PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Frankie Edgar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Balisi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Frankie Edgar has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Edgar
vs
Balisi

177 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Frankie Edgar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chris Balisi!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Stewart Dunkirk and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balisi drops his hands momentarily and Edgar takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Balisi doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Edgar counters with a nice double leg into side control. Balisi won't be happy with that.
Edgar throws an elbow but Balisi slips to the side and avoids it well.

Edgar goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Balisi has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Edgar but great work by Balisi.
Edgar on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Edgar tries to get out of the position.

Balisi is trying to get an arm triangle but Edgar is defending well.
Balisi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Edgar keeps working.
Balisi tries to stand but Edgar is controlling his head.
Balisi is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Edgar tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Balisi wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Balisi lands some shots froms side control.
Edgar defending against the ground and pound.
Edgar is trying to improve his position.
Edgar throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balisi prevents Edgar from escaping the position.
Balisi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Edgar is looking to regain half guard here but Balisi keeps moving and retains side control.
Balisi working the ground and pound.
Balisi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Edgar keeps working.
Edgar misses with a strike from the bottom.
Edgar tries to improve position but can't.
Edgar struggling a bit here.

Balisi is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Edgar is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Edgar wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.

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.

Balisi tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Balisi has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Balisi looks gassed!
Edgar is trying to improve his position.
Balisi trying to control the action but Edgar is working from the bottom.
Edgar throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Edgar tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Balisi wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Balisi trying to control the action but Edgar is working from the bottom.

Balisi working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edgar tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Edgar is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Balisi's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Edgar manages to get to full guard.
Edgar not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Edgar has his foot on Balisi's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Balisi works his way back into a safe position though.
Balisi wants to get up but he can't break Edgar's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Balisi avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Balisi trying to control but Edgar is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Balisi got a little sloppy there for a moment and Edgar has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Balisi has managed to get both his arms back between Edgar's legs - danger averted.

Balisi drops back looking for a leg! Edgar is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Edgar manages to kick Balisi off! Balisi jumps back into Edgar's guard.

Edgar working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Balisi doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Balisi manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Balisi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Edgar works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frankie Edgar dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Edgar checks a leg kick nicely.
Balisi shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Edgar counters with a single leg into guard. Balisi didn't expect that.
Balisi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Edgar.
Edgar wants to control from the top but Balisi keeps moving.
Balisi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Edgar.
Edgar with a flurry of punches that miss.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Balisi utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Edgar drops back for a leg here. A bit of a high risk move... He's looking for a kneebar by the looks of things. Now both of them are looking for submissions. Edgar seems to have locked his on tight now - Balisi screams in pain and taps out furiously! It certainly was a high risk move but it's paid off for Edgar, as he picks up the win!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:19 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Frankie Edgar!