PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ike Villanova (ranked 4272 p4p, 4422 weight class) and Sylvester Balboa (ranked 510 p4p, 520 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.

Villanova
vs
Balboa

183 cm
16
173
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
16
178
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

Nutritional Shaved Ice

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 Montreal, Ike Villanova!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Sylvester Balboa!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Yves DeLean and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balboa will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Balboa avoids a punch combination nicely.
Villanova misses with a double jab.
Balboa looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
No luck for Balboa with that takedown attempt.
Ike Villanova has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sylvester Balboa.
Villanova stuffs the takedown.
Villanova swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Villanova fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Balboa fails with the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Villanova lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Balboa circles away quickly and effectively.
Balboa shoots in but Villanova avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Some wild striking there from Villanova.
Balboa dives in and grabs Villanova's left leg, looking for a takedown. Villanova pushes down on Balboa's head and hops out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Villanova avoids it really well and circles away.
Villanova keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Villanova seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Balboa.
Villanova lands a nice shot that snaps Balboa's head back.
Balboa shoots in but Villanova avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Balboa dives in for a single leg takedown but Villanova sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Balboa tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Villanova swivels and escapes.
Balboa fails with a takedown attempt.
Villanova was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Villanova throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Villanova fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Nice sprawl there from Villanova as Balboa shoots in.
Villanova rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Balboa moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Villanova keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Balboa has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Balboa there as he acknowledges the shot.
Balboa shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Villanova pinned against the cage. Villanova gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
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!
Balboa dives in for a single leg takedown but Villanova sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Villanova throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Villanova slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Villanova defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Balboa.
Sylvester Balboa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Balboa fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Villanova was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Villanova throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Villanova misses with a left hand

and Balboa moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Villanova is looking to break free of the clinch but Balboa has double underhooks.
Balboa prevents Villanova from breaking the clinch.
Villanova tries to break free but Balboa pushes him back against the cage.
Villanova is trying to push Balboa away but Balboa has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Balboa is looking to take this one to the mat.
Balboa lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Villanova tries to circle away but Balboa has him pinned against the cage.
Balboa tries to pull guard but Villanova won't allow it.

Balboa pulls Villanova into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Balboa looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Villanova trying to stand up but can't free himself from Balboa's guard.
Villanova stopping the sweep attempt from Balboa.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Villanova got a little sloppy there for a moment and Balboa has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Villanova has managed to get both his arms back between Balboa's legs - danger averted.
Villanova is looking to stand up but Balboa won't let him.
Balboa wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Balboa shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Villanova sprawls well. Villanova wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Balboa gets slowly back to his feet.
Nice takedown defense from Villanova. No joy for Balboa on that attempt.
Balboa on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Balboa takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Balboa doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Villanova counters with a stiff right hand.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ike Villanova dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Balboa takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Villanova displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Balboa.
Balboa misses with a takedown attempt - Villanova sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Villanova throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Villanova misses with the combination.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Balboa.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Ike Villanova has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sylvester Balboa.
Balboa shoots in for a takedown but Villanova shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Balboa shoots in looking for a takedown. Villanova tries to sprawl out of it but Balboa keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Villanova manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sloppy strikes from Villanova. Those never looked like landing.
Balboa has a takedown stuffed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Villanova leaves Balboa with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Villanova throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Balboa misses with a takedown attempt - Villanova sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Villanova will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Balboa shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Balboa goes for a double leg but Villanova avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Villanova continues to drive forward.
Villanova scores with a jab.
Villanova is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Balboa can do to turn this around?
Balboa goes for a double leg but Villanova avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Villanova continues to drive forward.
Villanova misses with a two punch combination.
Villanova throws a good cross that connects.
Villanova lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Balboa dives in and grabs Villanova's left leg, looking for a takedown. Villanova pushes down on Balboa's head and hops out.
Villanova keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Balboa is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Villanova tries to bum rush Balboa with a series of wild strikes but Balboa uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Villanova throws a right and a left that Balboa avoids nicely.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The fighters circling - Villanova throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Villanova connects with a looping right hand.
Balboa shoots in and drives through. Villanova sprawls well.
Balboa will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Balboa has a takedown stuffed.
Villanova throws a combination. Balboa tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Ike Villanova is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Villanova scores with a jab.
Balboa misses with a takedown attempt - Villanova sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Balboa takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Villanova stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Villanova wants it to stay on the feet.
Balboa takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Villanova throws a right and a left that both miss.
Villanova scores with a jab. Balboa acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Villanova looks to land a combination but Balboa avoids it well.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Balboa.
Villanova punishes Balboa's body with a nice straight punch.
Ike Villanova is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Balboa fails with the takedown
and Villanova counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Balboa will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Villanova swinging wildly here.
Balboa shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Villanova counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Villanova looks to land a right hand but Balboa moved out of range.
Villanova throws a right hand that Balboa ducks under and follows up with a left that Balboa also avoids with ease.
Nice takedown defense from Villanova. No joy for Balboa on that attempt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Balboa blocks a jab.
Balboa shoots in and drives through. Villanova sprawls well.
Villanova is looking for a counter combo.
Balboa dives in for a single leg takedown but Villanova sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Balboa fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Villanova avoids it really well and circles away.
Nice shot by Villanova.
Villanova slaps away a takedown attempt from Balboa, before circling back to the center of the mat.
It looked like Villanova was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ike Villanova dominated that second round.
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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Villanova throws out a loose jab but Balboa uses good head movement to avoid it.
Villanova scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

Villanova gets caught flat footed, as Balboa shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Balboa postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Villanova wants to stand but Balboa is controlling the position.
Balboa trying to control but Villanova is working from the bottom.
Villanova is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Villanova preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Balboa accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Villanova keeping moving, preventing Balboa from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa cracks Villanova with a solid left hand.
Villanova wants to stand up but Balboa is controlling him.
Villanova on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Villanova tries to get out of the position.
Balboa loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Villanova scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Balboa throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Villanova's waist but Villanova gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Balboa off to one side.
Balboa showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Villanova.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Balboa closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Villanova's guard.
Balboa throws a big right hand that misses.
Balboa with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balboa throws a strike but Villanova rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Balboa is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Balboa working for a triangle but Villanova defends it easily.

Villanova gets to his feet - Balboa follows without any prompting.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Balboa is trying hard to land a takedown here. Villanova sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Balboa fails with the takedown
and Villanova counters with a left to the body.
Ike Villanova has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sylvester Balboa.

Balboa closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Balboa lands in his opponent's guard.
Villanova is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Balboa is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Villanova pushes Balboa off and gets back to his feet.
Balboa fails with the takedown.
Villanova throws a right and a left that Balboa avoids nicely.
Balboa shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Villanova defends it nicely.
Balboa shoots in looking for a takedown but Villanova manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Balboa's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Balboa is trying hard to land a takedown here. Villanova sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Balboa looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Villanova swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Villanova throws a right and a left that Balboa avoids nicely.
Ike Villanova is winning the standup battle so far.
Balboa takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Balboa misses with a takedown attempt - Villanova sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Balboa closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Villanova to the mat! Villanova manages to get full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Balboa is looking to work some ground and pound but Villanova has wrist control.
Balboa throws a big right hand that misses.
Balboa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Villanova utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sylvester Balboa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Balboa in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ike Villanova showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Villanova, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 30:26
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:26
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ike Villanova!
After winning the bout, Ike Villanova thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.