PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Akhmed The Big T (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rocky Balboa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The Big T comes to the cage accompanied by Bad. Rocky Balboa will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

The Big T
vs
Balboa

193 cm
22
215 lbs
5 - 2 - 2

185 cm
26
217 lbs
7 - 5 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 2, fighting out of St Petersburg, Akhmed The Big T!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rocky Balboa!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Dmitry Maklakov and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some wild striking there from Balboa.
Balboa throws a series of punches but The Big T avoids them all with ease.
Balboa just misses with a punch to the body.
Balboa tries to bum rush The Big T with a series of wild strikes but The Big T uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
The Big T swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
letting Balboa counter with a right hand.
The Big T fails with a takedown attempt.
Balboa fakes high and swings low for a body shot but The Big T manages to avoid it.
The Big T shoots in and drives through. Balboa sprawls well.
Balboa misses with the combination.
Balboa throws a series of punches but The Big T avoids them all with ease.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from The Big T.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Akhmed The Big T. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Balboa misses with a combination

and The Big T counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Balboa wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa wants to control but The Big T is keeping busy.
The Big T trying to control from half guard but Balboa is working away.
The Big T performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Balboa trying to control here.
The Big T wants to lay and pray for a moment but Balboa keeps working.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Balboa throws a combination but it was largely blocked by The Big T.
The Big T swats away the attempt to clinch by Balboa.
The Big T closes the distance and clinches up with Balboa, looking for a takedown. The Big T pushes Balboa against the cage but Balboa circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Balboa tries to clinch up but The Big T circles away and keeps his distance.
Balboa swinging wildly here.
The Big T shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Balboa counters with a three punch combo that has The Big T backing up. The Big T nods at Balboa to acknowledge the strikes.
The Big T is breathing heavily.
The Big T fails with the takedown.
Rocky Balboa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Balboa misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Balboa jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Balboa tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Balboa tries to clinch

and The Big T counters with a nice double leg into side control. Balboa won't be happy with that.
The Big T trying to control the position but Balboa is working away.
The Big T tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Balboa tries to escape but The Big T is in control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balboa is looking for a sweep.
Balboa is trying to control The Big T's posture but The Big T avoids it.
Balboa is pushing The Big T's head away, looking to escape. The Big T manages to hold on to the position though.
Balboa tries to buck The Big T off but The Big T is having none of it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Balboa scores with a three punch combo!
The Big T shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Balboa counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
The Big T has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Balboa scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Balboa with a hook.
The Big T slips a jab and a cross from Balboa.
The Big T changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Balboa tries to avoid it but The Big T manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Balboa to the ground. Balboa escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The Big T showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Balboa.
The Big T takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
A combination from Balboa does no damage.
No luck for The Big T with that takedown attempt.
Balboa's corner calls for a 1-2. Balboa obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
The Big T avoids a punch combination nicely.
Balboa scores with a crisp jab that stopped The Big T in his tracks.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
The Big T keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Balboa.
Balboa throws a combination that misses

and The Big T counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The Big T wants to control but Balboa is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rocky Balboa dominated that round.
That's time! The Big T's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Balboa misses with a combination
and The Big T counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Balboa thinking.
A punch combination from Balboa misses.
Balboa lands with a nice body punch.
Balboa lands with a nice combination. The Big T backs away looking to recover.
No joy there for Balboa, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Balboa lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Balboa.
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!
A jab from Balboa finds it's way through The Big T's defenses.
Balboa tries to clinch but The Big T is having none of it.
Balboa wants to clinch.
Balboa misses with a jab, cross combination.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Balboa throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Balboa throws a nice looking combination but The Big T bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Big T misses with a few strikes there.
Balboa doesn't manage to clinch there - The Big T circles away.
Rocky Balboa seems to be getting the better of the standup.

The Big T is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Balboa's half guard.
Balboa gets back to full guard.
Balboa wants to stand and escape but The Big T is having none of it.
The Big T sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Balboa is trying to keep The Big T in close.
Balboa wants to stand and escape but The Big T is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The Big T trying to control the position from guard on top but Balboa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Balboa looking to hit a scissor sweep but The Big T is one step ahead there.
Balboa is looking to stand back up but The Big T counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Balboa.
The Big T slows the pace down in half guard.
Balboa is looking for a sweep. The Big T is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Balboa clinches with his opponent.
The Big T has Balboa pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Balboa manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Balboa cracks The Big T with a nice body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balboa lands a left hand.
Balboa lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of The Big T backwards.
Balboa stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Balboa lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Balboa cracks The Big T with a nice body shot.
A right hook to the body lands for Balboa.
The Big T's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Balboa lands an uppercut.
Balboa is leaning against The Big T and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Balboa lands with a left to the head.
Balboa lands a left hand.
Balboa throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Balboa lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of The Big T backwards.
Balboa lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Balboa working some nice short punches in the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Balboa creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Balboa.
Balboa softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Balboa lands a shoulder strike.
The Big T takes a shot to the head.
A shot in the inside from Balboa.
Balboa lands a shoulder strike.
Balboa lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt The Big T or not.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Balboa.
Balboa scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Balboa lands a body punch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Balboa lands a left hand.
Balboa lands a shot to the body.
A short left from Balboa.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Balboa scores with a shoulder strike.
Balboa throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
The Big T takes a shot to the head.
Nice body punch from Balboa.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rocky Balboa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Balboa misses with a double jab

and The Big T counters with a single leg into guard. Balboa didn't expect that.
Balboa trying to control the position.
Balboa manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. The Big T manages to get himself to full guard.

Balboa drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but The Big T manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Balboa has The Big T in his guard.
Balboa is trying to keep The Big T in close.
Balboa is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst The Big T is controlling him.
The Big T wants to control from the top but Balboa keeps moving.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Big T stands and throws Balboa's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Balboa is pushing The Big T's head away, looking to escape. The Big T manages to hold on to the position though.
The Big T wants to control but Balboa is keeping him busy.
Balboa is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, The Big T asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Balboa tries to get back to half guard but can't.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

The Big T closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Balboa explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The Big T gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Balboa counters with a one-two to the body.
Balboa pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
The Big T avoids a punch combination nicely.
Balboa misses with the combination.
The Big T misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Balboa.
The Big T showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Balboa.
Balboa swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
No luck for The Big T with that takedown attempt.
Balboa fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balboa tries to clinch up.
The Big T gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Balboa counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Akhmed The Big T. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The Big T dodges the punch combination from Balboa.
Balboa misses with a wild combination.
Akhmed The Big T is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Balboa on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Balboa misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
The Big T shoots in and drives through. Balboa sprawls well.
A nice combination there by Balboa.
Balboa throws a nice looking combination but The Big T bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
The Big T changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Balboa tries to avoid it but The Big T manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Balboa to the ground. Balboa escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Balboa throws a series of punches but The Big T moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balboa misses with a jab, cross combination.
The Big T misses with a takedown attempt - Balboa sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Balboa fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
The Big T fails with a takedown attempt.
Balboa scores with a punch to the head.
Rocky Balboa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Balboa swinging wildly here.

The Big T decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Balboa gets back to full guard.
Balboa bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in The Big T's guard.
Akhmed The Big T has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rocky Balboa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Balboa got a little sloppy there for a moment and The Big T has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Balboa has managed to get both his arms back between The Big T's legs - danger averted.

And that's the end of the fight!
Akhmed The Big T showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Balboa has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rocky Balboa!