PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight kickboxing rules bout between Barbados Slim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Finn Balor (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.

Slim
vs
Balor

183 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Solid boxing
Inexperienced

Excellent boxer
Solid chin

KAISER Nutrition - Q160/$250

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 New York, Barbados Slim!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Finn Balor!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Ryoma Takatsuka and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balor throws an off balance right hand
and Slim connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Slim tries a body shot but Balor blocks it.
Balor swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Slim goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Balor swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Balor has a couple of punches blocked by Slim.
Slim tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Balor working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Slim blocks an uppercut.
Balor blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Slim misses with a short punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice right hand lands inside from Slim.
Slim tries to stall but Balor uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Slim can't find room to land a body shot as Balor controls the action.
Slim blocks an uppercut.
Slim blocks a body shot from Balor.
Balor lands a body punch.
Balor swings wildly with an uppercut but Slim uses good head movement to avoid it.
Balor blocking some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Slim.
Slim lands with a right to the head.
Balor blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Still in the clinch, Slim scores with a nice short uppercut.
Slim fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A shot in the inside from Slim.
A shot in the inside from Slim.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Balor.
Slim lands a shoulder strike.
A short right from Slim on the inside.
Slim lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Slim misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Balor misses with a punch on the inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Slim blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Slim misses with a hook to the ribs.
Slim can't find room to land a body shot as Balor controls the action.
Balor misses with a body punch.
Slim can't find room to land a body shot as Balor controls the action.

Balor manages to break the clinch.
Slim getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balor moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Slim missing with a left hand there. Balor was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Slim throws a jab when Balor was well out of range.
Balor moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Slim doesn't manage to clinch there - Balor circles away.
Slim misses with a straight right.
Balor fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Slim manages to avoid it.
Balor avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Slim lands with a shot to the body.
Balor lunges at Slim with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Slim's hand.
A telegraphed right hand from Balor misses the target.
Slim throws an overhand right that lands on Balor's shoulder, as Balor tries to avoid the shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nice shot by Balor.
Slim takes one on the button.
Balor tries to bum rush Slim with a series of wild strikes but Slim uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Balor connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Slim momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Barbados Slim will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Balor takes a swing at Slim's ribcage but misses.
Balor swings for the body but Slim moves out of range.
It looked like Slim wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Balor scores with a shot to the body.
Balor throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Balor swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Balor scores with a nice strike.
Balor stuns Slim with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Balor lands with a hook. Slim tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Slim ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Balor misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Slim.
Balor swings and misses with a hook to the body.
It looked like Slim wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Finn Balor seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Slim takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Slim is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Balor.
Balor pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Slim ducks under a wild hook from Balor.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Slim slips under a jab.
Slim throws a shot from downtown. Balor moves away and avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slim misses with a low kick.
A jab from Balor misses.
Slim dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Balor scores with a jab to the jaw.
Balor moves out of range as Slim strikes.
Balor connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Balor rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Slim moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Balor dodges the punch combination from Slim.
Balor fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Slim ducks under a wild hook from Balor.
Slim walks into a stiff left hand from Balor.
Balor on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Slim works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Balor avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slim blocks a jab.
Balor throws a body shot but no joy.
An attempted straight right counter from Slim misses the target.
Slim slips under a jab.
Balor takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Slim staying out of range there.
Balor lands with an overhand left.
Balor slips under a jab from Slim.
A big left from Slim misses.
Slim misses with a body shot.
Slim misses with a straight left.
Slim slips under a jab.
Slim was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Balor throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Slim sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Slim fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Balor, pushing him back against the ropes.
Slim misses with the head strike.
Balor wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Slim misses with a short punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Finn Balor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

A big left from Balor misses.
Balor connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Slim's hands.
Slim is pinned up against the ropes taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Balor swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Slim connects with a jab.
Balor takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Balor bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Slim's head.
Slim uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
A swing and a miss from Slim.
Balor looks like he wants to counter punch here.
A slow jab from Balor misses its intended target.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
A jab from Balor does it's job there.
A slow jab from Balor misses its intended target.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Slim uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Balor.
Slim is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Balor avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Slim takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
The fighters circling - Balor throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balor throws a good cross that connects.
Balor throws a body shot but no joy.
Balor throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Slim half committed to a counter leg kick.
Slim tries to clinch there but Balor circles away.
Slim looks to land a left hand but Balor moved out of range nicely.
Balor scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Balor throws a body punch but Slim moves out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Balor. Slim does a little dance to reset his feet.
Balor tries to bum rush Slim with a series of wild strikes but Slim uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Slim swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Slim wants to clinch up but Balor keeps it at a distance.
A countering left hand to the body from Balor misses.
Balor swings and misses with a hook to the body.
It looked like Slim wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Balor swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Balor throws a big shot that misses.
Slim throws a lazy right hand but Balor sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Balor avoids the body shot from Slim.
Balor throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slim cracks Balor with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Slim is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Balor throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Slim clinches with his opponent.
Balor throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Slim lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Balor pushes Slim back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.
Balor is trying to push Slim away but Slim has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.

Balor breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Slim blocks a jab.
Balor looks to throw the jab but Slim is out of range.

Slim closes the distance and clinches.
Slim goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Balor has a couple of punches blocked by Slim.
Balor struggles to land a body shot inside as Slim controls his hands.
Slim throws a head punch that misses.
Balor scores with a shoulder strike.
A short right from Slim on the inside.
Slim misses with a hook from the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Finn Balor comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Balor has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Josh West scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Finn Balor!