PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Balis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris King (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Balis comes into the arena with Still Unbroken blaring out of the sound system. King has chosen Hemorrhage as his entrance music. Chris King has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Balis
vs
King

190 cm
21
265 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

210 cm
19
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Balis!
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, Chris King!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Daniel Franklin and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
King lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Balis circles away quickly and effectively.
King misses with a wild combination.
Balis tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but King swivels and escapes.
King throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Balis.
King lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
King lands with a nice combination. Balis backs away looking to recover.
Balis is looking to clinch but King is avoiding it.
King keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
King misses with a double jab.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
King lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Balis circles away quickly and effectively.

Balis shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Balis showed some decent athleticism there.
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!
Balis stops King from getting back to his feet.
Balis is breathing heavily.
King landing small, sideways elbows.
King is trying to get back to full guard.
King pushes Balis off looking to stand but Balis dives back in and keeps control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

King kicks off Balis and gets to his feet.
A punch combination from King misses.
King looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Chris King is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Balis throws a nice looking combination but King bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Balis misses with a two punch combination.
King scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Some wild striking there from King.
King throws a left and a right that both miss

and Balis counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
King is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Balis is keeping busy.
King looking for a takedown.
King can't get the takedown.
Balis prevents King from breaking the clinch.
King wants to break the clinch but can't.

King escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
King tries to bum rush Balis with a series of wild strikes but Balis uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
King lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balis sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Balis gets to his feet - King follows without any prompting.
King misses with a combination

and Balis holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Balis is looking to control King's arms but King gets an underhook and turns him. Now Balis has his back to the cage.

King breaks the clinch.
King throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Balis moves into the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
King wants to break the clinch but can't.
King wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Balis has him pressed against the cage.
Balis has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. King avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Balis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
King wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
King wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Balis escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Balis showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from King.
No luck for Balis with that takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King misses with a few strikes there.
King misses with a combination

and Balis counters with a single leg into guard. King didn't expect that.
Balis trying to control but King is working from the bottom.
King is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Balis trying to control the position from guard on top but King is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Balis has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of King is proving hard to escape from.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
King is pulling down on Balis's head. It's preventing any offense from Balis, at least for the moment.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A right-left combo lands from King.
Balis tries to clinch there but King circles away.
King looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
King lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Balis backs up against the cage.
King throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Balis showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from King.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
King lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Balis dodges the punch combination from King.
King tries to bum rush Balis with a series of wild strikes but Balis uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
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 John Balis will probably get the nod.
That's time! Balis's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

King tries to bum rush Balis with a series of wild strikes but Balis uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
King throws a combination that misses

and Balis moves into the clinch.
Balis goes for a takedown in the clinch but King prevents it.
Balis lands a hook that snaps the head of King backwards.
Balis keeps control of King as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
King wants to break free but Balis has control.
Balis taking a breather.
King wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

King pulls guard.

King is working an open guard so Balis takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
King misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
King throws a nice looking combination but Balis bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
King misses with a few strikes there.
A punch combination from King misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
King throws a right and a left that both miss.
King misses with a combination

and Balis counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Balis gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balis swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and King counters with a series of strikes. Balis will be more careful next time no doubt.
King misses with a double jab

and Balis counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Balis prevents King from breaking the clinch.
Nice elbow from Balis.

King pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Balis avoids a punch combination nicely.
Balis avoids a punch combination nicely.
King throws a series of strikes that have Balis backpedaling.
Balis tries to clinch there but King circles away.
King misses with a series of wild punches.
King throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Balis counters with a left and a right that stings King.
King throws a right and a left that both miss.
Balis is looking to clinch but King is avoiding it.
Balis shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with King but King pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
King falls off balance throwing a combination
and Balis counters with a series of strikes. King will be more careful next time no doubt.

Balis clinches up against the cage.

King breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
King rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Balis moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
King tries to bum rush Balis with a series of wild strikes but Balis uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Balis tries to clinch up but King circles away and keeps his distance.
A combination from King does no damage.
King swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
King lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
King circles away from the clinch attempt.
King lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Balis circles away quickly and effectively.
King scores with a one two! Balis had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
King misses with a few strikes there.

Balis has closed the distance and engaged King in a clinch.
King can't break the clinch.

Balis decides to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King connects with a couple of short punches.
King tries to stand but Balis is controlling from the bottom.

King gets to his feet - Balis follows without any prompting.
Balis misses with a combination
and King counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
King swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Balis counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in King's guard now.
King wants to stand up but Balis is controlling him.

Balis decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
King lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Balis circles away quickly and effectively.
No luck for Balis with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Balis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
King fails to land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
King throws a combination that misses

and Balis counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
King keeping moving, preventing Balis from controlling successfully.
John Balis overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
King is looking to stand up but Balis isn't so interested in that idea.

Balis stands up from guard. Let's bang!
King misses with a double jab.
John Balis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Balis looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
King is working the combinations to good effect here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Balis tries to clinch but fails miserably
and King counters with a two punch combo.
Balis is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
King swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Balis holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Balis lands a hook to the side of the head.
King can't break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Balis dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Balis tries to close the distance and clinch up but King swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A right-left combo lands from King.
King throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Balis scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Balis wants to lay and pray for a moment but King keeps working.
Balis slips into full mount, dodging the strikes by King.
Balis working King over with strikes here.
King throwing hammer fists to the chest of Balis. What's that going to do exactly?
King is in all sorts of trouble here.
King really wants to buck Balis off and get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
King flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Balis with the ground and pound from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Balis with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

King bucks Balis off and manages to get back to his feet!
King throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Balis has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Balis showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from King.
King moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
King falls off balance throwing a combination

and Balis counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
King has hold of Balis's hands but Balis slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Balis seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but King does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
King wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Balis escapes and gets back to his feet.
No luck for Balis with that takedown attempt.
King throws a left and a right that both miss

and Balis counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for King!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

King defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Balis.

King bucks Balis off and manages to get back to his feet!

Balis moves into the clinch.
King prevents a takedown attempt there.
King is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

King gets control of Balis's arms and successfully pulls guard. King will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
King wants to stand and escape but Balis is having none of it.
Balis in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Balis might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balis makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Balis stands and steps away. King gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Balis shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts King as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Balis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
King ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
King misses with a series of wild punches.
Balis dodges the punch combination from King.
Balis tries to clinch but King moves out of range.
No joy there for King, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Balis dodges the punch combination from King.
King lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by King.
King misses with a two punch combination.
Balis fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
King throws a combination that misses

and Balis counters with a nice double leg into guard.
King doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Balis scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
King looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
King wants to stand up but Balis is controlling him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
King avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
King is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Balis regains full guard. Nicely done.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Balis is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Chris King has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
John Balis is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
King postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Balis showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Balis, 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Balis!