PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Georgiy Balabanko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and The Hwoarang (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Georgiy Balabanko has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Balabanko
vs
Hwoarang

172 cm
19
145 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

181 cm
25
149 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Georgiy Balabanko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, The Hwoarang!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Winston Alpacca and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hwoarang shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Balabanko manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Balabanko working for a triangle but Hwoarang defends it easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hwoarang stopping the sweep attempt from Balabanko.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Balabanko looking for a guillotine here but Hwoarang defends easily.
Hwoarang throws a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hwoarang has gone for a leg lock! Balabanko slips out almost immediately though and dives into Hwoarang's guard.

Balabanko distracts Hwoarang with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Hwoarang looking for subs off his back but Balabanko has passed one foot through into half guard.
Balabanko is looking to advance position but Hwoarang won't allow it.

Hwoarang looking for submissions off his back.
Balabanko knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hwoarang on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balabanko with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Balabanko looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

Hwoarang looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Balabanko throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Balabanko thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hwoarang's head.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Balabanko connects with a nice short shot to Hwoarang's temple.
Balabanko is looking to take a break and control but Hwoarang is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Hwoarang looking for submissions off his back.
Balabanko sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hwoarang defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hwoarang actively working from the bottom here.
Balabanko not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Balabanko connects with a nice short shot to Hwoarang's temple.

Hwoarang looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Hwoarang actively working from the bottom here.
Hwoarang is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Hwoarang looks winded!

Hwoarang looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Hwoarang has hold of Balabanko's hands but Balabanko slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Hwoarang actively working from the bottom here.
Balabanko looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balabanko lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Balabanko tries to pass to full mount but Hwoarang defends it.
Balabanko keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Balabanko working the head and body with strikes.
Hwoarang is refusing to be controlled, as Balabanko sits in half guard.
Hwoarang wants to get back to his feet.
Balabanko is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Balabanko takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Hwoarang keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hwoarang blocking the ground and pound attempt from Balabanko.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hwoarang throws a sloppy head kick

and Balabanko counters with a nice double leg into side control. Hwoarang won't be happy with that.
Hwoarang tries to bench press Balabanko off him but Balabanko keeps the position.
Hwoarang is letting Balabanko control him for a moment.
Hwoarang takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Hwoarang tries to improve position but can't.
Balabanko working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Balabanko throws an elbow but Hwoarang slips to the side and avoids it well.

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

Balabanko goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Hwoarang has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Balabanko but great work by Hwoarang.
Balabanko is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
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!

Balabanko is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hwoarang pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balabanko tries to get to full guard but Hwoarang has control of the leg.

Hwoarang is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Balabanko as he works his way to full guard.

Balabanko working for a triangle but Hwoarang defends it easily.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balabanko misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Hwoarang is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Balabanko grinds an elbow into Hwoarang's temple.
Hwoarang tries to improve position but can't.
Balabanko wants to take a breather but Hwoarang manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Balabanko.

Hwoarang working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Balabanko doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Balabanko manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hwoarang is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balabanko trying to control but Hwoarang is working from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Balabanko accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Hwoarang looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Balabanko stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hwoarang swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Hwoarang had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Balabanko defends it easily.
Balabanko working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hwoarang's head.
Balabanko wants to control from the top but Hwoarang keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Hwoarang utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Balabanko's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Hwoarang working for a triangle but Balabanko defends it easily.
Balabanko has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Balabanko trying to control but Hwoarang is working from the bottom.
Hwoarang being controlled here, momentarily.
Hwoarang keeping moving, preventing Balabanko from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Balabanko trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Georgiy Balabanko dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Balabanko defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hwoarang.
Hwoarang misses with a takedown attempt

and Balabanko counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Hwoarang!
Balabanko is looking to take a break and control but Hwoarang is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Balabanko misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Hwoarang regains half guard.
Balabanko passes to full mount!
Georgiy Balabanko overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hwoarang regains half guard.

Hwoarang actively working from the bottom here.
Hwoarang takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Balabanko thows a huge punch but Hwoarang dodges it nicely.

Hwoarang looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balabanko sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hwoarang defending well though.
Hwoarang taking some punishment here, with Balabanko in his half guard.
Balabanko is pressing down on Hwoarang's thigh, looking to free his foot. Hwoarang is holding on for now.
Balabanko lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Hwoarang looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Nice strikes from Balabanko there.

Hwoarang is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Balabanko pulls his head out easily.
Balabanko landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balabanko working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Balabanko connects with a nice short shot to Hwoarang's temple.

Balabanko looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Hwoarang actively working from the bottom here.
Balabanko seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Hwoarang looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Balabanko is looking to take a break and control but Hwoarang is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balabanko content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Hwoarang looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Balabanko drops an elbow to the side of Hwoarang's head.
Hwoarang tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Balabanko has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Balabanko lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Hwoarang hang on?
Hwoarang is in a horrible position here. Balabanko smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balabanko breaks from Hwoarang's wrist control and lands an elbow.

Hwoarang is rocked!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Balabanko cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Hwoarang is still in real trouble! Can Balabanko finish him?

Balabanko has hold of an arm here, looking to extend it. He's committed to the armbar attempt here! Will he get it?! Yes! Hwoarang is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:33 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Georgiy Balabanko!