The Island inform us that Bato has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bato wants to sweep here but Wuzalak controlling him for the moment.
Wuzalak controlling from the top position.

Bato is working an open guard so Wuzalak takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Bato shoots in and bounces Wuzalak off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Wuzalak trying to control the position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Bato's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Bato lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Bato throwing strikes from guard but Wuzalak blocks nicely.
Bato trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bato Bato has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wuzalak has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Bato is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

Bato has picked Wuzalak up - he's going for a ride! Bato dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Wuzalak has hold of Bato's hands but Bato slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Bato wants to pass to mount but Wuzalak is defending the position.
Bato is trying to control the action in half guard but Wuzalak is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Wuzalak is looking to escape.
Wuzalak wants to improve his position but Bato is controlling well.
Bato is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Wuzalak is looking to escape.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wuzalak has his hands clasped together around Bato's back. He's all about the action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bato throws a series of punches but Wuzalak avoids them all with ease.
Bato misses with a two punch combination.

Wuzalak manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Wuzalak goes for a takedown in the clinch but Bato prevents it.

Bato jumps guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bato keeping moving, preventing Wuzalak from controlling successfully.
Bato is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
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 Arturo Wuzalak will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Bato fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Wuzalak to the ground. Bato is now in Wuzalak's guard.
Wuzalak is trying to keep Bato in close.
Wuzalak is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Bato trying to control but Wuzalak is working from the bottom.
Bato slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Wuzalak is trying to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bato creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

Wuzalak sneaks out the side door and pushes Bato away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bato misses with a two punch combination.
Wuzalak pivots, looking for a leg kick but Bato is out of range and Wuzalak settles back down.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wuzalak shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Bato missing with punches from the bottom.

Wuzalak is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Bato wants to control but Wuzalak is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Bato keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Bato trying to control from the bottom.
Wuzalak prevents Bato from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Bato is trying to control but can't.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Wuzalak fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Bato sprawls well initially but Wuzalak persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Bato makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Bato.
Wuzalak trying to control but Bato is working from the bottom.
Bato lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
Wuzalak has momentary wrist control but Bato slips an elbow through the middle.
Bato looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wuzalak working a defensive guard here.
Bato works over Wuzalak with some ground and pound from guard.
Wuzalak looking to control.
Bato working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Wuzalak's head.
Wuzalak working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bato.
Bato wants to control from the top but Wuzalak keeps moving.
Wuzalak wants to stand up but Bato is controlling him.
Bato chips away with some ground and pound.
Bato trying to control the position from guard on top but Wuzalak is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Bato avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Bato rushes Wuzalak and presses him up against the cage.

Bato jumps guard and drags Wuzalak to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Bato is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Wuzalak is staying active underneath Bato, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Bato thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Bato landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bato stops Wuzalak from getting back to his feet.
Bato scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Bato performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Bato Bato.
Well Bato 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 28:29
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bato Bato!