PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Balbus Michael (ranked 3676 p4p, 284 weight class) and Burke Heimer (ranked 4727 p4p, 330 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Michael
vs
Heimer

178 cm
33
150 lbs
19 - 13 - 2

170 cm
28
146 lbs
6 - 4 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 13 - 2, fighting out of New York, Balbus Michael!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 1, fighting out of London, Burke Heimer !
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Frank Dennis and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Heimer wants to clinch up but Michael keeps it at a distance.
Heimer takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Heimer misses the jab.
Michael feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Michael throws a leg kick but Heimer sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Heimer takes a jab right on the kisser.
Heimer works Michael's body with a nice hook.
Heimer swings widly with a right hand
and Michael counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Michael digs a good hook to Heimer 's body.
Heimer moves out of range of the strikes.
Heimer looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Michael steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Heimer .
Michael stuns Heimer with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
A slow jab from Heimer misses its intended target.

Heimer shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Michael's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Heimer trying to control but Michael is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heimer passes into half guard.
Michael slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Michael has his hands on Heimer 's head, controlling the position.
Michael keeping moving, preventing Heimer from controlling successfully.
Michael is pulling down on Heimer 's head to control his posture.

That's two 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.
Heimer throwing strikes from guard but Michael blocks nicely.
Michael keeping full guard, as Heimer tries to pass.
Michael keeping moving, preventing Heimer from controlling successfully.
Heimer might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Michael haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Michael avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Michael keeping moving, preventing Heimer from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Heimer fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Michael manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heimer throws a jab when Michael was well out of range.
Heimer tries to close the distance and clinch up but Michael swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Michael dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Heimer . That did some damage!
Michael looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Heimer swings for the body but Michael moves out of range.
Michael ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Michael stalks Heimer and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Heimer 's face. Heimer staggers backwards, shaken.
Heimer with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Michael to score with a decent uppercut.
Michael misses the shot to the body.
Michael staying out of range there.
An inside leg kick from Michael misses.
Heimer throws a lazy right hand but Michael sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Heimer on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Michael waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Heimer .
Michael misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Heimer .
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Heimer throws the left hand but Michael avoids the punch easily.
Michael catches Heimer with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Michael scores with a jab.
Michael uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Heimer .
A low kick from Heimer misses
and Michael counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Michael avoids the body shot from Heimer .
Michael half committed to a counter leg kick.
Heimer misses with a body shot.
Heimer swings widly with a right hand
and Michael counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Heimer keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Heimer misses with a wild combination.
Michael tried to counter with a leg kick but Heimer avoided it.
The fighters circling - Michael throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Balbus Michael dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A head kick misses from Michael.
Michael throws a hook but Heimer blocks it.
Michael takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Heimer has Michael up against the cage in a clinch.
Heimer keeps control of Michael as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Heimer creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Heimer lands with a short shot to the head.
Heimer works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Michael blocks an uppercut.
Michael tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Heimer 's elbow.
A short uppercut from Heimer .
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head punch on the inside from Heimer fails to land.
Michael lands a left hand that snaps the head of Heimer backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Michael.
Michael blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Michael.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Michael tries to stall but Heimer uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Michael pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heimer throws a jab but it's blocked by Michael.
Heimer connects with a jab.
Michael fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Heimer checks it well.
A jab from Heimer misses.
Heimer throws a lazy right hand but Michael sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Heimer ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Heimer looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Jab from Heimer .
Heimer looks to land a right hand but Michael moved out of range.
Michael throws a sloppy head kick and Heimer moves out of range easily.
Heimer scores with a jab to the body.
Good exchange - Heimer coming out on top.
Heimer tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Michael was well out of range. Poor timing from Heimer .
Heimer throws a lazy right hand but Michael sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michael steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Heimer .
Heimer connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
A punch lands to the side of Michael 's head but he takes it in his stride.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Heimer lands with an uppercut that bounces Michael off the cage and back into range.
Nice body punch from Heimer .
Heimer finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Michael scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Michael slips under a jab from Heimer .
A counter left hand to the body from Michael misses its target.
Michael works the jab nicely.
Michael throws a low kick but it's checked well by Heimer .
A big left from Heimer misses.
Heimer dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Michael. That did some damage!
Heimer misses with a body punch
and Michael counters with an inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michael throws a low kick but Heimer moves out of range easily.
Nice shot by Michael.
Heimer tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Michael was well out of range. Poor timing from Heimer .
It looked like Michael wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Heimer takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Heimer tries to clinch up.
Heimer moves away from the strike by Michael.
Heimer wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Michael throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Michael uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Heimer .
Michael lands a glancing blow to the side of Heimer 's head.
Michael takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Heimer jabs Michael to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Heimer throws a right hand that misses
and Michael counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Heimer thinking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Michael takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Heimer lands with a straight right. Michael didn't see that one coming.
Michael throws a leg kick but Heimer checks it.
Heimer ducks under a wild hook from Michael.
Michael lands a slapping body shot.
Heimer tries to work over Michael's front leg with a kick but Michael checks it.
Heimer missing with a left hand there. Michael was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A slow jab from Heimer misses its intended target.
Burke Heimer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A swing and a miss from Heimer .
Heimer fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Michael fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Heimer checks it well.
Michael thuds a left hand into Heimer 's body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Burke Heimer showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Heimer pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Heimer throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Michael slips a jab from Heimer .
Heimer connects with a right hand. Michael shakes it off.
Heimer lands a glancing blow to the side of Michael's head.
Heimer fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Heimer throws a lazy head kick
and Michael counters with a left to the body.
Michael keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Heimer .
Michael uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Heimer .
Michael feinted there with a counter leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Michael fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Heimer manages to avoid it.
Heimer throws a combination that misses
and Michael counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Heimer throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Michael sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Michael feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Heimer 's calf.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The crowd cheers as Michael lands an impressive looking overhand right. Heimer doesn't seem phased though.
Heimer jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Heimer misses with a hook to the body
letting Michael counter with a right hand.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Heimer .
A solid leg kick lands there for Michael.
Heimer staying out of range there.
Michael scoring well with a low kick there.
Michael misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Heimer counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Michael is lucky that one didn't land flush.
A decent looking cross lands there for Heimer .
Heimer misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Michael scores with a punch to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Heimer 's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Michael connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Heimer scrambles back to his feet.
Michael lands a lovely overhand right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Heimer tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Michael manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Heimer throws a body shot but no joy.
An attempted straight right counter from Michael misses the target.
Michael bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Michael moves away from the strike by Heimer .
Heimer throws a shot from downtown. Michael moves away and avoids it.
Heimer scores with a decent looking hook.
Heimer moves out of range of the strikes.
Heimer ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Michael moves away.
Heimer is looking to clinch but Michael is avoiding it.
Heimer lands the left hand.
Michael scores with a sloppy right hand. Heimer should have avoided that one.
Michael avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michael scoring well with a low kick there.
Heimer misses with an uppercut.
Michael motions for Heimer to come forward. Michael throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Heimer throws a poor cross that misses
and Michael counters with a stiff right hand.
Michael looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Heimer tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Michael manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Heimer lands with a cross.
Michael chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Heimer can pounce on him.
Decent striking displayed by Michael there.
Balbus Michael is winning the standup battle so far.
Heimer is looking to clinch.
Michael looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Heimer gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Heimer 's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Heimer throws a low kick but it's checked well by Michael.
Nice defenses there by Michael.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Heimer lands a nice looking kick to the body. Michael takes a step back to recover.
Heimer has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Heimer looks to land a left hand but Michael moved out of range nicely.
Michael is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Michael uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Heimer .
Heimer keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Michael.
Michael throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Heimer on the side of the head.
Jab by Michael.
Michael works Heimer 's body with a nice hook.
Sloppy strikes from Heimer . Those never looked like landing.
Heimer throws a combination that misses
and Michael cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Michael throws out a powerful jab.
Michael throws out a leg kick but Heimer moves out of range and Michael only half commits.
Michael drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Balbus Michael.
I think Michael has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Balbus Michael!
Balbus Michael was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.