PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Wayne Ballantine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Scotty Nguyen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these fighters are unbeaten, so somebody's 0 has got to go!The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ballantine
vs
Nguyen

178 cm
21
181 lbs
10 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
180 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Crippler's Corner

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Wayne Ballantine!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Scotty Nguyen!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Alan Glass and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nguyen fails to land with a series of punches.
Ballantine looks to land a right hand but Nguyen moved out of range.
Ballantine moves in looking to clinch but Nguyen pushes him off.
Ballantine on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Nguyen. Nguyen obviously looking to wear him down.
Nguyen scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Nguyen with a jab.
Nguyen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ballantine.
Ballantine slips a jab from Nguyen.
Ballantine throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Ballantine changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Nguyen looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Ballantine tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Nguyen taking punishment in the form of punches.
Nguyen can't do much from the bottom here.
Nguyen might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Ballantine kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ballantine misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Ballantine misses with the ground and pound.
Nguyen regains half guard, as Ballantine was trying to land strikes.
Ballantine landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Nguyen blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ballantine.
Ballantine has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Nguyen is pressing down on Ballantine's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Ballantine connects with a couple of short punches.
Ballantine throwing strikes from guard but Nguyen blocks nicely.
Ballantine postures up in Nguyen's guard and throws a big left but Nguyen blocks it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ballantine with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ballantine trying to control but Nguyen is working from the bottom.
Nguyen trying to control the position here.
Ballantine trying to control the position from guard on top but Nguyen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Nguyen is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ballantine is aware though and is defending well.
Nguyen tries to land a sweep but no joy.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ballantine throws a hook to the side of Nguyen's head but Nguyen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nguyen will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

Ballantine feints and as Nguyen raises his hands in defense, Ballantine changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ballantine lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Ballantine is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Nguyen trying to control the position.
Ballantine trying to control the position from guard on top but Nguyen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Nguyen working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ballantine doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ballantine manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Ballantine missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nguyen looking to control.
Ballantine in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ballantine throws a strike but Nguyen rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Nguyen wants to control from the top but Ballantine keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nguyen takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

Ballantine scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Ballantine in side control, throwing shots but Nguyen defends.
Nguyen taking punishment in the form of punches.
Ballantine looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Nguyen is avoiding damage well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wayne Ballantine dominated that 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.

Ballantine shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Nguyen as he jumps to the side.
Ballantine fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nguyen manages to avoid it.
Nguyen swings for the body but Ballantine moves out of range.
Nguyen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ballantine shoots in for a takedown but Nguyen shows good takedown defense.
Ballantine is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Scotty Nguyen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ballantine looks to land a right hand but Nguyen moved out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ballantine misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nguyen.
Ballantine pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Nguyen avoids the body shot from Ballantine.
A shot to the body from Nguyen misses
and Ballantine counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nguyen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ballantine displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Nguyen throws out the jab.
Ballantine tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nguyen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nguyen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Ballantine drives through with a takedown into guard.
Nguyen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ballantine with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ballantine pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nguyen is keeping the position for now.
Ballantine postures up in Nguyen's guard and throws a big left but Nguyen blocks it.
Ballantine trying to control but Nguyen is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Nguyen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Nguyen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Nguyen holds on and takes a little breather.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Ballantine throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Nguyen was covering up waiting for the punch and Ballantine finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Nguyen trying to control the position.
Nguyen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ballantine trying to control the position from guard on top but Nguyen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ballantine tries to free his leg and advance position but Nguyen is retaining full guard.
Nguyen trying to control the position.
Ballantine looking to sit in guard and control but Nguyen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Nguyen preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Nguyen swats away the attempt to clinch by Ballantine.
Ballantine thows a body shot but no joy.
Nguyen blocks a jab.
Ballantine misses with a straight right.
Ballantine shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Nguyen defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wayne Ballantine. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nguyen cracks Ballantine with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nguyen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ballantine swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Nguyen counters with a slapping leg kick.
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 Wayne Ballantine will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Ballantine!
Ballantine uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Nguyen.
Nguyen misses with a body shot.
Nguyen lands a right hook to the body.
Nguyen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Ballantine clinches up against the cage.
Ballantine misses with some punches.
Ballantine is working for takedown but Nguyen is calmly controlling the position for now.
Nguyen prevents a body shot from Ballantine.
Nguyen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A right hand to the body from Nguyen.
A right hand to the body from Ballantine.
Nguyen stalling in the clinch but Ballantine improves position.
Ballantine lands a shot to the body.
Ballantine tries to work over Nguyen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Ballantine.
Ballantine misses with a body punch.
Ballantine digs a right hand into Nguyen's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Nguyen's gas tank.
Nguyen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ballantine throws a punch but it's blocked by Nguyen.
Ballantine throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Nguyens head.
Ballantine lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Ballantine struggles to land a body shot inside as Nguyen controls his hands.
Ballantine misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A right hook to the body lands for Nguyen.
Ballantine tries to work over Nguyen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ballantine lands a nice shot to the body.
Nguyen blocks a body shot from Ballantine.
Ballantine taking a breather.
A right handed body shot lands from Ballantine.
Nguyen misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ballantine has Nguyen pressed against the cage.
Ballantine working aggressively here.
Nguyen is pressed up against the cage. Ballantine has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Nguyen down to the mat. Nguyen avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Ballantine digs a good hook to Nguyen's body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ballantine looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Decent striking displayed by Ballantine there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Ballantine with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wayne Ballantine. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nguyen has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Ballantine finds it's way round the side to connect with Nguyen's head.
Ballantine fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ballantine shoots in for a takedown but Nguyen shows good takedown defense.
A big left from Nguyen misses.
Ballantine misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Nguyen scores with a crisp jab that stopped Ballantine in his tracks.
Nguyen closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Nguyen misses.
Ballantine fails with the takedown.
Ballantine avoids the body shot from Nguyen.
Ballantine avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ballantine looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ballantine fails with the takedown.
Nguyen finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Nguyen throws the left hand but Ballantine avoids the punch easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ballantine is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Nguyen.
The fighters circling - Nguyen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ballantine shoots for a double leg takedown but Nguyen sprawls well. He's pushed Ballantine's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Nguyen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ballantine.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Ballantine.
Ballantine fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nguyen moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Ballantine steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Nguyen.
Ballantine is trying hard to land a takedown here. Nguyen sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Ballantine has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Ballantine there as he acknowledges the shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wayne Ballantine clearly takes that 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.

Nice shot lands for Nguyen.
Ballantine blocks the body kick.
Ballantine tries to grapple but his opponent circles
enabling Nguyen to counter with a crisp jab.
Nguyen lands a slapping body shot.
Ballantine throws a hook but Nguyen avoids it easily.
Nguyen misses with a double jab

and Ballantine moves into the clinch.
Ballantine tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ballantine lands an uppercut.
Ballantine lands a hook to the side of the head.
Nguyen misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ballantine tries to throw a body punch but Nguyen avoids it by throwing Ballantine back against the cage.
Ballantine lands a right hand that snaps the head of Nguyen backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ballantine.
Ballantine tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nguyen's elbow.
Good body shot from Nguyen.
Ballantine misses with a short punch on the inside.
Nguyen makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Ballantine tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nguyen's elbow.
Nguyen pushes Ballantine back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ballantine tries to work over Nguyen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Nguyen looking to slow down the pace here.
Nguyen scores with a shot to the side of Ballantine's head.
Ballantine misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ballantine scores with a hook to the body.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Ballantine.
Ballantine lands with a short shot to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ballantine.
Ballantine misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Nguyen tries to throw a body punch but Ballantine avoids it by throwing Nguyen back against the cage.
Ballantine misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ballantine scores with a nice hook to the head.
Ballantine misses with the head strike.
Nguyen lands a shoulder strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nguyen's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Ballantine is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Ballantine lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Nguyen.
Nguyen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ballantine slows down the pace here.
Ballantine gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Nguyen misses with a punch on the inside.
Nguyen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ballantine is struggling to control the position.
Ballantine tries to throw a body punch but Nguyen avoids it by throwing Ballantine back against the cage.
Nguyen controlling the action here for a moment.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ballantine. Nguyen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ballantine uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Nguyen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ballantine closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Nguyen did well to prevent Ballantine getting side control.
Nguyen keeping control of the position.
Ballantine throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Ballantine working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Nguyen taking some punishment here, with Ballantine in his half guard.
Ballantine is keen to just control but Nguyen is a slippery customer.
Ballantine sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Nguyen defending well though.
Ballantine moves nicely into side control.
The ground and pound from Ballantine seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ballantine looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Nguyen is avoiding damage well.
Nguyen is looking to regain half guard here but Ballantine keeps moving and retains side control.
Ballantine scores with punches from side control.
Ballantine tries to score with some ground and pound. Nguyen controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Nguyen takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Nguyen holds on to Ballantine's head and controls the position momentarily.
Nguyen taking a bit of punishment here - Ballantine scoring with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wayne Ballantine had his way with Scotty Nguyen in that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ballantine has his takedown stuffed
and Nguyen counters with a straight right hand.
Ballantine avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nguyen fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Ballantine is out of range.
Ballantine lands a with a good body shot.

Ballantine fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Nguyen sprawls well initially but Ballantine persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Ballantine is trying to control. Nguyen wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Nguyen keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Nguyen moves into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Nguyen is on top in guard.
Ballantine wants to sweep but no luck.
Ballantine is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ballantine looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Nguyen is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Ballantine holds on and takes a little breather.
Nguyen trying to control but Ballantine is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Ballantine looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ballantine is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Nguyen gets back to full guard.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ballantine accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ballantine landing some decent shots from guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ballantine working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ballantine wants to control from the top but Nguyen keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ballantine accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Nguyen working a defensive guard here.
Nguyen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ballantine.
Ballantine throwing strikes but missing.
Scotty Nguyen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nguyen scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Nguyen 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 Ballantine has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Ballantine and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Nguyen connects with a nice looking jab.
Ballantine tries for a takedown but Nguyen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Ballantine closes the distance and pushes Nguyen back into the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for Ballantine.
Nguyen scores with a nice hook to the head.
Ballantine lands a nice shot to the body.
Ballantine can't find room to land a body shot as Nguyen controls the action.
Ballantine tries to work over Nguyen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Wayne Ballantine is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nguyen lands a body punch in the clinch.
Ballantine lands an uppercut.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Ballantine creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Nguyen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Nguyen misses with the head strike.
Nguyen lands a shoulder strike.
Nguyen misses with a punch on the inside.
Nguyen misses with the head strike.
Nguyen throws a head punch that misses.
Nguyen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Wayne Ballantine.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ballantine, 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 50:45
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 50:45
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wayne Ballantine!
Wayne Ballantine retains his welterweight title!