PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Polly Italiano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and E Pha Balise To (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Italiano
vs
Pha Balise To

150 cm
25
130 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

169 cm
25
134 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Polly Italiano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, E Pha Balise To!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Jeff Smith and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Italiano closes the distance and clinches.
Our sources have told us that Italiano has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
Balise To is trying to stall.
Italiano lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Balise To tries to pull guard but Italiano holds him up against the cage and eventually Balise To drops back down to his feet.
Italiano is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Balise To drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Italiano gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Italiano tries a knee to the head but Balise To blocks it.
Italiano has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Balise To after a bit of a struggle.
Balise To takes a knee right on the jaw!
Italiano tries a knee to the head but Balise To blocks it.
Balise To is looking to control Italiano's arms but Italiano gets an underhook and turns him. Now Balise To has his back to the cage.
Italiano tries a knee to the head but Balise To blocks it.
Balise To jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Italiano walks away with a smile on his face. Balise To gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Polly Italiano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of E Pha Balise To.
Balise To closes this distance looking for a takedown but Italiano circles away.
Balise To shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Italiano defends it nicely.
Balise To goes for a double leg but Italiano avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Italiano continues to drive forward.
Balise To taking a breather.
Balise To drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Italiano connects with a knee to the head.
Balise To is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Italiano to keep the fight standing.
Italiano connects with a knee to the head.
Italiano has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Balise To after a bit of a struggle.
Balise To jumps guard but Italiano turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Balise To prevents a takedown attempt there.
Italiano is breathing heavily.

Italiano has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Balise To clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Balise To is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Italiano missing with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Italiano lands strikes to the head.
Balise To looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Italiano could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Italiano throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Balise To controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Balise To covering up well and avoiding damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Balise To holding both Italiano 's hands and preventing any damage.
Balise To covering up well and avoiding damage.
Italiano throwing sloppy strikes.
Balise To is trying to get back to his feet but Italiano has full control of the position and if anything, Balise To has just worked his way into a worse spot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Italiano struggling to land strikes to the head as Balise To covers up.
Balise To trying to get back to his feet but Italiano is in full control for now.
Italiano throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Italiano thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Italiano knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Balise To on the ground.
Italiano punches the canvas rather than the man.
Balise To trying to get back to his feet but Italiano is in full control for now.
Balise To covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Italiano missing with punches from the back.
Balise To covering up well and avoiding damage.
Balise To looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Balise To is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Italiano throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Balise To is trying to stand back up.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Italiano throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Balise To is trying to get back to his feet but Italiano has full control of the position and if anything, Balise To has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Italiano has Balise To flattened out and is raining down punches.
Balise To has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Italiano punches the canvas rather than the man.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Polly Italiano dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Balise To fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Italiano avoids it really well and circles away.
Balise To fails to land the takedown.
Balise To shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Italiano as he jumps to the side.
Polly Italiano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of E Pha Balise To.

Balise To gets tackled into the cage by Italiano. Italiano maintains the clinch.
Italiano tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Balise To jumps guard but Italiano turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Balise To takes a knee right on the jaw!
Italiano connects with a nasty looking knee right to Balise To's face.
Balise To is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Italiano to keep the fight standing.

Italiano wants the takedown. Balise To is fighting it off but Italiano persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Balise To's guard against the cage.
Polly Italiano overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Balise To is looking to stand up but Italiano isn't so interested in that idea.
Balise To is breathing heavily.
Italiano with a flurry of punches that miss.
Italiano prevents Balise To from getting back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Italiano throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Balise To wants to get back to his feet but Italiano is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Balise To utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Balise To avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Balise To wants to stand up but Italiano is controlling him.

Italiano gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Italiano is looking to clinch.
Italiano stuffs the takedown attempt from Balise To. Balise To gets slowly back to his feet.
Balise To shoots in looking for a takedown but Italiano manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Balise To's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Italiano closes the distance and pushes Balise To back into the cage.
Italiano with a knee to the head.
Balise To can't get the takedown.
Italiano wants to take the fight to the mat but Balise To manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Italiano has hold of one of Balise To's legs. Balise To is fighting the takedown attempt but Italiano gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Balise To is working an open guard so Italiano takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Italiano stuffs the takedown.

Italiano moves into the clinch.
Balise To gets underhooks to prevent Italiano's takedown attempt.
Balise To wants a takedown but no success here.
Italiano looking for a takedown.
Balise To is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Italiano pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Italiano wants a takedown but no success here.
Balise To jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Italiano walks away with a smile on his face. Balise To gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Italiano closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Italiano drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Balise To wants to stall.
Italiano tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Balise To drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Balise To jumps guard and drags Italiano to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Italiano throws a big right hand that misses.
Balise To wants to get back to his feet but Italiano is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Italiano wants to pass the guard but Balise To is keeping the position.
Italiano stops Balise To from standing up.
Italiano in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Italiano might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balise To avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Italiano is looking to work some ground and pound but Balise To has wrist control.
Balise To is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Italiano loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Italiano trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Balise To wants to stand up but Italiano is controlling him.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Italiano throwing strikes from guard but Balise To blocks nicely.
Balise To wants to stand up but Italiano is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Polly Italiano dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Italiano closes the distance and pushes Balise To back into the cage.
Balise To drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Italiano works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Italiano throwing strikes from guard but Balise To blocks nicely.
Balise To is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Italiano postures up in Balise To's guard and throws a big left but Balise To blocks it.
Italiano loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Balise To utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Balise To is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Italiano is controlling him.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Italiano accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Italiano throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Balise To is looking to stand up but Italiano isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Italiano in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Balise To wants to get back to his feet but Italiano is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Italiano in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Italiano is looking to work some ground and pound but Balise To has wrist control.
Italiano loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Balise To wants to get back to his feet but Italiano is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Italiano accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Balise To working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Italiano.
Balise To wants to stand but Italiano is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Italiano with a flurry of punches that miss.
Italiano has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Italiano throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Balise To is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Italiano in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Italiano stops Balise To from standing up.
Italiano throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Balise To works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Italiano lands a couple of elbows.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Balise To wants to stand and escape but Italiano is having none of it.
Italiano throws a big elbow that misses.
Italiano throws a big right hand that misses.
Balise To is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Italiano is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Italiano postures up in Balise To's guard and throws a big left but Balise To blocks it.
Balise To wants to stand but Italiano is controlling the position.
Italiano postures up in Balise To's guard and throws a big left but Balise To blocks it.
Balise To preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Italiano postures up and lands a big shot to Balise To's brow.
Balise To wants to stand but Italiano is controlling the position.
Italiano postures up in Balise To's guard and throws a big left but Balise To blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balise To is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Italiano postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Italiano throwing strikes from guard but Balise To blocks nicely.
Balise To utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Balise To is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Italiano is controlling him.
Italiano postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Balise To is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Balise To utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Italiano in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
E Pha Balise To has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Polly Italiano is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Balise To had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Italiano defends it easily.

Balise To pushes a forearm under Italiano's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Italiano is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). E Pha Balise To!