PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jebidiah Knepp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Garrick Ballantyne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Knepp comes to the cage accompanied by Amish Paradise. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Knepp
vs
Ballantyne

185 cm
27
178 lbs
18 - 13 - 0

182 cm
27
183 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

PEGASUS FIGHT WEAR ( $ 6 and Laundering 90% )
Milwaukee's Best 159's - $45

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jebidiah Knepp!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Garrick Ballantyne!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Dillan Fox and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Knepp misses with the combination.
Knepp fails in his attempt to clinch.
Knepp lands with a slapping head kick.
Knepp misses with a wild body shot.
Jebidiah Knepp seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Knepp connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Knepp fails to land the takedown.
Ballantyne misses with a low kick.
Knepp feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Ballantyne's calf.
Ballantyne cracks the inside of Knepp's front leg.
Knepp throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Knepp checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knepp fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Knepp tries to clinch up but Ballantyne circles away and keeps his distance.
Knepp is looking to chop away at Ballantyne's legs.
Knepp lands a jab.
Knepp shoots in and drives through. Ballantyne sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jebidiah Knepp. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Knepp scores with a hook.
Knepp swings for the body but Ballantyne moves out of range.
Ballantyne finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Knepp scores with the left hand. Ballantyne knows he should have avoided that one.
A thudding body kick lands there by Ballantyne!
Ballantyne is looking to slow Knepp down with leg kicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knepp cracks Ballantyne with an open hand slap.
Ballantyne tries a head kick but it misses.
Ballantyne misses with a body kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Knepp pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Knepp pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Knepp fails with an attempt to clinch.
Knepp blocks a leg kick.
Knepp tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ballantyne looks to land a body kick but Knepp moved away.
Knepp feints and then cracks Ballantyne's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Ballantyne down.
Ballantyne waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Knepp.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ballantyne avoids the head kick by Knepp.
Knepp misses with a jab to the body
and Ballantyne counters with a body kick that stops Knepp in his tracks momentarily.
Ballantyne throws a nice inside leg kick.
Nice jab there from Ballantyne.
Ballantyne is looking to land body kicks.
Knepp fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ballantyne manages to avoid it.
Ballantyne fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Knepp checks it well.
Ballantyne attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Knepp dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Knepp tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
No luck for Knepp with that takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ballantyne sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Ballantyne swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Knepp tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ballantyne was well out of range. Poor timing from Knepp.
Ballantyne lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Knepp swings for the body but Ballantyne moves out of range.
Ballantyne turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Ballantyne walks into a stiff left hand from Knepp.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ballantyne throws a sloppy head kick and Knepp moves out of range easily.
A big right from Knepp misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Garrick Ballantyne will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ballantyne walks into a straight right hand from Knepp.
Knepp lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Ballantyne lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Knepp shoots in and bounces Ballantyne off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Ballantyne trying to control the position.
Knepp looking to sit in guard and control but Ballantyne gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Knepp not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ballantyne really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Knepp. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ballantyne avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Knepp is trying to control the position but Ballantyne postures up.
Ballantyne wants to get up but he can't break Knepp's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Knepp wants to sweep but no luck.
Knepp has control of Ballantyne's left arm, preventing Ballantyne from doing any damage.
Ballantyne must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Knepp is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jebidiah Knepp wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Knepp lands with an uppercut that bounces Ballantyne off the cage and back into range.
Knepp waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ballantyne.
Knepp just misses with a punch to the body.
Knepp closes the distance but Ballantyne moves to the side

and Ballantyne counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Ballantyne.
Knepp misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Knepp avoids a wild elbow strike from Ballantyne.
Ballantyne blocks a body shot from Knepp.
Knees to the body from Ballantyne.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ballantyne lands with a light punch inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knepp swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Knepp fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ballantyne creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Knepp's defenses.

It looks like Jebidiah Knepp has been cut.
Knepp tries to pull guard but Ballantyne holds him up against the cage and eventually Knepp drops back down to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ballantyne tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Knepp avoids it.
Knepp lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Ballantyne blocks an uppercut.
Knepp fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Knepp working aggressively here.
Knepp throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Ballantyne pushes Knepp back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Knepp tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ballantyne avoids it.
Ballantyne creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Knepp's defenses.
Ballantyne tries to land knees in the clinch but Knepp avoids the damage to the body.

Knepp gets control of Ballantyne's arms and successfully pulls guard. Knepp will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Knepp trying to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ballantyne stopping the sweep attempt from Knepp.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ballantyne wants to pass the guard but Knepp is keeping the position.

Ballantyne avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ballantyne's corner is telling him to maintain position.
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 Jebidiah Knepp will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jebidiah Knepp's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Ballantyne defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Knepp.
Knepp shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Ballantyne throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Knepp jabs Ballantyne to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Knepp pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Ballantyne back to the cage. Knepp follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Ballantyne looks to throw a body kick
and Knepp counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ballantyne with a nice cross.

Ballantyne gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Knepp to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Knepp missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knepp thows a big elbow that misses.
Knepp throwing strikes but missing.
Ballantyne wants to stand up but Knepp is controlling him.
Knepp engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Knepp content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Ballantyne is trying to keep Knepp in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knepp throwing strikes but missing.
Knepp looking to sit in guard and control but Ballantyne gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Knepp is trying to keep Ballantyne in close.
Knepp tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Jebidiah Knepp overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ballantyne trying to control the position from guard on top but Knepp is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Knepp has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ballantyne can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Knepp is looking for a triangle but Ballantyne pushes his legs off easily.
Knepp trying to keep a closed guard but Ballantyne is proving a slippery customer.
Knepp looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knepp pulls Ballantyne in close to prevent any damage.
Knepp wants to sweep here but Ballantyne controlling him for the moment.
Knepp manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ballantyne manages to get himself to full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ballantyne 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.
Ballantyne being controlled here, momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jebidiah Knepp clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Jebidiah Knepp's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Knepp keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Knepp is looking to clinch.
Nice body kick there by Ballantyne.
Knepp throws a head kick that misses.
Ballantyne looks to score with a jab to the body but Knepp is just out of range.
Ballantyne throws a body kick that misses.
Ballantyne moves out of range of the body kick.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Knepp!
Knepp looks to score with a jab to the body but Ballantyne is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good shot there by Knepp.
Knepp tries a head kick but it misses.
Knepp misses with a body shot
and Ballantyne counters with a straight right hand.
Knepp fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Ballantyne is leaning against Knepp and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Ballantyne blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ballantyne throws an elbow but it misses.
Knepp is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ballantyne is defending well for now.
Knepp avoiding damage as Ballantyne throws knees to the body.
Knepp tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Knepp misses with a body punch.
Ballantyne landing knees to the body.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ballantyne creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Knepp's defenses.
Ballantyne putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Knepp in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Knepp fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Ballantyne escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Knepp fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jebidiah Knepp. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ballantyne tries a head kick but it misses.
Knepp on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Knepp steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Ballantyne. That one must have hurt.
Ballantyne dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Ballantyne lands a nice looking body kick.
Ballantyne looks for the body kick but Knepp saw that one coming.
Ballantyne avoids the head kick by Knepp.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knepp goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Ballantyne looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Ballantyne.
Knepp looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ballantyne is fending him off so far but Knepp persists. Nope, Ballantyne circles away and we're back to standing.
Ballantyne ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ballantyne listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Ballantyne connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Knepp momentarily.
Ballantyne throws a leg kick that is checked
and Knepp counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Ballantyne swats away the attempt to clinch by Knepp.
Ballantyne throws a head kick but Knepp moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ballantyne throws a chopping leg kick but Knepp manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
A head kick misses from Ballantyne.
Knepp uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ballantyne.
Ballantyne throws an overhand right that lands on Knepp's shoulder, as Knepp tries to avoid the shot.
Ballantyne throws a poor cross that misses
and Knepp counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Knepp misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ballantyne tries to clinch up but Knepp circles away and keeps his distance.
Ballantyne scores with a crisp jab that stopped Knepp in his tracks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Garrick Ballantyne dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Jebidiah Knepp's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Ballantyne closes the distance looking to clinch
and Knepp makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Knepp lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Knepp shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ballantyne sprawls well. Ballantyne wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Knepp gets slowly back to his feet.
Ballantyne is looking to chop away at Knepp's legs.
Knepp checks a leg kick.
Knepp scores with a head kick. Ballantyne tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Knepp looks for a takedown but Ballantyne sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Knepp there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Ballantyne doesn't manage to clinch there - Knepp circles away.
Ballantyne tries to bum rush Knepp with a series of wild strikes but Knepp uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ballantyne wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Knepp thows a body shot but no joy.
Garrick Ballantyne seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Knepp drives through with a takedown into Ballantyne's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Knepp trying to control the position from guard on top but Ballantyne is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ballantyne utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knepp with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ballantyne working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Knepp.
Ballantyne trying to keep a closed guard but Knepp is proving a slippery customer.
Knepp postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Ballantyne being controlled here, momentarily.
Knepp wants to control from the top but Ballantyne keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knepp trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Knepp preventing the sweep.
Knepp trying to control the position from guard on top but Ballantyne is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Jebidiah Knepp just wasn't active enough.
Knepp shoots in looking for a takedown but Ballantyne manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Knepp's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jebidiah Knepp. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Knepp is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ballantyne sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Ballantyne shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Knepp.

Knepp darts in and clinches Ballantyne up against the cage.
Knepp tries to pull guard but Ballantyne holds him up against the cage and eventually Knepp drops back down to his feet.
Knepp tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ballantyne just stands there and leans against the cage.
Knepp tries to pull guard but Ballantyne won't allow it.

Knepp pulls guard successfully.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Knepp wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Ballantyne is now in half guard.
Knepp wants to control but Ballantyne is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ballantyne prevents Knepp from improving his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jebidiah Knepp showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Knepp has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 48:47
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 48:47
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jebidiah Knepp!
Jebidiah Knepp retains his welterweight title!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Jebidiah Knepp waved his t-shirt featuring Milwaukee's Best 159's - $45's logo in front of the cameras.