PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rocky Balboa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Valerii Balanko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Balboa
vs
Balanko

180 cm
18
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
19
215 lbs
3 - 7 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rocky Balboa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Valerii Balanko!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, John Kavanagh and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Balboa.

Balanko bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Balboa is pushing Balanko's head away, looking to escape. Balanko manages to hold on to the position though.
Balboa sneaks back into half guard.

Balanko is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Balboa doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Balanko.

Balboa looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Balboa wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balanko is pressing down on Balboa's thigh, looking to free his foot. Balboa is holding on for now.
Balboa wants to control the action here but instead Balanko manages to pass to full mount!
Balanko controlling the position easily from mount.
Balboa wants to control but Balanko is having none of it.
Balboa is wriggling around trying to escape.
Balboa is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

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.
Balboa is trying desperately to improve position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Balanko working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Balboa has given up his back here.
Balboa is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Balanko softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Balboa turns into Balanko and is now in his guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Balboa is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balanko is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Balanko not doing much here.
Balanko wants to pass to mount but Balboa is defending the position.
Balanko keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Balanko tries to pass to full mount but Balboa defends it.
Balboa is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Balanko landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Balanko in particular looking to stall.
Balboa wants to sweep but Balanko has passed to side control!
You can see the frustration on Balboa's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Balboa takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Balanko scoring with punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valerii Balanko dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Balboa misses with a takedown

and Balanko decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Balboa's guard.
Balanko trying to control the position from guard on top but Balboa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Balanko not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Balanko stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Balboa swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Balboa not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Balanko trying to control but Balboa is working from the bottom.
Balboa could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Valerii Balanko wasn't active enough on the ground.

Balanko closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Balanko lands in his opponent's guard.
Balanko controlling from the top position.
Balboa thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balboa not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Balboa avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Balboa wants to stand up but Balanko is controlling him.
Balanko stopping the sweep attempt from Balboa.
Balboa wants to improve his position but instead Balanko has moved into half guard.

Balanko decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Balanko gets the takedown into side control.
Balanko taking a breather here.
Balboa is looking for a sweep.
Balboa can't do much from the bottom here.
Balboa is being controlled here.
Balboa misses with a strike from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balboa wants to control but Balanko postures up.
Balanko scoring with punches from side control.
Balboa is trying to escape the position but Balanko is controlling the position.
Balanko tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Valerii Balanko has got the better of the ground game so far.
Balboa wants to control but Balanko postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valerii Balanko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Balboa shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Balanko counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Balboa is trying to get back to full guard.
Balboa is looking to get back to full guard here but Balanko has managed to pass to side control instead.

Balanko looking for a guillotine from mount but Balboa is having none of it.
Balanko cracks Balboa with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa is looking to improve his position but Balanko isn't that keen on the idea.
Balboa is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Balanko controlling from the full mount.
Balanko raining down shots from the mount!

That's two 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.
Balanko has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Balboa's face.
Balanko controlling from mount.
Balboa tries to improve his position but instead Balanko has taken his back!
I would not like to be Balboa right now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balanko throws strikes from the back but Balboa rolls nicely and manages to end up in full guard. Nice work by Balboa.
Balanko stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Balboa swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Balboa striking from the bottom.
Balboa trying to keep a closed guard but Balanko is proving a slippery customer.
Balanko showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

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.
Balboa keeping moving, preventing Balanko from controlling successfully.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Valerii Balanko hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Balboa misses with a takedown attempt

and Balanko counters with a nice double leg into side control. Balboa won't be happy with that.
Balboa is looking to reverse the position.
Balanko scores with punches from side control.
Balanko advances to mount.
Balboa is looking to improve his position but Balanko isn't that keen on the idea.

And that's the end of the fight!
Valerii Balanko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Balanko has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 John Roberts scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Valerii Balanko!