PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gunnar Nelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bala Bala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bala has chosen Tough at the top as his entrance music. 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.

Nelson
vs
Bala

188 cm
23
191 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

185 cm
30
191 lbs
18 - 12 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 159's - $75
Milwaukee's Best 160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gunnar Nelson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bala Bala!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nelson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Bala looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Bala not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Nelson passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Bala is looking for a sweep.
Nelson in side control lands a decent elbow.
Nelson is looking to take a break and control but Bala is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bala takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nelson trying to control the action but Bala is working from the bottom.
Bala is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bala takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Nelson is working Bala over with some ground and pound from side control.
Nelson tries to score with some ground and pound. Bala controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Bala can't do much from the bottom here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nelson works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Nelson works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Nelson landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Bala tries to buck Nelson off but Nelson is having none of it.

Nelson is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Bala is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nelson scores with a couple of short elbows.
Nelson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Bala wants to control but Nelson postures up.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Nelson tries for a kimura but Bala is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bala manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Nelson is looking for a kimura here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bala trying to control from the bottom.
Nelson is looking to take a break and control but Bala is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nelson is nestled in close to Bala, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Nelson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Bala on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Bala looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson tries to pass to full mount but Bala defends it.
Nelson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Bala wants to get back to full guard.
Bala regains full guard. Nicely done.
Nelson cracks Bala with a solid left hand.
Bala looking to control.
Nelson content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Nelson connects with a couple of short punches.
Nelson wants to control from the top but Bala keeps moving.
Nelson works over Bala with some ground and pound from guard.
Nelson trying to control the position from guard on top but Bala is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nelson works over Bala with some ground and pound from guard.
Nelson throws a big right hand that misses.
Nelson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Bala's head.
Nelson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bala is keeping the position for now.

Bala has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Nelson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Bala looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nelson is one step ahead there.
Nelson looking to sit in guard and control but Bala gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Nelson is looking for a triangle but Bala pushes his legs off easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gunnar Nelson dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Nelson misses with the combination.
Bala scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Nelson throws a sloppy body shot

and Bala counters with a shoot takedown. Nelson fights it but they end up in guard.
Bala stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nelson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Nelson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Nelson keeping moving, preventing Bala from controlling successfully.
Bala pushes down on Nelson's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Gunnar Nelson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nelson wants to control but Bala is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bala trying to mount his opponent but Nelson defends it.
Nelson regains full guard. Nicely done.
Bala throws a big right hand that misses.
Bala must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Bala looking to pass the guard.
Nelson wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Nelson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Nelson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Bala trying to control the position from guard on top but Nelson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bala trying to move into half guard but instead Nelson has managed to sweep!
Bala looking to control.
Nelson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Nelson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bala is keeping the position for now.
Nelson won't allow Bala to sweep him here.

Bala escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nelson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
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!

Bala working for submissions but it's allowed Nelson to get to half guard.

Nelson is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Bala has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson is keen to just control but Bala is a slippery customer.
Bala gets full guard.
Nelson slips nicely into half guard.
Bala works his way to full guard. Good work.
Bala keeping full guard, as Nelson tries to pass.
Nelson stopping the sweep attempt from Bala.
Bala keeping full guard, as Nelson tries to pass.
Nelson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Nelson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bala working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nelson.
Nelson connects with a couple of short punches.

Nelson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Nelson stays in close to Bala's body and controls the position.
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!
Bala keeping moving, preventing Nelson from controlling successfully.
Nelson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Nelson trying to control but Bala is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nelson stopping the sweep attempt from Bala.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Gunnar Nelson just wasn't active enough.
Nelson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bala manages to avoid it.
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 Gunnar Nelson will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

A big left from Nelson misses.
Nelson scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

Nelson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Nelson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Bala is looking to improve his position.
Nelson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Bala is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Nelson pulls his head out easily.

Nelson looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Bala wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson is nestled in close to Bala, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Nelson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Nelson stalling away here and it's allowed Bala to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

Bala has his foot on Nelson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nelson works his way back into a safe position though.
Nelson throws a big right hand that misses.

Bala working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Nelson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Nelson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Bala has momentary wrist control but Nelson slips an elbow through the middle.

Bala is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Bala looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Bala takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nelson won't allow Bala to sweep him here.
Nelson working some strikes from top position.
Nelson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nelson working some strikes from top position.
Nelson working some strikes from top position.

Bala is rocked!
Bala manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Nelson manages to get himself to full guard.
Bala wants to pass the guard but Nelson is keeping the position.
Bala won't allow Nelson to sweep him here.
Nelson is controlling Bala's posture.
Nelson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Bala!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Nelson wants to control the pace but Bala is squirming around nicely.
Nelson dominating with strikes here.
Bala taking shots to the head.
Bala is still in real trouble! Can Nelson finish him?
Nelson has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Bala's face.
Bala wants to hold on but Nelson pushes him away.
Bala can't escape the position.
Nelson cracks Bala with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bala is trying desperately to improve position.
Bala seems to have recovered his senses.
Bala is squirming around, avoiding Nelson's attempts to control the action.
Bala really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Nelson working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Nelson punishing his opponent with strikes.
Bala bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Nelson holds on and takes a little breather.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Nelson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Bala Bala has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nelson keeping full guard, as Bala tries to pass.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gunnar Nelson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Nelson has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gunnar Nelson!
Gunnar Nelson looked relieved post fight as he said the following; 'Sorry Mike, but even Doc can't stop me.'.