PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Michael Dundee (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Georgiy Balabanko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Dundee
vs
Balabanko

185 cm
26
140 lbs
4 - 7 - 0

172 cm
19
145 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good knees
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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 4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Michael Dundee!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Georgiy Balabanko!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Daniel Franklin and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dundee closes the distance but Balabanko moves to the side

and Balabanko decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Dundee's guard.
Dundee is trying to keep Balabanko in close.

Balabanko thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Dundee wants to sweep here but Balabanko controlling him for the moment.
Dundee definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Dundee is trying to control the position but Balabanko postures up.
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.
Dundee preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Balabanko landing with the ground and pound.
Balabanko postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balabanko stands up over Dundee, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Balabanko preventing the sweep.
Balabanko lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Dundee is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Balabanko defends well.
Dundee really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Dundee trying to control the position.
Dundee utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Dundee avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Balabanko in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Balabanko postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Balabanko wants to control from the top but Dundee keeps moving.
Balabanko throwing strikes from guard but Dundee blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balabanko throws a big elbow that misses.
Balabanko working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Balabanko throwing strikes from guard but Dundee blocks nicely.
Dundee is wriggling around but Balabanko manages to pass to half guard.
Balabanko not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Balabanko is thwarting Dundee's attempts to control the position.

Dundee makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Dundee doesn't manage to clinch there - Balabanko circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dundee shoots and misses

and Balabanko decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Dundee's guard.

Balabanko drops back looking for a leg! Dundee is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Dundee manages to kick Balabanko off! Balabanko jumps back into Dundee's guard.
Dundee working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Balabanko.
Balabanko makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Dundee looking to hit a scissor sweep but Balabanko is one step ahead there.

Balabanko is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Dundee is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Dundee has escaped and now he's on top!

A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Dundee accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balabanko is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

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

Balabanko looking for a guillotine here but Dundee defends easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Balabanko working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Dundee doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Dundee manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Georgiy Balabanko dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

No luck for Dundee with that takedown attempt.
Balabanko is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Balabanko has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Balabanko uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Dundee.
Balabanko tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

Dundee scores with a takedown into Balabanko's guard.

Balabanko is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Balabanko looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dundee works over Balabanko with some ground and pound from guard.
Dundee working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Dundee's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Dundee lands a couple of digs.
We've been informed that Balabanko has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Balabanko looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Dundee trying to control the position from guard on top but Balabanko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dundee has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Balabanko is proving hard to escape from.

Balabanko looking for a guillotine here but Dundee defends easily.
Dundee postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two 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.
Dundee stands up over Balabanko, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Dundee is in close to Balabanko's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Dundee throws an elbow that misses. Balabanko uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Dundee's guard. Nice move by Balabanko!

Balabanko stopping the sweep attempt from Dundee.
Balabanko loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Dundee has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Balabanko can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Balabanko working some strikes from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balabanko trying to control the position from guard on top but Dundee is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dundee working a defensive guard here.
Dundee is really struggling to control Balabanko but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Dundee preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Dundee is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Balabanko is aware though and is defending well.
Dundee is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Dundee avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Dundee throws a head kick but Balabanko moves out of range.

Dundee fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Balabanko sprawls well initially but Dundee persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balabanko works his way to full guard. Good work.

Balabanko has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Dundee can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Dundee won't allow Balabanko to sweep him here.
Dundee wants to control from the top but Balabanko keeps moving.
Dundee wanted to stand there but Balabanko had control of the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Balabanko is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a triangle but Dundee frees his head nicely. Oh but Balabanko has switched to an armbar! Dundee is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Georgiy Balabanko!