PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Arcturus Balfour (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brian Lobe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brian Lobe has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Arcturus Balfour's chin.

Balfour
vs
Lobe

180 cm
24
166 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

169 cm
31
164 lbs
11 - 11 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Very strong

ADCC Champion
Decent boxing
Granite 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 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Arcturus Balfour!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brian Lobe!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Luis Engracia and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balfour throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Lobe throws the left hand but Balfour avoids the punch easily.
Lobe throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Balfour counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Lobe throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Balfour counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Lobe misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Balfour.
Lobe missing with a left hand there. Balfour was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Balfour ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Balfour finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Lobe misses the shot to the body.
Lobe throws a right hand that misses
enabling Balfour to counter with a crisp jab.
Donk. Balfour catches Lobe right on the button with a cross.
Lobe misses with a straight left.
Balfour lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Lobe circles away quickly and effectively.
Balfour throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Balfour pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lobe misses the jab.
Lobe looks to land a left hand but Balfour moved out of range nicely.
Lobe misses with a looping right.
Balfour misses with a body shot.
Lobe throws a series of punches but Balfour avoids them all with ease.
Lobe tries to bum rush Balfour with a series of wild strikes but Balfour uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Balfour tests Lobe's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Balfour misses with a body shot.
Balfour dodges the punch combination from Lobe.
Balfour thows a left - swing and a miss!
Balfour will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balfour avoids the body shot from Lobe.
Balfour throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Lobe tries to bum rush Balfour with a series of wild strikes but Balfour uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Balfour tries to land a front kick but Lobe steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Brian Lobe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Balfour gets caught napping as Lobe dives in and scores a takedown. Balfour manages to retain guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Lobe trying to control but Balfour is working from the bottom.
Lobe stands and throws Balfour's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Balfour on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Balfour tries to get out of the position.
Lobe throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Lobe has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Balfour is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lobe advances nicely into full mount.

Lobe is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Balfour can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Lobe thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Balfour prevents Lobe from taking his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Lobe is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Balfour has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Lobe fails to advance to Balfour's back.
Balfour keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lobe working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Lobe fails to advance to Balfour's back.

Lobe is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Balfour has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Balfour!
Lobe 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lobe is trying to keep Balfour in close.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Balfour wants to control from the top but Lobe keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Lobe dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A swing and a miss from Balfour.
Balfour is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Lobe.
Lobe throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lobe loads up on a big right hand but Balfour slips the punch.
Balfour comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Lobe scores with a hook to the body. Balfour takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
A big left from Lobe misses.
Lobe slips a straight right by Balfour.
Balfour misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lobe.
Lobe lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Balfour at a distance.
Balfour closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Lobe lands a right hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lobe lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Balfour blocks a jab.
Balfour avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Balfour misses with an uppercut.
Lobe swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Balfour needs to keep his hands up - Lobe had a free shot at his head there.
Balfour looks to throw the jab but Lobe is out of range.
A jab from Lobe misses.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Lobe!
Lobe swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Balfour avoids a punch combination nicely.
Lobe throws a left and a right that both miss
and Balfour cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sloppy strikes from Balfour. Those never looked like landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lobe takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Balfour ducks under a wild hook from Lobe.
Lobe takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lobe uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Balfour.
Lobe misses with a hook. Balfour ducked under it nicely.
Balfour lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Lobe cracks Balfour with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Balfour slips a jab and a cross from Lobe.
Lobe takes a swing at Balfour's ribcage but misses.
Balfour with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Lobe misses with a hook
and Balfour counters with a left to the body.
Lobe is breathing heavily.
Balfour looks to land a left hand but Lobe moved out of range nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lobe fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Balfour avoids it really well and circles away.
Lobe throws a body punch but Balfour moves out of range.
Balfour fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Lobe checks it well.
Balfour slips under a jab from Lobe.
Balfour looks to land a body kick but Lobe moved away.
Lobe lands a really nice looking cross but Balfour seems unphased.
Nice straight punches there by Balfour. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Balfour.
Arcturus Balfour is winning the standup battle so far.
Lobe ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Balfour moves away.
Lobe walks into a left hand.
Balfour lands a head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lobe attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Lobe throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Balfour misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lobe.
Lobe misses with a left hand
and Balfour connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Balfour steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lobe.
Balfour moves out of range of the strikes.
The fighters circling - Lobe throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Balfour is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Balfour just misses with a punch to the body.
The fighters circling - Lobe throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Balfour defending well as Lobe loads up on a big left hand.
Balfour takes a swing at Lobe's ribcage but misses.
Balfour throws a shot from downtown. Lobe moves away and avoids it.
Balfour avoids a punch combination nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Arcturus Balfour will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Balfour finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Lobe fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Balfour manages to avoid it.
Lobe swings for the body but Balfour moves out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Lobe is defended easily by Balfour.
Balfour throws the kick towards the body but Lobe avoids it.
Balfour connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Balfour.
Balfour jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Balfour scores with a crisp jab that stopped Lobe in his tracks.
Lobe misses with a straight left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balfour thows a left - swing and a miss!
Lobe scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Lobe loads up on a big right hand but Balfour slips the punch.
Lobe finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
The fighters circling - Balfour throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Balfour throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Good standup being displayed there by Balfour as he connects with a hook.
Lobe is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Balfour uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Balfour tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lobe was well out of range. Poor timing from Balfour.
Balfour misses the jab.
The crowd cheers as Lobe lands an impressive looking overhand right. Balfour doesn't seem phased though.
Lobe throws a jab but it's blocked by Balfour.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balfour missing with a left hand there. Lobe was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Lobe misses with a looping left.
Balfour misses with a jab, cross combination.
Lobe dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Lobe misses with a hook.
Lobe fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Balfour manages to avoid it.
Lobe changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Balfour tries to avoid it but Lobe manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Balfour to the ground. Balfour escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
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!
Lobe lands a jab.
Lobe takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Lobe throws a body punch but Balfour moves out of range.
Lobe uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Balfour.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lobe is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Balfour ducks under a wild hook from Lobe.
Lobe feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Balfours jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Good standup being displayed there by Balfour as he connects with a hook.

Lobe drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Lobe trying to control but Balfour is working from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Balfour is on top in guard.
Lobe pulls Balfour in close to prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lobe looking for a sweep. Not yet Lobe, not yet.

Lobe is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Balfour defends well.
Balfour will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Balfour trying to control but Lobe is working from the bottom.
Balfour knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Lobe on the ground.
Balfour preventing the sweep.
Balfour postures up.
Lobe looking for a sweep. Not yet Lobe, not yet.
Lobe takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lobe controlling the position.
Brian Lobe has got the better of the ground game so far.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Balfour misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lobe.
Balfour scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Brian Lobe.
I think Lobe 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!