PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Vanna Phommathep (ranked 4665 p4p, 4785 weight class) and Julio Balestrin (ranked 0 p4p, 550 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Phommathep
vs
Balestrin

172 cm
25
170
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
182
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Very confident

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 The Island, Vanna Phommathep!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Julio Balestrin!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Peter Branson and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Phommathep throws a front kick aimed at Balestrin's knee but Balestrin avoids it well.
Phommathep takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Phommathep swings widly with a right hand
and Balestrin connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Vanna Phommathep seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Phommathep staying out of range there.
Phommathep wants to clinch but Balestrin slips to the side
and Phommathep takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Phommathep throws a leg kick
and Balestrin counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Phommathep clinches.
Balestrin lands a body punch in the clinch.

Balestrin breaks the clinch.
Balestrin changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Balestrin lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Phommathep at a distance.
Phommathep throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Phommathep wants to clinch up but Balestrin keeps it at a distance.
Despite the aggression on Balestrin's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Phommathep throws a hook but Balestrin blocks it.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Phommathep lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Balestrin has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Balestrin and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Balestrin now looks to counter with a shot at the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phommathep tries to land a leg kick but Balestrin saw it coming and moves away.
Balestrin blocks a low kick nicely.
Balestrin throws a counter combo.
Phommathep slips a jab from Balestrin.
Phommathep looks to clinch
and Balestrin counters with a stiff right hand.
Phommathep throws a hook to the side of Balestrin's head but Balestrin sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Balestrin swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Phommathep wants to clinch
and Balestrin counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Balestrin goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Phommathep throws the left hand but Balestrin avoids the punch easily.
It seemed like Balestrin was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Balestrin scores with a nice strike.
Phommathep steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Balestrin.
Balestrin throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balestrin misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Phommathep.
Phommathep throws a leg kick
and Phommathep takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Balestrin is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Phommathep had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Balestrin cracks Phommathep with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Balestrin has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Phommathep walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Balestrin checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Phommathep waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Balestrin.
Balestrin looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Phommathep wants to clinch up but Balestrin keeps it at a distance.
Balestrin misses with a wild combination.
Phommathep slips under a jab from Balestrin.
Phommathep tries to score with a low kick but Balestrin moves his leg out of the way.
Phommathep misses with a leg kick
and Balestrin connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Balestrin lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Phommathep tries to clinch there but Balestrin circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phommathep tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Balestrin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Phommathep tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Balestrin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Balestrin swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Balestrin misses with a body shot.
Phommathep uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Balestrin.
Phommathep uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Balestrin.
Phommathep tries to close the distance and clinch but Balestrin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Despite the aggression on Balestrin's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Phommathep misses with an uppercut. Balestrin saw that one coming.
Phommathep tries to grapple but his opponent circles
enabling Balestrin to counter with a crisp jab.
Phommathep wants to clinch
and Balestrin counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phommathep ducks under a wild hook from Balestrin.
Phommathep tries to clinch but Balestrin moves away
and Balestrin counters with a nice uppercut.
Phommathep takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
The crowd cheers as Balestrin lands an impressive looking overhand right. Phommathep doesn't seem phased though.
Phommathep misses with a hook
and Balestrin counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Phommathep has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Balestrin finds it's way round the side to connect with Phommathep's head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Phommathep tries to clinch but Balestrin is having none of it.
Balestrin looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Balestrin checks a leg kick.
Balestrin looks to land a left hand but Phommathep moved out of range nicely.
As Balestrin tries to get set, Phommathep tries to push him back and clinch up but Balestrin manages to avoid the attempt.
Balestrin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Balestrin throws a right and a left that Phommathep avoids nicely.
A jab from Phommathep misses.
Balestrin lands a jab.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Julio Balestrin dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Phommathep closes the distance and clinches.
Phommathep misses with the head strike.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Phommathep fails to land.
Phommathep swings wildly with an uppercut but Balestrin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Phommathep has Balestrin pushed against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Phommathep is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Balestrin's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Phommathep is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Vanna Phommathep.

Phommathep clinches with his opponent.
A body shot lands from Balestrin.
Phommathep fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Balestrin manages to break the clinch.
Balestrin has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balestrin connects with a single shot there.
Phommathep throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Phommathep wants to clinch up but Balestrin keeps it at a distance.
Balestrin connects with a jab.
Balestrin displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Phommathep throws out the jab.
A little jabbing left from Balestrin on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Phommathep throws a leg kick that is checked
and Balestrin counters with a stiff right hand.
Balestrin lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Phommathep at a distance.
Balestrin 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.
Phommathep throws a right hand that misses
and Phommathep takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Phommathep tries to clinch but Balestrin moves out of range.
Phommathep tries to clinch there but Balestrin circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Phommathep looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
As Phommathep backs off Balestrin throws a huge counter combo but Phommathep manages to avoid it all.
Balestrin looks to throw the jab but Phommathep is out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phommathep throws a jab when Balestrin was well out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Phommathep looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Balestrin misses with an uppercut.
Phommathep tries to counter by clinching up but Balestrin breaks away and moves out of range.
Balestrin slips a jab from Phommathep.
Phommathep throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Phommathep clinches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Phommathep is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Balestrin is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Balestrin manages to break the clinch.
Phommathep closes the distance looking to clinch
and Balestrin counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phommathep closes the distance but Balestrin moves to the side
and Balestrin connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Balestrin misses with an uppercut.

Balestrin gets tackled into the cage by Phommathep. Phommathep maintains the clinch.

Balestrin's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Phommathep looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Phommathep is looking to clinch.
Balestrin circles away from the clinch attempt.
Balestrin jabs at Phommathep's body.
Phommathep tries to clinch up
and Balestrin counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Phommathep throws out a loose jab but Balestrin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Phommathep doesn't manage to clinch there - Balestrin circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balestrin swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Phommathep is looking to clinch but Balestrin is avoiding it.
Balestrin is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Phommathep with a body shot.
Phommathep slips a jab from Balestrin.
Phommathep tries to clinch up but Balestrin circles away and keeps his distance.
Phommathep misses with a looping left.
Balestrin lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Phommathep tries to clinch up.
Phommathep wants to clinch but Balestrin slips to the side
and Phommathep takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Balestrin throws a nice looking combination but Phommathep bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Balestrin ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Balestrin throws a right and a left that both miss.
Phommathep staying out of range there.
Julio Balestrin seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Balestrin misses with an uppercut. Phommathep saw that one coming.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Julio Balestrin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Balestrin throws the left hand but Phommathep avoids the punch easily.

Phommathep closes the distance and clinches.
Phommathep throws a punch but it's blocked by Balestrin.
Phommathep is trying to pull guard but Balestrin has him pressed against the cage.
Balestrin stalling.
A nice right hand lands inside from Balestrin.
Phommathep is looking to control Balestrin's arms but Balestrin gets an underhook and turns him. Now Phommathep has his back to the cage.
Balestrin lands a right hand that snaps the head of Phommathep backwards.
Phommathep prevents Balestrin from breaking the clinch.
Phommathep misses with the head strike.
Phommathep is trying to maintain a safe position but Balestrin gets an underhook and turns Phommathep into the cage.
Balestrin wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balestrin lands a left hand.
Phommathep's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Balestrin blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Balestrin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Balestrin punishes Phommathep's body with a nice straight punch.
Phommathep throws a looping overhand right but Balestrin ducks down to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phommathep wants to clinch up but Balestrin keeps it at a distance.
Balestrin lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Phommathep circles away quickly and effectively.
Phommathep throws a poor cross that misses
and Balestrin connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Phommathep tries to clinch there but Balestrin circles away.
Phommathep moves in looking to clinch but Balestrin pushes him off.
Balestrin looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Phommathep misses with a left hand
and Balestrin cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Phommathep misses with a hook
and Balestrin counters with a straight right hand.

Balestrin gets tackled into the cage by Phommathep. Phommathep maintains the clinch.

Balestrin breaks from the clinch.
Phommathep tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Phommathep takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Balestrin thows a left - swing and a miss!
Balestrin lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Balestrin throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Phommathep walks into a straight right hand from Balestrin.
Balestrin swats away the attempt to clinch by Phommathep.
Phommathep takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Phommathep closes the distance but Balestrin moves to the side
and Balestrin counters with a lovely straight right hand!
The fight stays on the outside here - Phommathep looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Balestrin lunges at Phommathep with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Phommathep's hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phommathep misses with a looping left.
A bone on bone clash there as Balestrin blocks the leg kick.
A nice side step and Balestrin releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Phommathep tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Phommathep takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Balestrin throws a hook but Phommathep blocks it.
Balestrin circles away from the clinch attempt
and Balestrin connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Phommathep walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Balestrin checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Phommathep moves in looking to clinch but Balestrin pushes him off.
Balestrin throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Phommathep stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Phommathep throws a big shot that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balestrin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Phommathep was well out of range. Poor timing from Balestrin.
Balestrin scores with a three punch combo!
Phommathep throws a chopping leg kick but Balestrin manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Balestrin throws out a counter right but Phommathep avoids it with no problem.
Phommathep loads up on a big right hand but Balestrin slips the punch.
A swing and a miss from Phommathep.
Balestrin throws a body shot but no joy.
Phommathep wants to clinch up but Balestrin keeps it at a distance.
Phommathep throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Phommathep showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Balestrin.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Phommathep attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Vanna Phommathep has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Julio Balestrin is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Phommathep tries to clinch up
and Balestrin cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

And that's the end of the fight!
Julio Balestrin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Balestrin winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Julio Balestrin!