PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bubba Balls (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dion Phaneuf (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dion Phaneuf has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Balls
vs
Phaneuf

189 cm
26
206 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

198 cm
25
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bubba Balls!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Dion Phaneuf!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Elvis Blanc and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balls slips a jab and a cross from Phaneuf.
Phaneuf throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Balls shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Phaneuf as he avoids it easily.
Balls dodges the punch combination from Phaneuf.
Phaneuf defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Balls.
Balls showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Phaneuf.
Sloppy strikes from Phaneuf. Those never looked like landing.
Some wild striking there from Phaneuf.
Balls shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bubba Balls. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Phaneuf lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Balls backs up against the cage.
A punch combination from Phaneuf misses.
Phaneuf throws a right and a left that Balls avoids nicely.
Phaneuf works over Balls's head and body with a nice combination.
Phaneuf misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phaneuf tries to bum rush Balls with a series of wild strikes but Balls uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Balls fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Phaneuf manages to avoid it.
Phaneuf fails to land with a series of punches.
Phaneuf swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Balls decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Phaneuf's guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Balls is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Balls slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Phaneuf utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Balls sitting in guard here, content to control.
Phaneuf is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Balls knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Phaneuf on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balls is looking to stand up but Phaneuf won't let him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Phaneuf avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Phaneuf has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Balls is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Balls has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Phaneuf avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Balls drops down looking for an ankle pick but Phaneuf pulls his leg out and moves away.
Balls misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A punch combination from Phaneuf misses.
Phaneuf throws a combination that misses

and Balls counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Phaneuf!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Balls is looking to take a break and control but Phaneuf is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Balls tries for a kimura but Phaneuf is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Balls thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Balls in side control, just content to control the action for now.

Balls is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Phaneuf knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Phaneuf is not content to let Balls control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balls throws an elbow but Phaneuf slips to the side and avoids it well.
Phaneuf managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Balls.
Phaneuf is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Balls trying to control the position but Phaneuf is working away.

Balls tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Balls has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Balls goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Phaneuf has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Balls but great work by Phaneuf.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bubba Balls 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.

A combination from Phaneuf does no damage.
Phaneuf misses with a combination

and Balls counters with a single leg into guard. Phaneuf didn't expect that.
Phaneuf wants to stand up but Balls is controlling him.
Balls trying to control the position from guard on top but Phaneuf is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Balls throwing strikes from guard but Phaneuf blocks nicely.
Balls with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Balls controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Phaneuf keeping full guard, as Balls tries to pass.
Balls throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Phaneuf works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Balls drops back, looking for a kneebar! Phaneuf looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Phaneuf looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Phaneuf!

Phaneuf decides to stand back up. Phaneuf steps back and let's Balls get back to his feet.
Phaneuf throws a right and a left that both miss.
Phaneuf misses with a wild combination.
Phaneuf lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Dion Phaneuf seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Phaneuf misses with a jab, cross combination.
Phaneuf fails to land with a series of punches.
Phaneuf is breathing heavily.
Phaneuf pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Balls back to the cage. Phaneuf follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Phaneuf misses with a jab, cross combination.
Dion Phaneuf is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Phaneuf does no damage.
Phaneuf will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Phaneuf fails to land with a series of punches.
Phaneuf misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Phaneuf displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Balls.
Phaneuf throws a right hand that Balls ducks under and follows up with a left that Balls also avoids with ease.

Balls fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Phaneuf to the ground. Balls is now in Phaneuf's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Balls drops back looking for a leg! Phaneuf is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Phaneuf manages to kick Balls off! Balls jumps back into Phaneuf's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Balls is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Balls thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Balls wants to pass the guard but Phaneuf is keeping the position.
Balls trying to control the position from guard on top but Phaneuf is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Balls stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Phaneuf swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balls controls from within his opponent's guard.
Balls throwing strikes but missing.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Balls is standing up over Phaneuf. Phaneuf looks to escape but Balls dives into side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Balls.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Balls in side control, just content to control the action for now.

Balls thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bubba Balls dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Phaneuf will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A combination from Phaneuf does no damage.
Phaneuf throws a series of punches but Balls avoids them all with ease.
Phaneuf looks to land a combination but Balls avoids it well.
Phaneuf throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Balls.
Phaneuf fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Phaneuf lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
A combination from Phaneuf does no damage.
Phaneuf throws a combination that misses

and Balls counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Balls is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Phaneuf defends it well.
Phaneuf takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Balls is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Phaneuf sees it coming and defends easily.
Bubba Balls overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Balls seems to be working for a kimura but Phaneuf defends the submission attempt.

Balls is trying to work for a kimura but Phaneuf is defending well.
Balls moves into full mount! Phaneuf won't be happy about that!
Balls looking to control but Phaneuf is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Balls swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Phaneuf is now in Balls's guard. A big mistake from Balls there, giving up the dominant position!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phaneuf is looking to stand up but Balls won't let him.

Balls has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Phaneuf can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Phaneuf wanted to stand there but Balls had control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balls is trying to keep Phaneuf in close.

Balls looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Phaneuf wanted to stand there but Balls had control of the position.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phaneuf is looking to stand up but Balls won't let him.
Balls controlling Phaneuf's posture.
Balls has a closed guard, preventing Phaneuf from standing up.
Dion Phaneuf has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bubba Balls is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Balls preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bubba Balls showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Balls, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bubba Balls!
A very excited looking Bubba Balls rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.