PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight kickboxing rules bout between Larry Ballard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Belial Zaapiel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Ballard
vs
Zaapiel

174 cm
24
155 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

171 cm
25
155 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

Great elbows
Very strong

Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Larry Ballard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Belial Zaapiel!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Shirou Masuda and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ballard fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zaapiel manages to avoid it.

Ballard fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Zaapiel, pushing him back against the ropes.
Zaapiel goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Zaapiel with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ballard missing with knees to the body.
Zaapiel misses with a knee strike.
Zaapiel missing with knees to the body.
Ballard tries to land a knee to the head but Zaapiel blocks with his arms.
Ballard gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Ballard struggles to land a body shot inside as Zaapiel controls his hands.
Ballard lands an elbow inside that Zaapiel shrugs off.
Zaapiel is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Zaapiel managing to block the knees to the body from Ballard.
Ballard prevents a body shot from Zaapiel.
Ballard blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Zaapiel misses with a punch to the body.
Zaapiel avoids the elbow strike from Ballard, against the ropes.
Ballard creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Zaapiel's defenses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaapiel lands a good knee to the midsection. Ballard won't want to take too many of those.
Ballard on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Ballard blocks a body shot from Zaapiel.
Ballard lands a knee to the head.
Ballard lands a nice knee to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Ballard misses with a punch to the body.
Zaapiel unloads a knee to the mid-section. Ballard lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
A head punch on the inside from Ballard fails to land.
Ballard blocks a body shot from Zaapiel.
Zaapiel on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Zaapiel leaning against his opponent.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zaapiel misses with an elbow strike.
Ballard crunches a lovely knee into Zaapiel's ribcage.
Zaapiel tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ballard avoids it.
Ballard takes a knee right on the jaw!
Ballard goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ballard misses with the head strike.
Zaapiel is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Zaapiel avoiding damage as Ballard throws knees to the body.
A short right from Ballard on the inside.
Ballard creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Ballard misses with an elbow over the top.
Ballard tries to throw a body punch but Zaapiel avoids it by throwing Ballard back against the ropes.
Zaapiel lands a knee to the body.
Ballard tries to land knees in the clinch but Zaapiel avoids the damage to the body.
Zaapiel lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Ballard tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Zaapiel's elbow.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Zaapiel trying to stall but Ballard improves his position.
Zaapiel connects with a knee to the head.
Ballard pushes off an throws an elbow but Zaapiel leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Zaapiel blocks an elbow strike from Ballard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Belial Zaapiel will probably get the nod.
That's time! Ballard's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ballard slips under a jab from Zaapiel.

Ballard has closed the distance and engaged Zaapiel in a clinch.
Zaapiel works on Ballard's body with a couple of short punches.
Zaapiel lands a right hand.
Nice body punch from Ballard - that landed with a thud.
Zaapiel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ballard.
Zaapiel connects with a nasty looking knee right to Ballard's face.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zaapiel.
Ballard misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Zaapiel pushes off an throws an elbow but Ballard leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Ballard misses with a punch to the body.
Ballard swings wildly with an uppercut but Zaapiel uses good head movement to avoid it.
Zaapiel stalling in the clinch but Ballard improves position.
Zaapiel misses with a knee strike.
Ballard lands a hook that snaps the head of Zaapiel backwards.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zaapiel wants to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaapiel tries a body shot but Ballard blocks it.
Zaapiel blocks an elbow strike.
Zaapiel is trying to maintain a safe position but Ballard gets an underhook and turns Zaapiel into the ropes.
Ballard scores with a shoulder strike.
Belial Zaapiel seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Ballard lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Zaapiel lands an elbow inside that Ballard shrugs off.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Ballard throws an elbow but misses.
Zaapiel blocks an elbow strike from Ballard.
Zaapiel blocks an elbow strike.
Zaapiel unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Zaapiel missing with knees to the body.
Zaapiel tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ballard avoids it.
Zaapiel prevents a body shot from Ballard.
Zaapiel can't find room to land a body shot as Ballard controls the action.
Zaapiel throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zaapiel blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ballard can't find room to land a body shot as Zaapiel controls the action.
Zaapiel lands a nice elbow.
Zaapiel is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ballard is defending well for now.
Ballard lands an elbow inside that Zaapiel shrugs off.
Zaapiel missing with knees to the body.
Ballard tries to throw a body punch but Zaapiel avoids it by throwing Ballard back against the ropes.
A head punch on the inside from Ballard fails to land.
Zaapiel is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ballard is defending well for now.
Ballard's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Ballard tries a body shot but Zaapiel blocks it.
Zaapiel blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Zaapiel dodges an elbow strike from Ballard.
Ballard swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Zaapiel is looking to control Ballard's arms but Ballard gets an underhook and turns him. Now Zaapiel has his back to the ropes.
Zaapiel with an attempt at a knee that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Belial Zaapiel will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A decent looking body kick lands there for Zaapiel.
Zaapiel misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zaapiel lands a leg kick that knocks Ballard off balance momentarily.
Zaapiel swats away the attempt to clinch by Ballard.
Ballard keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Ballard forces Zaapiel back against the ropes and clinches.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Ballard just misses with a elbow thrown towards Zaapiel's brow.
Zaapiel lands a nice shot to the body.
Ballard missing with knees to the body.
Zaapiel fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Zaapiel throws an elbow but misses.
Ballard gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Zaapiel misses with an elbow strike.
A head punch on the inside from Zaapiel fails to land.
Zaapiel scores with a shoulder strike.
Ballard lands a nice elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaapiel goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Still in the clinch, Zaapiel scores with a nice short uppercut.
Ballard managing to block the knees to the body from Zaapiel.
Ballard misses with a knee strike.
Ballard dodges an elbow strike from Zaapiel.
Ballard trying to land knees to the body.
Zaapiel pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Ballard lands with a light punch inside.
Zaapiel misses with an elbow strike.
Ballard doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Zaapiel is looking to control Ballard's arms but Ballard gets an underhook and turns him. Now Zaapiel has his back to the ropes.
Zaapiel lands a left hand.
Zaapiel misses with the head strike.
Zaapiel misses with a knee strike.
Zaapiel trying to land knees to the body.
Zaapiel controlling the action here for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zaapiel with a knee to the head.
Zaapiel lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Zaapiel is trying to stall.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zaapiel.
Ballard scores with a nice hook to the head.
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!
Zaapiel is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ballard is defending well for now.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Ballard as Zaapiel tries to tie him up.
Zaapiel blocks a punch to the side of the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zaapiel with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ballard crunches a lovely knee into Zaapiel's ribcage.
Zaapiel missing with knees to the body.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Ballard throws an elbow but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Belial Zaapiel really 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.

Zaapiel throws a leg kick but Ballard sees it coming and checks it nicely.
A big right from Ballard misses.
Ballard fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Ballard tries to clinch but Zaapiel is having none of it.
Ballard is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Zaapiel is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Zaapiel takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

Ballard clinches.
Ballard takes an elbow to the temple.
Zaapiel tries to work over Ballard's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Zaapiel unloads a knee to the mid-section. Ballard lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Ballard missing with knees to the body.
Zaapiel misses with a knee to the head.
Zaapiel throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Zaapiel prevents a body shot from Ballard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is keeping an eye on Zaapiel - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Zaapiel tries to throw a body punch but Ballard avoids it by throwing Zaapiel back against the ropes.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Zaapiel just misses with a elbow thrown towards Ballard's brow.
Nice elbow from Ballard.
Ballard misses with an elbow over the top.
Ballard blocks the elbow strike.
Zaapiel goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Ballard just misses with a elbow thrown towards Zaapiel's brow.
Ballard missing with knees to the body.
Zaapiel prevents a body shot from Ballard.
Zaapiel misses with a hook to the ribs.
Zaapiel is struggling to control the position.
Zaapiel on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Zaapiel lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zaapiel is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Zaapiel with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Zaapiel lands a good knee to the midsection. Ballard won't want to take too many of those.
Ballard misses with a hook to the ribs.
Zaapiel prevents a body shot from Ballard.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Zaapiel just misses with a elbow thrown towards Ballard's brow.
Zaapiel lands an elbow that stopped Ballard in his tracks for a moment.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zaapiel avoids a wild elbow strike from Ballard.
Zaapiel takes an elbow to the forehead.
A head punch on the inside from Zaapiel fails to land.
Knees to the body from Zaapiel.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ballard lands a left hand.
Zaapiel missing with knees to the body.
Zaapiel missing with knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Ballard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Belial Zaapiel will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Zaapiel wants to land a leg kick but Ballard is out of range.
Ballard tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Zaapiel paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Zaapiel swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Zaapiel avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Zaapiel tries to clinch up.
Ballard tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zaapiel was well out of range. Poor timing from Ballard.
Zaapiel tries to clinch up but Ballard circles away and keeps his distance.
Ballard lands a head shot.
Ballard tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Zaapiel paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Zaapiel.
Larry Ballard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ballard tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zaapiel swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zaapiel keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ballard.
Ballard throws a big shot that misses.

Ballard gets a clinch.
Ballard tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Zaapiel avoids it.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ballard managing to block the knees to the body from Zaapiel.
Ballard misses with an elbow strike.
Zaapiel takes an elbow to the temple.
Still in the clinch, Ballard scores with a nice short uppercut.
Ballard misses with a hook from the clinch.
Zaapiel on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Zaapiel tries a knee to the head but Ballard blocks it.
Zaapiel looking to stall.

Zaapiel breaks from the clinch.
Belial Zaapiel is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Zaapiel misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ballard misses the shot to the body.

Ballard has closed the distance and engaged Zaapiel in a clinch.
Ballard lands a left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ballard lands a nice elbow.
Zaapiel is looking to control Ballard's arms but Ballard gets an underhook and turns him. Now Zaapiel has his back to the ropes.
Ballard lands a damaging elbow.
Zaapiel tries to throw a body punch but Ballard avoids it by throwing Zaapiel back against the ropes.
A short uppercut from Zaapiel.
Ballard landing knees to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ballard looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Zaapiel misses with the head strike.
Ballard crunches a lovely knee into Zaapiel's ribcage.
Ballard lands a shoulder strike.
Ballard lands a hook to the side of the head.
Zaapiel takes a shot to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A head punch on the inside from Ballard fails to land.
Zaapiel blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Zaapiel on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Ballard.
Zaapiel blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
Larry Ballard showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Zaapiel 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 46:49
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 46:49
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Belial Zaapiel!