PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Blake York (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rocky Balboa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

York
vs
Balboa

197 cm
24
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

210 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Blake York!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rocky Balboa!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Daniel Franklin and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balboa tries to score a power double leg takedown but York sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Balboa somewhat.
Balboa tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
York with a lazy takedown attempt
and Balboa counters with a left to the body.
Balboa misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Balboa.
York shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Balboa counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Balboa.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balboa can't get the takedown.
Blake York has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rocky Balboa.
Balboa wants a takedown.
York really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

York wants the takedown. Balboa is fighting it off but York persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Balboa's guard against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
York scoring with some ground and pound.
York postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
York has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
York is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
York postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
York might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Balboa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from York.
York postures up.
York lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
York throwing strikes but missing.
York missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Balboa wants to sweep here but York controlling him for the moment.
York throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
York throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Balboa controlling the position.
Balboa working a defensive guard here.
York throws a big right hand that misses.
York landing with the ground and pound.
York with a nice head shot there.
York working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Balboa wants to stand and escape but York is having none of it.
Balboa is trying to control the position but York postures up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

York clinches up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balboa prevents a takedown attempt there.
York is looking for a takedown.

Balboa decides to pull guard.
Balboa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from York.
Balboa preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Balboa preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
York loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Balboa seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Balboa lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Balboa prevents York from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balboa throws a big elbow that misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
York pulls Balboa in close to his closed guard and prevents Balboa from doing any damage or advancing position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Balboa clinches with his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

York stuffs the takedown.
York appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Balboa misses with a head kick.

Balboa gets caught napping as York dives in and scores a takedown. Balboa manages to retain guard.
York landing some decent shots from guard.
York in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Balboa preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
York is working Balboa over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
York landing with the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
York makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
York throwing strikes but missing.
Balboa is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
York missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
York in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
York content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
York postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Balboa not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Balboa tries to land a sweep but no joy.
York trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
York content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Balboa looking to control.
Blake York overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Balboa is looking to stand up but York isn't so interested in that idea.
York trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
York is looking to work some ground and pound but Balboa has wrist control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Balboa fails with a takedown attempt.
York is looking to counter the offense by Balboa and move into the clinch.
Balboa tries for a takedown but York circles away easily

and York moves into the clinch.
Blake York has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rocky Balboa.
Balboa is breathing heavily.
York drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Balboa gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Balboa gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from York.
York is trying to pull guard but Balboa has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Balboa breaks from the clinch.
Rocky Balboa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Balboa slips a jab from York.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Balboa is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Balboa content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Balboa looking to stall.
Balboa goes for a takedown attempt but York pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Balboa.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
York tries to clinch up.
Balboa lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as York backs up against the cage.
York stuffs the takedown.
York tries to clinch but Balboa moves out of range.
Balboa feints the counter takedown.
York fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Balboa drives through and clinches with York against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
York looking for a takedown.

York's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Balboa stalks York and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into York's face. York staggers backwards, shaken.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Blake York will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Balboa fails with the takedown.
Balboa misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
York tries to clinch up but Balboa circles away and keeps his distance.
York avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rocky Balboa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Balboa throws a head kick that misses

and York counters with a nice double leg into guard.
York throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Balboa avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
York with a flurry of punches that miss.
York working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
York keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Balboa's head.
York throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Balboa works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Balboa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
York is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
York content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Balboa has his foot on York's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. York works his way back into a safe position though.
York postures up and lands a big shot to Balboa's brow.
York keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Balboa's head.
York lands a couple of digs.
York postures up in Balboa's guard and throws a big left but Balboa blocks it.
York with a flurry of punches that miss.
York preventing the sweep.
York scoring with some ground and pound.
York with a nice head shot there.
York stopping the sweep attempt from Balboa.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
York lands a couple of elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
York missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
York works over Balboa with some ground and pound from guard.
York works over Balboa with some ground and pound from guard.
York lands a couple of decent looking shots.
York distracts Balboa with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Balboa escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. York gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
York loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
York chips away with some ground and pound.
York connects with a couple of short punches.
Balboa trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balboa looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
York postures up.
York throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Balboa works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
York is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Balboa can do to turn this around?
York tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Balboa manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Balboa has managed to clinch.
York is defending well against a takedown attempt.

York breaks from the clinch.
York dives in and grabs Balboa's left leg, looking for a takedown. Balboa pushes down on York's head and hops out.
Balboa is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
York misses with a jab, cross combination.
Balboa cracks York with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

York scores with a takedown into Balboa's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
York throws a strike but Balboa rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

York wants to get back to his feet but Balboa is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Balboa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
York is trying to keep Balboa in close.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Balboa throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rocky Balboa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Blake York is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
York trying to keep a closed guard but Balboa is proving a slippery customer.

And that's the end of the fight!
Blake York showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for York, 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Blake York!