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WP 4 PBP Commentary |
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the super heavyweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of New York, with a TWGC record of 15 wins and 4 losses; Nick Rodriquez! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 17 wins and 19 losses; Boris Balkan!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Jeff Smith and Micheangelo Fripello.
Let's get this grappling contest under way! Who will be victorious?
Rodriquez drives through with a takedown into Balkan's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Rodriquez (2) vs (0) Balkan
Balkan escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rodriquez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Balkan wants to control but Rodriquez passes easily into half guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Rodriquez's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Rodriquez in particular looking to stall.
Rodriquez wants to free his trapped foot but Balkan is holding on for dear life with his legs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balkan wants to improve his position but Rodriquez is controlling well.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Balkan gets full guard.
Balkan is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Balkan tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Balkan looking for subs off his back but Rodriquez has passed one foot through into half guard.
Balkan is looking for a sweep. Rodriquez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balkan is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Rodriquez jumps into side control! Score +3 for passing guard: Rodriquez (5) vs (0) Balkan
Balkan keeps Rodriquez under control for a moment.
Balkan is trying to improve his position.
Balkan is still trying to improve position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balkan gets back to half guard.
Rodriquez is controlling the pace.
Rodriquez is thwarting Balkan's attempts to control the position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balkan tries to roll over but Rodriquez keeps him under control.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rodriquez trying to mount his opponent but Balkan defends it.
Rodriquez not doing much here.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Rodriquez's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Balkan regains full guard. Nicely done.
Rodriquez is stalling in the full guard.
Rodriquez wants to control from the top but Balkan keeps moving.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Balkan looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Balkan wants to hit a sweep here but Rodriquez passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Balkan there! Score +3 for passing guard: Rodriquez (8) vs (0) Balkan
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Balkan tries to get back to half guard but can't.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Rodriquez can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Balkan is looking to escape.
Balkan has given up his back here.
Score +3 for taking back: Rodriquez (11) vs (0) Balkan
Rodriquez keeps control of the position as Balkan tries to break free.
Rodriquez just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Rodriquez doesn't have the hooks in and Balkan manages to turn into his guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Rodriquez (11) vs (2) Balkan
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Balkan trying to control but Rodriquez is working from the bottom.
My spies in Blacktalians MMA inform me that Balkan has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Balkan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rodriquez wants to sweep but no luck.
Balkan drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Rodriquez manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Balkan has Rodriquez in his guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Rodriquez (13) vs (2) Balkan
Rodriquez got a little sloppy there for a moment and Balkan has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rodriquez has managed to get both his arms back between Balkan's legs - danger averted.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Rodriquez controls from within his opponent's guard.
Rodriquez wants to pass the guard but Balkan is keeping the position.
Balkan working a defensive guard here.
Rodriquez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Balkan looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Balkan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rodriquez is one step ahead there.
Balkan wants to hit a sweep here but Rodriquez passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Balkan there! Score +3 for passing guard: Rodriquez (16) vs (2) Balkan
Rodriquez prevents Balkan from getting the reversal.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Rodriquez trying to control but Balkan is having none of it.
Balkan is the more experienced fighter here and he's going to need to draw on some of that experience if he's going to pull this one out the bag.
Balkan really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Balkan has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.
Score +3 for taking back: Rodriquez (19) vs (2) Balkan
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Rodriquez not allowing Balkan to control his hands.
Rodriquez wants to control but Balkan is keeping busy.
Balkan just trying to survive but Rodriquez is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Rodriquez keeps control of the position as Balkan tries to break free.
Rodriquez just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Balkan trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Balkan is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Balkan trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Balkan manages to reverse the position and now he's in Rodriquez's guard. Nice work there by Balkan.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Rodriquez (19) vs (4) Balkan
Rodriquez has Balkan pulled in close to control his posture.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Balkan wants to control from the top but Rodriquez keeps moving.
And that's the end of the fight!
Rodriquez takes the fight on points by 19 to 4.
A victorious Nick Rodriquez thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter. |
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