PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Garegin Balayan (ranked 530 p4p, 80 weight class) and Corban Storm (ranked 914 p4p, 119 weight class). Balayan comes to the cage accompanied by Troika. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Balayan
vs
Storm

180 cm
26
176 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

191 cm
24
187 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

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 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Garegin Balayan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Corban Storm!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Tiny Johnson and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Storm checks a leg kick nicely.
Nice defenses there by Balayan.
Balayan walks forward, straight into a front kick from Storm.
Balayan takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Storm scores with a jab to the head.
Storm throws out a leg kick but Balayan moves out of range and Storm only half commits.
Storm lands with a slapping head kick.
Balayan bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Storm throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A jab from Storm does it's job there.
Balayan gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Storm.

Balayan instigates a clinch.
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!
Storm tries to work over Balayan's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Balayan scores with a nice hook to the head.
Storm is trying to push Balayan away but Balayan has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Storm throws a head punch that misses.
Balayan lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Storm backwards.
Balayan lands with a left to the head.
Balayan slowing the pace effectively.
Balayan can't find room to land a body shot as Storm controls the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balayan can't find room to land a body shot as Storm controls the action.
We've been informed that Storm has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Balayan blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Balayan lands a body punch.
Balayan blocks an uppercut.
Balayan throws a head punch that misses.
Balayan slows down the pace here.
Balayan is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Storm manages to break the clinch.
Balayan misses with a left hand
letting Storm counter with a right hand.
Storm scores with a nice strike.
Balayan slips a straight right by Storm.
Storm misses with a body shot.
Balayan takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Balayan, as that shot connected.
Balayan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Storm manages to avoid it.
Storm lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Storm has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Balayan with a nice cross.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Balayan moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Storm wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A head punch on the inside from Balayan fails to land.
Storm lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Balayan backwards.

Storm breaks the clinch.
Balayan throws a wild body kick that Storm sees coming a mile off.
Storm might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Balayan attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Balayan ducks under a wild hook from Storm.
Balayan walks into a stiff left hand from Storm.
Storm moves out of range of the body kick from Balayan.
Storm lands the left hand.
Garegin Balayan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Storm takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Storm throws a hook but Balayan blocks it.
Balayan displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Storm throws out the jab.
Balayan throws a low kick but Storm moves out of range easily.
Corban Storm seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Storm scores with a jab. Balayan acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Storm misses with an uppercut.
Nice jab there from Balayan.
Storm slips a straight right by Balayan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balayan fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Storm looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
A jab from Balayan misses.
Storm is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Balayan had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Storm keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Storm is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Balayan ducks under a wild hook from Storm.
Storm throws the left hand but Balayan avoids the punch easily.
Balayan digs a good body shot into Storm's ribs.
Storm shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Storm throws a shot from downtown. Balayan moves away and avoids it.
Balayan lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Balayan throws a jab when Storm was well out of range.
Balayan displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Storm throws out the jab.
Balayan was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Balayan avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Balayan misses the jab.
Storm misses with a looping left.
Balayan uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

Storm feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Balayan bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Storm's guard.

Storm looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balayan passes Storm's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Storm is looking to improve his position.
Storm trying to control from the bottom.

Balayan stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Storm slips under a jab.

Balayan clinches with his opponent.
Balayan tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Storm blocks a body shot from Balayan.
Balayan can't find room to land a body shot as Storm controls the action.
Balayan misses with a punch to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Balayan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Storm will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Garegin Balayan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Corban Storm.
Storm misses with a looping left.
Storm throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Balayan counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Storm uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Balayan.
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 Garegin Balayan will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Balayan does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Balayan looks for the body kick but Storm saw that one coming.
Storm avoids a kick to the body.
Storm with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Storm thows a left - swing and a miss!
It looked like Balayan was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Storm.
Balayan slips under a jab.
Balayan scores with a nice body kick.
Balayan throws a leg kick but Storm sees it coming and moves out of range.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Storm! But no joy.
Storm catches Balayan with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Storm rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Balayan moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Balayan dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Storm loads up on a big right hand but Balayan slips the punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A looping hook to the body misses from Balayan. Storm does a little dance to reset his feet.
Balayan throws a nice inside leg kick.
Balayan throws a half hearted mid kick.
Storm lands an overhand right.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Storm jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Storm has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Balayan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Storm is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Balayan.
Storm looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Storm misses with a straight left.
Balayan takes a kick to the side of the head.
A nice inside leg kick there by Balayan. That's going to slow Storm down.
A big left from Storm misses.
Storm misses with an uppercut.
Storm throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Balayan sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Balayan cracks the inside of Storm's front leg.
Storm misses with a straight right.
That kick from Balayan tenderised Storm's leg. Storm is trying to keep his angry face on.
Storm jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Balayan swings for the body but Storm moves out of range.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Storm! But no joy.
Balayan throws a leg kick
and Storm counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Balayan throws a leg kick but Storm checks it.
It seemed like Storm was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Balayan lands a nice looking body shot.
Balayan throws out a loose jab but Storm uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balayan throws a right hand that Storm ducks under and follows up with a left that Storm also avoids with ease.
Balayan slips a straight right by Storm.
Storm avoids a kick to the body.
Storm with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Balayan to score with a decent uppercut.
Storm gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Storm shoots in and drives through. Balayan sprawls well.
An inside leg kick from Storm misses.

Balayan closes the distance and clinches.
Storm scores with a shot to the side of Balayan's head.
Balayan lands a nice shot to the body.
Balayan working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Balayan misses with a punch on the inside.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Balayan.
Balayan lands with a left to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Storm.
Storm misses with a punch on the inside.
Balayan blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Storm is trying to force a seperation but Balayan has the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balayan misses with a punch to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Balayan.
Storm misses with a punch on the inside.
Storm swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Balayan.
Balayan tries to work over Storm's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Balayan manages to break the clinch.
Storm tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Balayan half committed to a counter leg kick.
Balayan motions for Storm to come forward. Balayan throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Storm moves out of range of the body kick from Balayan.
Balayan dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Storm misses with a body shot.
Balayan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Storm manages to avoid it.
Balayan tries to clinch up but Storm circles away and keeps his distance.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Balayan, right into the meat.
A punch combination from Storm misses.
Storm moves out of range of the body kick.
Storm throws a big counter head kick but Balayan avoids it with no problem.
Balayan smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Storm looks to throw the jab but Balayan is out of range.
Balayan is looking to counter punch.
Storm jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Balayan is looking to counter punch.
Balayan swings for the body but Storm moves out of range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A good leg kick by Balayan.
Storm keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
That kick from Balayan tenderised Storm's leg. Storm is trying to keep his angry face on.
Balayan pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Balayan stuffs the takedown.
Balayan appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Balayan fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Storm misses with a straight left.
Storm avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Balayan connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Storm's hands.
A big left from Storm misses.
Balayan misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Storm slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Storm throws the kick towards the body but Balayan avoids it.
A left lands for Balayan.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Garegin Balayan dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Storm walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Balayan checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Balayan scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Balayan feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Storm's calf.
Storm throws a jab when Balayan was well out of range.
Storm misses with an attempted mid kick.
Storm tries a low kick but Balayan avoids it.
Balayan ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Balayan lands a nice hook to Storm's body. Storm takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Balayan jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Storm looks to land a combination but Balayan avoids it well.
Balayan connects with a single shot there.
Balayan scores with a kick to the body.
Balayan is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Storm can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balayan moves out of range of the body kick.
Storm keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Balayan looks to land a body kick but Storm moved away.
Balayan misses with a body shot.
Balayan chopping away at his opponent's legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balayan moves out of range as Storm strikes.
Balayan looks for the body kick but Storm saw that one coming.
Storm takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Storm bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Storm connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Balayan throws a body punch but Storm moves out of range.
Storm scoring well with a low kick there.
Storm looks to land a right hand but Balayan moved out of range.
Balayan rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Storm counters with a stiff right hand.
Garegin Balayan is winning the standup battle so far.
Balayan misses with a leg kick
enabling Storm to counter with a crisp jab.
Balayan connects with a jab.
Balayan looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A big right from Storm misses.
Balayan gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

Balayan moves into the clinch.
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!
A short uppercut from Balayan.
Corban Storm has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balayan lands a shot to the body.

Storm manages to break the clinch.
Storm tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Storm's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Balayan throws a push kick but Storm slaps the foot to one side.
Balayan shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Balayan throws a nice inside leg kick.
Balayan swings for the body but Storm moves out of range.
Balayan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Storm was well out of range. Poor timing from Balayan.
Storm throws a head kick that misses.
A big left from Balayan misses.
Storm throws an off balance right hand
and Balayan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Storm throws a poor cross that misses
and Balayan counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Storm pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Storm throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Storm takes a swing at Balayan's ribcage but misses.
Balayan uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Storm has time to react.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Balayan finds it's way through Storm's defenses.
Balayan steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Storm.
Storm misses with a looping right.
Balayan swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Storm throws the left hand but Balayan avoids the punch easily.
Balayan lands a jab.
Balayan looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Storm throws a hook but Balayan blocks it.
Balayan keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Storm.
Balayan fires out a quick counter leg kick but Storm just manages to avoid it.
Storm throws an overhand right that lands on Balayan's shoulder, as Balayan tries to avoid the shot.
It appears Balayan was looking to counter with a kick there.
Storm takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Storm takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A right hand to the body from Balayan.
Balayan doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Balayan doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Storm working aggressively here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Storm lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Balayan moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Storm trying to control but Balayan is working from the bottom.
Storm working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Balayan is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Balayan is controlling Storm's posture.
Storm working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Storm trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Balayan is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Storm postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

And that's the end of the fight!
Garegin Balayan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Balayan, 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Garegin Balayan!
An out of breath Garegin Balayan thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.