PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Thunders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vassago Ballardo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thunders comes to the cage accompanied by Ain't That A Kick In The Head by Dean Martin. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Thunders
vs
Ballardo

188 cm
28
215 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

188 cm
21
219 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Johnny Thunders!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vassago Ballardo!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Russell Pearce and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ballardo slips a straight right by Thunders.
Thunders bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Good work by Thunders as he checks the leg kick.
Ballardo misses with a low kick.
Ballardo misses with an attempted mid kick.
Thunders checks a low kick from Ballardo.
Thunders loads up on a big right hand but Ballardo slips the punch.
Vassago Ballardo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ballardo stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Thunders.
Ballardo tries to work over Thunders's front leg with a kick but Thunders checks it.
Thunders scoring well with a low kick there.
Thunders will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Thunders lands a front kick.
Ballardo takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
A swing and a miss from Thunders.
Thunders lands a right hook to the body.
Thunders fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ballardo manages to avoid it.
Ballardo misses with a head kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Thunders.
Good leg kick by Thunders there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ballardo takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ballardo wants to land a leg kick but Thunders is out of range.
Ballardo throws a nice head kick!

It looks like Johnny Thunders has been cut.
Thunders throws a combination. Ballardo tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Thunders checks a low kick from Ballardo.
Ballardo staying out of range there.
Ballardo feints and then cracks Thunders's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Thunders down.
Ballardo tries to clinch but Thunders moves out of range.

Thunders gets tackled into the cage by Ballardo. Ballardo maintains the clinch.
Thunders wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ballardo has him pressed against the cage.

Thunders's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thunders swats away the attempt to clinch by Ballardo.
Thunders attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Thunders comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Thunders misses with a looping left.
Thunders steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ballardo.
Nice shot lands for Thunders.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Ballardo checks a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thunders walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Ballardo checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Ballardo looks to throw a body kick
and Ballardo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ballardo throws a low kick but it's checked well by Thunders.
Thunders misses with a head kick.
Nice body kick from Ballardo.
Thunders misses with an uppercut.
Ballardo walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Thunders checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Thunders wants to slow Ballardo down by chopping away at his legs.
Ballardo lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Ballardo lands a nice leg kick that just misses Thunders's sensitive parts.
Thunders throws a jab when Ballardo was well out of range.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Ballardo lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Thunders has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Thunders and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Ballardo tries to close the distance and clinch but Thunders swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Thunders lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Ballardo is looking to clinch but Thunders is avoiding it.
Ballardo cracks the inside of Thunders's front leg.
Thunders keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Thunders uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ballardo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thunders throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ballardo lands a nice looking body kick.
Thunders misses with a looping right.
Ballardo buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Thunders looks to score with a jab to the body but Ballardo is just out of range.
Thunders moves out of range of the leg kick from Ballardo.
Thunders bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A telegraphed right hand from Thunders misses the target.
Ballardo misses with a leg kick.
Ballardo tries a low kick but Thunders avoids it.
Thunders misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Thunders feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Ballardos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Ballardo throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Thunders fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ballardo manages to avoid it.
Thunders takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Nice defenses there by Ballardo.
Ballardo is looking to clinch but Thunders is avoiding it.
Ballardo walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Thunders checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thunders misses with a hook.

Ballardo pushes Thunders up against the cage in a clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ballardo tries a body shot but Thunders blocks it.
Ballardo is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Thunders is keeping busy.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Ballardo taking a breather.
Ballardo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ballardo can't find room to land a body shot as Thunders controls the action.
Ballardo has a couple of punches blocked by Thunders.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ballardo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch on the inside from Ballardo fails to land.
Ballardo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Vassago Ballardo will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Johnny Thunders's cut.
That's time! Thunders's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A head kick misses from Ballardo.
Thunders lands with a shot to the body.
Ballardo moves in looking to clinch but Thunders pushes him off.
Ballardo tests Thunders's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Thunders with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Ballardo lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Thunders has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Thunders and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Thunders throws a leg kick that misses.
Ballardo walks into a stiff left hand from Thunders.
A jab from Thunders does it's job there.
Ballardo ducks right into an uppercut from Thunders.
Ballardo scores with a kick to the body.
Thunders throws a hook but Ballardo blocks it.
Ballardo throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Ballardo fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Thunders is out of range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ballardo throws a nice inside leg kick.
Ballardo lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Thunders moves into range and connects with a jab.
Thunders throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ballardo tries to close the distance and clinch but Thunders swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ballardo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Thunders paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ballardo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Thunders swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ballardo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Thunders swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Good work by Thunders as he checks the leg kick.
Thunders connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Thunders throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
An inside leg kick from Ballardo misses.
Thunders throws a hook but Ballardo avoids it easily.
Ballardo with a jab.
Thunders is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Ballardo scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Ballardo moves to clinch but Thunders breaks away
and Ballardo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ballardo is looking to clinch.
Thunders bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Ballardo's head.
Ballardo takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Thunders throws a leg kick but Ballardo sees it coming and moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Thunders checks a leg kick.
Ballardo throws a solid leg kick but Thunders takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Ballardo.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ballardo cracks the inside of Thunders's front leg.
Ballardo connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Ballardo tries to clinch up but Thunders circles away and keeps his distance.
Ballardo throws a low kick but it's checked well by Thunders.
A decent looking cross lands there for Ballardo.
Nice uppercut there from Thunders.
Thunders throws the left hand but Ballardo avoids the punch easily.
Ballardo throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Thunders blocks a low kick nicely.
Thunders swats away the attempt to clinch by Ballardo.
Ballardo throws a body kick that misses
and Thunders counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ballardo lands with a nice body kick.
Thunders tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ballardo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Vassago Ballardo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ballardo throws a leg kick but Thunders checks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ballardo moves in looking to clinch but Thunders pushes him off.
Thunders misses with an uppercut
and Ballardo counters with a nice low kick that buckles Thunders's knee momentarily.
Ballardo throws a leg kick that misses.
Thunders just misses with a punch to the body.
Thunders avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Thunders ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ballardo moves away.
Ballardo chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Thunders throws a right and a left that Ballardo avoids nicely.
Ballardo slips under a jab.
Ballardo lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Thunders circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ballardo tries to clinch up but Thunders circles away and keeps his distance.
Ballardo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ballardo avoids the body shot from Thunders.
Ballardo lands with an overhand left.
Thunders scores with a hook to the body. Ballardo takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Thunders jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Ballardo misses with a body kick.
Ballardo throws a low kick, looking for Thunders's leg but Thunders calmly moves out of range.
Thunders on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Ballardo. Ballardo obviously looking to wear him down.
Ballardo is looking to clinch.
Ballardo avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Thunders slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Ballardo throws a front kick aimed at Thunders's knee but Thunders avoids it well.
Ballardo closes the distance looking to clinch
and Thunders counters with a series of strikes. Ballardo will be more careful next time no doubt.
Thunders misses with a looping left.
Thunders throws a looping overhand right but Ballardo ducks down to avoid it.
Thunders looks to land a combination but Ballardo avoids it well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ballardo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A telegraphed right hand from Thunders misses the target.
Ballardo is looking to clinch.
Thunders jabbing away but nothing is landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vassago Ballardo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Johnny Thunders's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ballardo clinches up against the cage.
Ballardo throws a head punch that misses.
Ballardo tries to throw a body punch but Thunders avoids it by throwing Ballardo back against the cage.
Ballardo has a couple of punches blocked by Thunders.
A short body shot lands from Ballardo as the two fighters clinch.
Ballardo can't find room to land a body shot as Thunders controls the action.
Ballardo misses with a short punch on the inside.
Thunders has had enough of the clinch but Ballardo keeps him there for the moment.
Ballardo can't find room to land a body shot as Thunders controls the action.
A nice left hand lands by Ballardo.
Thunders tries to break free but Ballardo pushes him back against the cage.
Ballardo is trying to stall.
Ballardo misses with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thunders letting Ballardo take a breather here.
Ballardo throws a punch but it's blocked by Thunders.
Ballardo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ballardo struggles to land a body shot inside as Thunders controls his hands.
Thunders blocks a body shot from Ballardo.
Ballardo lands a hook that snaps the head of Thunders backwards.
Nice body punch from Ballardo.
A short uppercut from Ballardo.
Thunders wants to get back to striking at distance but Ballardo won't allow it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Thunders.
Ballardo misses with a hook to the ribs.
Johnny Thunders has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ballardo tries to work over Thunders's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ballardo misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ballardo cracks Thunders with a nice body shot.
Thunders blocks an uppercut.
Thunders is trying to break free.
Ballardo misses with a body punch.
Ballardo working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Ballardo has Thunders pressed against the cage.
Thunders prevents a body shot from Ballardo.
Ballardo misses with some punches.
Ballardo throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Thunderss head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ballardo struggles to land a body shot inside as Thunders controls his hands.
Thunders prevents a body shot from Ballardo.
Ballardo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Thunders prevents a body shot from Ballardo.
Ballardo slowing the pace effectively.
Ballardo tries to work over Thunders's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ballardo tries to throw a body punch but Thunders avoids it by throwing Ballardo back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ballardo.
Thunders tries to break the clinch but Ballardo is controlling the position.
Ballardo lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Ballardo tries to work over Thunders's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Vassago Ballardo seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Ballardo throws a punch but it's blocked by Thunders.
Ballardo tries a body shot but Thunders blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thunders wants to get back to striking at distance but Ballardo won't allow it.
Ballardo misses with a punch on the inside.
Ballardo misses with a punch to the body.
Ballardo misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ballardo throws a head punch that misses.
A right hand to the body from Ballardo.
Vassago Ballardo is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Thunders creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Thunders tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ballardo avoids it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thunders is trying to break the clinch but Ballardo is controlling him.
Thunders is trying to break free.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vassago Ballardo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ballardo has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vassago Ballardo!
A victorious Vassago Ballardo thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.