PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Vitoli Balog (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenny Cohen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Balog comes to the cage accompanied by National Anthem of Slovakia. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Balog
vs
Cohen

180 cm
19
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Attliction

Vodka Fuel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vitoli Balog!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kenny Cohen!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A leg kick checked by Balog.
Balog throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Cohen throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Cohen moves in looking to clinch but Balog pushes him off.
Cohen throws a low kick but Balog avoids it.
Cohen tries to close the distance and clinch but Balog swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Balog throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cohen.
Balog tries for a takedown but Cohen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Balog slips a jab and a cross from Cohen.
Cohen tries to work over Balog's front leg with a kick but Balog checks it.
Balog closes the distance but Cohen moves to the side

and Cohen counters by moving into the clinch.
Cohen wants a takedown but no success here.
Cohen lands a nice knee to the body.

Cohen breaks from the clinch.
Cohen throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Balog moves into the clinch.

Cohen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Cohen moves into the clinch.
Cohen landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Cohen scores a nice knee to the body.
Cohen scores a nice knee to the body.
Balog is breathing heavily.
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!
Cohen landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cohen pulls Balog into guard.
Balog wants to control from the top but Cohen keeps moving.
Balog passes Cohen's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Cohen wants to get back to his feet.

Balog is working for a submission of some sort.
Balog landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Balog moves nicely into side control.
Balog tries to move to mount but Cohen blocks the move with his legs.
Cohen gets back to half guard.
Balog trying to control from half guard but Cohen is working away.
Balog tries to stand but can't do so whilst Cohen controls his leg.
Cohen wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cohen trying to control here.
Balog wants to control but Cohen is keeping him busy.

Balog is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Cohen defends it well.

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

Balog gets the takedown into side control.

Cohen sneaks out the side door and pushes Balog away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

Balog changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Cohen looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Cohen tries to buck Balog off but Balog is having none of it.
You can see the frustration on Cohen's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Balog tries to move to mount but Cohen blocks the move with his legs.
Cohen struggling a bit here.
Cohen manages to work his way to half guard, despite Balog's best efforts.
Balog tries to pass to full mount but Cohen defends it.
Cohen is trying to stand up here but Balog is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Cohen controlling the position for now.
Balog seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Cohen does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Cohen punching from the bottom.
Cohen wants to improve his position but Balog is controlling well.
Cohen is trying to stand up here but Balog is controlling him well.

Balog is working for a kimura but Cohen is defending it quite comfortably.

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

Cohen drives through and clinches with Balog against the cage.
Balog changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Cohen fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Cohen looks for a takedown but Balog sprawls well.
Cohen takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Cohen is looking to clinch but Balog is avoiding it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Balog scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Cohen is not content to let Balog control the position.

Balog tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Balog has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Balog swings around for an armbar but Cohen sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Balog's guard.
Cohen postures up.
Cohen with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Cohen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Balog trying to keep a closed guard but Cohen is proving a slippery customer.

Cohen gets to his feet - Balog follows without any prompting.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cohen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cohen tries to land a front kick but Balog steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Balog tries to clinch there but Cohen circles away.
Cohen buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenny Cohen dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Cohen connects with a solid leg kick.
Cohen drops Balog with a right and a left! Cohen comes rushing in but Balog regains his composure and manages to keep Cohen in guard.

Balog is rocked!

It looks like Vitoli Balog has been cut.
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!
Cohen postures up and lands a big shot to Balog's brow.
Oh Balog is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Cohen thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Balog trying to keep a closed guard but Cohen is proving a slippery customer.
Balog seems to have got his legs back now.

Cohen stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Kenny Cohen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Balog tries to close the distance and clinch but Cohen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Balog throws a push kick but Cohen slaps the foot to one side.
Cohen closes the distance and clinches up with Balog, looking for a takedown. Cohen pushes Balog against the cage but Balog circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Cohen moves forwards but Balog connects with a nice, crisp jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Balog looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cohen tries to clinch there but Balog circles away.
Cohen is breathing heavily.
Cohen misses with a double jab.
Balog wants to clinch up but Cohen keeps it at a distance.
Cohen throws a leg kick but Balog moved away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cohen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Balog swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cohen tries to clinch up.
Cohen stuffs the takedown.
Balog scores with a kick to the midsection.
Balog lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Balog pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Cohen swats away the attempt to clinch by Balog.
Cohen fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Balog checks it well.

Balog pushes Cohen up against the cage in a clinch.
Balog is looking to control Cohen's arms but Cohen gets an underhook and turns him. Now Balog has his back to the cage.
Cohen cracks Balog with a nice body shot.
Balog wants to break the clinch but can't.
Cohen wants a takedown but no success here.
Cohen misses with a knee to the head.
Balog looking to stall.
Balog is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Cohen breaks from the clinch.
Balog connects with a high kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balog tries to clinch up.

Cohen gets a takedown into half guard.
Balog moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Balog escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Cohen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Balog keeping moving, preventing Cohen from controlling successfully.

Balog looking for a guillotine here but Cohen defends easily.

Balog looking for a guillotine here but Cohen defends easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Balog tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cohen connects with a couple of short punches.
Cohen scoring with punches to the head and body.
Balog keeping moving, preventing Cohen from controlling successfully.
Cohen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Balog works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Cohen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Balog keeping moving, preventing Cohen from controlling successfully.

Cohen gets to his feet - Balog follows without any prompting.
Balog fails with a takedown attempt.
Cohen scores with a leg kick.

Cohen moves into range and clinches up with Balog.
Nice body punch from Cohen.
Cohen scores a nice knee to the body.

Cohen turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Balog manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cohen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Balog thows a huge punch but Cohen dodges it nicely.
Cohen tries to roll over but Balog keeps him under control.
Cohen slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Cohen keeping moving, preventing Balog from controlling successfully.

Balog stands and steps away. Cohen gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Balog tries to clinch
and Cohen counters with a series of strikes. Balog will be more careful next time no doubt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!

Cohen tries to keep at a distance but Balog has taken the fight into the clinch.

Cohen manages to break the clinch.

Balog clinches up with Cohen and pushes him back against the cage.
Cohen wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Balog is trying to stall.
Balog tries a body shot but Cohen blocks it.
Cohen tries for a takedown. No joy.
Vitoli Balog has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kenny Cohen.
Cohen avoids the elbow strike from Balog, against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenny Cohen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Vitoli Balog's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Balog tries to clinch up but Cohen circles away and keeps his distance.
Balog closes the distance and clinches up with Cohen, looking for a takedown. Balog pushes Cohen against the cage but Cohen circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Balog misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Balog closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cohen circles away.
Balog throws a body kick that misses.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Balog wants to stall.
Balog takes a knee right on the jaw!

Cohen breaks the clinch.
Balog shoots in for a takedown but Cohen shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vitoli Balog. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Balog ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cohen moves away.

Balog shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cohen tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cohen is looking to control Balog's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Cohen avoid being mounted?
Balog tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Cohen tries to kick Balog off but Balog keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Vitoli Balog overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Balog wants to work for an arm triangle but Cohen is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Balog works his way into full mount!
Cohen working to try and regain half guard.

Balog is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Cohen is surviving well by controlling Balog's body position as best he can.
Cohen is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Balog cracks Cohen with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Cohen can't escape the position.
Cohen looks out of his depth in this position - he's holding on tight.
Balog controlling his opponent.
Cohen working to try and regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cohen throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Balog is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Cohen can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Cohen has given up his back.
Cohen trying to control but not successfully.
Cohen is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Balog looking for the choke from the back.

Balog has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Balog is not going to allow Cohen to sit and survive in this position.

Balog looking to break Cohen's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Cohen remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Balog will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

Balog tightening his grip on Cohen, looking for the choke.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Balog is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Cohen has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cohen is trying to break free.
Cohen trying to control the position but Balog manages to sink in the hooks.
Balog is working the ground and pound. Can Cohen escape?
Balog has Cohen flattened out and is raining down punches.
Balog is looking to finish with some ground and pound!

Balog has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Cohen trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

Balog looking for the rear naked choke. And he's got it! Cohen taps!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:54 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Vitoli Balog!