PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rocky Elsom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Randy Balboa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Elsom
vs
Balboa

193 cm
22
240 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

194 cm
21
245 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rocky Elsom!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Randy Balboa!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Winston Howard and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Elsom closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Elsom lands in his opponent's guard.
Balboa wants to sweep but no luck.
Balboa is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Balboa is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Balboa working a defensive guard here.
Elsom lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Elsom not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elsom's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Elsom trying to control but Balboa is working from the bottom.
Balboa wants to stand but Elsom is controlling the position.
Balboa looks gassed!

Balboa had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Elsom is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Balboa Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Elsom's back instead.

Balboa has his opponent's back but Elsom is looking to stand. He manages to get to his feet and shakes off Balboa.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Elsom closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Balboa seems a little lost for a moment, as Elsom dominates the positioning.
Elsom creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Elsom controls the position from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elsom wants to control but Balboa is keeping him busy.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Rocky Elsom just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Elsom shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Balboa is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Elsom is controlling him.
Balboa can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Elsom controls the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Balboa throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Elsom is stalling in the full guard.

Elsom stands up and waves to Balboa to follow him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Excellent takedown into side control there by Elsom.
Balboa is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Balboa is not content to let Elsom control the position.
Elsom working the head and body with strikes.
Balboa on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elsom avoids the strikes from the bottom by Balboa.
Balboa is breathing heavily.
Elsom scores with a couple of short elbows.
Elsom controls the position from side control.
Elsom seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Balboa for as long as he can get away with.

Elsom decides to stand back up. Elsom steps back and let's Balboa get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Elsom lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

Elsom drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Elsom controls the position from side control.
Balboa looks to move to half guard but instead Elsom has passed into mount! Damn!
Elsom controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Rocky Elsom just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Balboa takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Elsom feints and as Balboa raises his hands in defense, Elsom changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Balboa is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Elsom trying to control but Balboa is working from the bottom.
Elsom preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Elsom trying to control but Balboa is working from the bottom.
Elsom slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Balboa looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Elsom preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Elsom scores with a shot to the body.

Elsom closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Balboa is looking for a sweep.
Elsom controls the position.
Balboa wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Elsom controls the position.
Balboa is looking to reverse the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elsom happy to just control the position for now.
Balboa tries to improve position but can't.
Elsom remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Rocky Elsom just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Elsom shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Balboa's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Elsom wants to control from the top but Balboa keeps moving.
Elsom controlling from the top position.
Elsom has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Elsom chips away with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elsom stays in close to Balboa's body and controls the position.
Elsom advances position into side control!
Balboa trying to remain calm as Elsom controls from the top position.
Elsom wants to lay and pray for a moment but Balboa keeps working.
Elsom content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Elsom lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Balboa wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Elsom trying to control the action but Balboa is working from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Balboa's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Randy Balboa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rocky Elsom is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Balboa misses with an elbow from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rocky Elsom showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Elsom has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 30:26
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 30:26
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rocky Elsom!