Rewatch the full fight between Bryan Battle and AJ Fletcher ahead of UFC Vegas 88 on March 16th. Tune in to UFC Vegas 88 …
if you didn’t see on the graphic shortest reach among active welterweights in the UFC for AJ FL 67 in Brian battle long range he entered the UFC as a middleweight for his first two fights and it’s how he won The Ultimate Fighter he’s down to 17 heavy leg kick for Fletcher to start heavy leg kick knew let’s go 10 in reach Advantage for battle I mean that’s a lot it really is and I’m was saying on the walk what we’re starting to see now is Brian battle fulfilling his potential I mean ever since the ultimate fighter where which he won he’s looked great he’s been a solid Prospect last time out 14 second victory over Gabe green which was just 14 seconds of non-stop violent action but he said it’s validation for all the work that I’m putting in I’m starting to believe in myself he feels he can win this fight on the ground on the feet with his natural ability with the reach Advantage keep an eye on Brian battle I mean listen AJ Fletcher is you know he’s capable of some great things had a big win over tber gimbo in his last outing but you see the composure how calm Brian battle is really starting to you know settle in as a mixed martial artist to sleep here settle in all you want though you don’t want to take too many more of those leg got magic you got magic little with your you don’t have to magic magic Brian battle starting to get some credit as the betting favorite in this one that’s what a 14-second knockout would do but regularly underestimated dating back to the fact that he was the last pick for team volcanos on his season of the ultim fighter made his way through the show finished Andre Petroski and interestingly enough so far we haven’t really see him cry and throw any punches it’s just all been kicks I love that because when you think of how tall he is those legs of his are literally a jab to the body the way he’s throwing them you’re just keeping the range at your range when you keep that kick to the body it’s a jab it’s like throwing that lead jab that’s a nice attempt by AJ flet and he’s probably waiting for some punches from Brian reason I say that is because obviously being the shorter guy he’s got to get on the inside wait for Brian to throw and as he’s bringing the arms back to the chin that’s when you step in you take your head off the center line use the feet to close the distance bang bang bang two three punches and go to work what I love about Brian battle that what he’s doing here is he’s not following up that t kick because he’s Landing the jab with the leg so then if you lean into a shorter guy now you’re leading over your legs he’s just keeping the tap out there and hoping AJ runs into his hand hands he just stands his ground and throws the now when AJ comes in he’ll connect the hands right there but before that don’t throw your tee and then connect the hands CU you’re going to the shorter fighter bring the shorter fighter to you and that’s what Brian battle’s doing so well right now AJ found the left hook there those ts are the front cakes to the stomach they are nice the red yeah I was just going to say look at the damage starting to mount on the to be fair the skin tone of AJ Fletcher fly could land on him and would see a mar AJ the ghost I me AJ the ghost Fletcher is that his nickname that’s his oh is he really I did I not know that he is also very elusive I mean The Stance switch of Fletcher makes him a little taller it it’s hard to find the timing the Rhythm that’s another reason why I think you’re not seeing a lot of hands out of battle just that t kick it’s safer at the range and The Stance switch and the speed of AJ just throw that te out there just touch him and then find him with the hands after a nice one AJ’s getting through he’s Landing some shots he’s landed a lot of heavy kicks of his own when he’s choosing to throw he’s Landing there’s been a couple of significant blows that found the chin of Brian battle see Brian now closing the distance giving AJ less room to maneuver there’s a lot of pop on those shots from Fletcher as well and notice they’re all hooks power shots Fletcher working under Mark Montoya this the first fight after moving to Denver and working with theam at factory X over the last few [Music] mons already would have been large if he could have scored the taked down in the final minute of the first round instead they back up to the fence and work along the Clincher Buck the KN a battle in the pocket is where aj Fletcher will have his success always because he’s a shorter man you got to get inside that’s where he’s going to be able to land the big shots and perhaps that will swing the round in the favor of AJ Fletcher after it was close throughout without question Brendon without question round two coming [Music] up probably leading this fight and that’s what Tom Zigler in the corner Brian battle acknowledged he probably stole that first round with that big shot they said don’t let him l lull you to sleep trust what we worked on it’s going to be there we’re talking about Ling to sleep we saw Brian Bassel very compos very calm and in control maybe now we’re going to see a sense of urgency maybe now start to go on the attack and be mean already turning up the volume through the first 30 seconds of round two AJ’s a powerful guy though that elbow for the punches and he landed hard kicks as well in round one yeah the more pressure you see from Brian battle the more more of this you’re going to see out of AJ Fletcher the more you see the taller guy pressure he’s going to shoot he’s going to clinch he’s got to stay in the pocket you can’t have the taller man also pressuring that’s nice tactics by Fletcher to know that he’s got to be here in two weeks unbeaten in his last 12 fights Grant Dawson rides this fight with a ton of momentum but there’s a king waiting to stop the streak 46 fight veteran the popular Bobby King UFC off next week but back with UFC Fight Night Dawson versus green on ESPN plus coming up October 7th battle work in the body this time from in close with knees after a lot of T kicks through the first five minutes and they’re getting through here yeah those are great needs from Battle [Music] here stay busy stay busy stay [Music] busy yeah AJ’s going to get off the fence here they not the biggest blows but Brian battle is winning this battle pardon the [Applause] [Music] phrasing AJ going to use that left underhook that he had a second ago use it to turn Brian off the fence and vice versa you go one way go the other this coach’s cam is brought to you by quvo AR Montoya in the corner of Fletcher e obviously some cold words from Mark Montoya toate and he’ll use that to get his legs back use a butterfly hook you need it yeah scramble back scramble back he’s almost up he’s got to post on that right hand too late he’s down oh submission attempt here Cent you for a kamora straight arm [Music] lock settles into top half guard battle with under two minutes to go in the second round Brian battle’s Corner saying don’t try for kamur on those little arms he has the shortest reach in the entire division keep underhook stay busy with that [Music] left big response so far in round two for battle Yeah a big response so flet is going to change something he’s got to get back to his feet he’s going to work he’s going to use that right elbow try and pull back to full guard pull his right leg through get the full guard push on the head make some separation try and hit a sweep he’s a little bit too content right now to lie here I know of course a lot of that’s to do with the pressure and the technique of Brian battle but he’s giving this round up got I think I think you’re right B I think he’s kind of taken this off to be honest AJ Fletcher like he’s got more I think he has more in him than these movements he’s just kind of staying content in these positions and you’ll give a round up like this to Brian battle if you’re not careful oh now battle tried to fish that right arm underneath he’s on the back now both hooks in right arm coming under that’s it and it’s getting close is deep got 30 seconds Fletcher does not want to tap but he has no choice Brian the butcher another stoppage victory and this welterweight is starting to heat up backto back victories in 2023 for Brian battle cannot accept these positions in these fights as you saw AJ Fletcher took that bottom position and instead of scrambling and having urgency to get up like he was on fire on the floor he stayed down here and right now Brian battle took advantage of the position you see him here he throws the hooks in Jiu-Jitsu 101 start threatening the choke once you got the hooks and having that long frame I mean the leverage that he must have here once he gets it locked in here it’s that’s all she wrote that thing is sunk in and we’re we’re on a timer at this point and AJ flescher Fletcher ran out of time ladies and gentlemen the rear naked joke submission comes officially 4 minutes 32 seconds of round number two your winner Brian the butcher better