PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joel Ball (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Tyson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ball comes into the arena with Whats My Name blaring out of the sound system. Tyson has chosen saw as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Ball
vs
Tyson

210 cm
18
235 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

180 cm
20
224 lbs
7 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BioPharm Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joel Ball!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mike Tyson!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Jorge Garcia and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tyson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ball tries to avoid it but Tyson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ball to the ground. Ball escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Tyson tries for a takedown but Ball sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Ball throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ball swinging wilding here.

Ball has closed the distance and engaged Tyson in a clinch.

Ball has clasped his hands together around Tyson's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Tyson looking for a sweep but Ball has passed into full mount! Oh no!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tyson gets back to half guard.
Ball is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tyson moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Tyson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ball knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Tyson on the ground.
Tyson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ball manages to get himself to full guard.
Ball keeping full guard, as Tyson tries to pass.
Ball keeping moving, preventing Tyson from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Tyson passes into half guard.
Tyson stops Ball from getting back to his feet.
Tyson is stalling here. Ball is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Tyson seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Ball has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Tyson is looking for a sweep.
Ball working away.

Ball decides to stand back up.
Ball is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ball tries to bum rush Tyson with a series of wild strikes but Tyson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Tyson misses with a takedown attempt - Ball sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Joel Ball has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Tyson.
Tyson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Some bone on bone action there as Tyson checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Ball swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Tyson tries for a takedown but Ball sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Ball jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Tyson slips a jab from Ball.
Ball throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Tyson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Tyson shoots for a double leg takedown but Ball sprawls well. He's pushed Tyson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Joel Ball is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tyson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tyson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ball swivels and escapes.
Tyson closes the distance and clinches up with Ball, looking for a takedown. Tyson pushes Ball against the cage but Ball circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Ball moves into the clinch successfully.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Ball.
Tyson fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Joel Ball has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Tyson.

Ball breaks from the clinch.
Ball swings for the body but Tyson moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tyson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ball as he avoids it easily.
Tyson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ball is fending him off so far but Tyson persists. Nope, Ball circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ball will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ball misses with a series of wild punches.
Nice takedown defense from Ball. No joy for Tyson on that attempt.
Ball swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Tyson moves out of range of the leg kick from Ball.
Tyson closes the distance and clinches up with Ball, looking for a takedown. Tyson pushes Ball against the cage but Ball circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Tyson should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Tyson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ball.
Tyson throws a looping overhand right but Ball ducks down to avoid it.
Ball attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Tyson shoots in but no luck this time.
Ball misses with a double jab.
Tyson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ball is fending him off so far but Tyson persists. Nope, Ball circles away and we're back to standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ball swinging wilding here.
Ball swinging wilding here.
A clash of legs there as Tyson blocks the low kick.
Tyson shoots in for a takedown but Ball shows good takedown defense.
Ball ducks under a wild hook from Tyson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Ball stuffs the takedown attempt from Tyson. Tyson gets slowly back to his feet.
Tyson fails to land the takedown.
Tyson is breathing heavily.
Tyson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Mike Tyson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nice body kick from Ball.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joel Ball dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ball with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Tyson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ball swinging wilding here.
Ball throws an overhand right that lands on Tyson's shoulder, as Tyson tries to avoid the shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tyson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Ball fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ball throws a front kick aimed at Tyson's knee but Tyson avoids it well.
Ball swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Tyson shoots for a double leg takedown but Ball sprawls well. He's pushed Tyson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Tyson shoots in for a takedown but Ball shows good takedown defense.
Joel Ball has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Tyson.
Tyson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ball throws a right and a left that both miss.
Tyson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ball as he avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Tyson staying out of range there.
Joel Ball is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ball avoids a punch combination nicely.
Tyson fails to land the takedown.
Tyson takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Tyson shoots in and bounces Ball off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tyson drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Ball dives on top into guard.

Tyson pushes Ball off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Ball has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ball stops a takedown attempt from Tyson.
A short right from Ball.
Tyson tries to pull guard but Ball holds him up against the cage and eventually Tyson drops back down to his feet.
Tyson fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Ball breaks from the clinch.
Tyson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Tyson fails with a takedown attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ball throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joel Ball clearly takes that round.
That's time! Ball's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Tyson scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Ball dodges the ground and pound from Tyson.
Tyson is looking to take a break and control but Ball is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Tyson moves into full mount!
Ball is in a horrible position here. Tyson smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

Tyson is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Ball can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
BOOM! Tyson connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Tyson landing shots from mount.

Tyson goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Ball turns into him and now he's in Tyson's guard.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tyson wants to sweep but no luck.
Tyson trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Tyson pulls Ball in close to his closed guard and prevents Ball from doing any damage or advancing position.

Tyson had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Ball is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Tyson Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Ball's back instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ball looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

Tyson working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

Ball is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Tyson gets his way!
Ball covering up well and avoiding damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ball is trying to stand back up.

Tyson has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Will Tyson go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Tyson dominated that fourth round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Tyson scores with a takedown into Ball's guard.
Ball keeping full guard, as Tyson tries to pass.
Tyson trying to control the position from guard on top but Ball is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ball is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Tyson is controlling him.
Mike Tyson has got the better of the ground game so far.
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.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ball scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Tyson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Ball!
Tyson working the ground and pound effectively.
Tyson looking to finish with strikes here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tyson looking for a guillotine from mount but Ball is having none of it.
Tyson punching from mount but Ball doing a good job of avoiding damage.

Tyson looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Tyson wants to control the pace but Ball is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tyson content just to control the position here.
Mike Tyson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tyson pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Tyson looking to control but Ball is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tyson cracks Ball with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

Tyson working for a guillotine from mount but Ball is in no mood to give up.
Tyson putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

Tyson goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Ball turns into him and now he's in Tyson's guard.
Ball trying to stand up but can't free himself from Tyson's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Tyson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ball 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 48:47
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 48:47
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joel Ball!
Joel Ball is the new heavyweight champion!