PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jimmy Balmer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ahmed Khawaja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Balmer
vs
Khawaja

178 cm
22
162 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

175 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Jimmy Balmer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ahmed Khawaja!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Colin Fotheringham and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Balmer decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Khawaja has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Balmer is working away from the top position though.

Balmer is looking for a kimura but Khawaja is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Balmer to get the leverage.

Balmer is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Khawaja tries to get to full guard but Balmer has control of the leg.

Balmer is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Khawaja has managed to free his arm - good work.

Balmer is working for a submission of some sort.
Balmer prevents Khawaja from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Khawaja is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Balmer pulls his head out easily.
Balmer is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Khawaja is looking to get to half guard.

Balmer has hold of Khawaja's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Khawaja manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

Balmer looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Balmer moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Khawaja has worked his arm free - good work by Khawaja!
Khawaja really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Balmer. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Balmer is breathing heavily.
Balmer tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Balmer thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Balmer tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Balmer has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Khawaja can't do much from the bottom here.
Khawaja sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Balmer is looking for a kimura but Khawaja is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Balmer to get the leverage.
Balmer not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Balmer is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Khawaja sees it coming and defends easily.

Balmer looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Balmer trying to advance position but Khawaja counters by regaining guard.

Khawaja escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Balmer gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Balmer has gone for a leg lock! Khawaja slips out almost immediately though and dives into Balmer's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Balmer is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Balmer has his foot on Khawaja's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Khawaja works his way back into a safe position though.
Khawaja sitting in guard here, content to control.
Khawaja is looking to stand up but Balmer won't let him.
Balmer wants to sweep here but Khawaja controlling him for the moment.
Khawaja looking to pass the guard.
Khawaja trying to control the position from guard on top but Balmer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Balmer looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jimmy Balmer 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.

Balmer tries for a takedown but Khawaja sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Balmer blocks a head kick by Khawaja.

Khawaja drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Balmer tries to buck Khawaja off but Khawaja is having none of it.
Balmer manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Balmer seems to be working for a kimura but Khawaja defends the submission attempt.

Balmer is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Balmer is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Khawaja gets full guard.
Khawaja is trying to keep Balmer in close.

Balmer drops back looking for a leg! Khawaja is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Khawaja manages to kick Balmer off! Balmer jumps back into Khawaja's guard.
Balmer stopping the sweep attempt from Khawaja.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Balmer with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Balmer thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Balmer drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Balmer jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Balmer in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Khawaja keeping full guard, as Balmer tries to pass.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Balmer misses with a takedown attempt
and Khawaja counters with a one-two to the body.

Khawaja shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Balmer napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Khawaja trying to control the action but Balmer is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Khawaja is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Balmer knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Balmer gets back to half guard.

Balmer is working on a guillotine. He's managed to get to full guard and he's really squeezing tight! Khawaja is tapping! Great win for Balmer!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:39 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Jimmy Balmer!