PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Knuckles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Ballard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnny Knuckles has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Knuckles
vs
Ballard

190 cm
25
205 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

195 cm
23
210 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Self confident

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Johnny Knuckles!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ben Ballard!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Vladimir Khabensky and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Knuckles fails with the takedown

and Ballard counters by moving into the clinch.
Knuckles is trying to pull guard but Ballard has him pressed against the cage.

Ballard has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Knuckles uses from the top position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Ballard looking to hit a scissor sweep but Knuckles is one step ahead there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ballard has a closed guard, preventing Knuckles from standing up.

Ballard looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Knuckles passes into half guard.

Knuckles stands up out of the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knuckles misses with a takedown

and Ballard holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnny Knuckles. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Knuckles goes for a takedown in the clinch but Ballard prevents it.
Ballard tries a body shot but Knuckles blocks it.
Knuckles is trying to stall.
Knuckles tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ballard smiles and moves away.
Ballard dives in for a single leg takedown but Knuckles sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Knuckles fails to pull guard.

Ballard lands a takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ballard trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ballard seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Knuckles is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Ballard controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Knuckles looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Ballard passes into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Knuckles is trying to buck Ballard off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knuckles is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Ballard controlling from side mount.
Knuckles wants to control but Ballard postures up.
Knuckles sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Knuckles makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Knuckles.
Ballard stopping the sweep attempt from Knuckles.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ballard wants to pass the guard but Knuckles is keeping the position.
Ballard trying to control but Knuckles is working from the bottom.
Ballard wants to stand but Knuckles is controlling his posture from full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Knuckles wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ballard drives through with a takedown into Knuckles's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Ballard wants to stand but Knuckles is controlling his posture from full guard.
Ballard is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Ballard pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Knuckles is keeping the position for now.
Knuckles is trying to keep Ballard in close.
Knuckles keeping moving, preventing Ballard from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knuckles looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ballard is one step ahead there.
Ben Ballard has got the better of the ground game so far.

Ballard got a little sloppy there for a moment and Knuckles has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ballard has managed to get both his arms back between Knuckles's legs - danger averted.
Knuckles trying to keep a closed guard but Ballard is proving a slippery customer.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Knuckles wants to clinch.
Knuckles tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knuckles tries for a takedown but Ballard sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Horrible takedown attempt by Knuckles or perhaps it was just good defense by Ballard, which made it look bad.
Knuckles shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnny Knuckles. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Knuckles takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Knuckles blocks the body kick.

Ballard moves into the clinch successfully.
Ballard prevents Knuckles from breaking the clinch.
Knuckles prevents a takedown attempt there.
Knuckles tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ballard's elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knuckles goes for a takedown in the clinch but Ballard prevents it.
Knuckles trying to control the position but instead, Ballard has worked for underhooks and has pushed Knuckles into the cage.

Ballard successfully pulls guard.
Knuckles has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Ballard is proving hard to escape from.
Ballard controlling Knuckles's posture.

Ballard is looking for a triangle but Knuckles pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knuckles preventing the sweep.
Knuckles trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ballard is looking to stand up but Knuckles isn't so interested in that idea.
Knuckles preventing the sweep.

Ballard working for a triangle but Knuckles defends it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Knuckles trying to control the position from guard on top but Ballard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Ballard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Ballard.
Knuckles tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ballard manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ballard misses with an uppercut.
Knuckles shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Ballard counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Knuckles is trying to control the position but Ballard postures up.
Ballard has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Knuckles is proving hard to escape from.
Ballard trying to control the position from guard on top but Knuckles is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Knuckles can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ballard controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Ballard trying to stand up but can't free himself from Knuckles's guard.

Ben Ballard has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Knuckles blocks a head kick by Ballard.
Knuckles shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ballard defends it nicely.
Knuckles tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ballard manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Knuckles tries to clinch there but Ballard circles away.
Ballard avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Knuckles blocks a head kick by Ballard.
Ballard fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knuckles throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Ballard's head.

It looks like Ben Ballard has been cut.
Ballard takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ballard fails with an attempt to clinch.
Knuckles fails with an attempt to clinch.

Ballard changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Knuckles looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Ballard goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Knuckles rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Ballard's guard! Nice work there by Knuckles!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Knuckles trying to control but Ballard is working from the bottom.
Knuckles working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Knuckles avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ballard not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Knuckles slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Knuckles is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Ballard knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Knuckles swings around for an armbar but Ballard sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Knuckles's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ballard stops Knuckles from standing up.
Knuckles wants to control the position but Ballard says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Still in half guard, Ballard seems content to control.
Ballard scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Knuckles looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Ballard looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ballard passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Knuckles!

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Ballard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ballard winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Ballard!