PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gary Porter (ranked 4261 p4p, 3352 weight class) and Victor Ballsawash (ranked 424 p4p, 344 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Porter
vs
Ballsawash

185 cm
27
250
3 - 1 - 0

183 cm
21
273
2 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gary Porter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Victor Ballsawash!
The judges for this bout are Chris Dean, Darius Henderson and Ben Watson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ballsawash is looking to land body kicks.
Ballsawash fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Porter avoids it really well and circles away.
Porter fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ballsawash avoids it really well and circles away.

Porter gets a takedown into half guard.
Porter takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Porter is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Porter sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ballsawash defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Porter is trying to control. Ballsawash wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Porter throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Porter is nestled in close to Ballsawash, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Porter throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Porter is thwarting Ballsawash's attempts to control the position.
Porter lands strikes from half guard.
Porter content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Ballsawash controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Porter is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ballsawash is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Porter seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Ballsawash makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Ballsawash.
Porter working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ballsawash's head.
Porter looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Porter controlling from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ballsawash throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Porter escapes and throws Ballsawash's legs to the side, diving into side control!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ballsawash sneaks back into half guard.
Porter looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Ballsawash with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Ballsawash gets full guard.
Ballsawash has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at The Graveyard. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Porter postures up and lands a big shot to Ballsawash's brow.
Porter trying to control the position from guard on top but Ballsawash is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ballsawash preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Porter stands up over Ballsawash, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Porter throws a big right hand that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ballsawash wants to sweep here but Porter controlling him for the moment.
Ballsawash looking to control.
Porter distracts Ballsawash with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Porter scoring with some ground and pound.
Porter postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Porter postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Porter content to stall in guard here.
Ballsawash is trying to keep Porter in close.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gary Porter dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Ballsawash throws a solid leg kick but Porter takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Ballsawash.
Porter fails to land the takedown.

Ballsawash scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Ballsawash 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.
Ballsawash trying to control the action but Porter is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Porter is looking for a sweep.
Porter stuck in half guard on the bottom here.
Porter is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ballsawash wants to control but Porter is keeping him busy.
Ballsawash misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Porter is trying to get back to half guard.
I wouldn't like to be where Porter is right now.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Porter here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Porter manages to get back to half guard.
Porter works his way to full guard. Good work.
Ballsawash throws a strike but Porter rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Porter won't allow Ballsawash to sweep him here.
Porter is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ballsawash can do to turn this around?
Porter throws a strike but Ballsawash rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Gary Porter overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ballsawash working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ballsawash loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Porter 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.
Porter pulls Ballsawash in to control the position.
Ballsawash tries to free his leg and advance position but Porter is retaining full guard.
Porter has Ballsawash pulled in close to control his posture.
Porter 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.
Ballsawash works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Ballsawash trying to advance position but Porter counters by regaining guard.
Ballsawash trying to control but Porter is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ballsawash stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Porter swivels though and keeps the full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ballsawash accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Porter looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Porter is working hard here to advance position.
Porter pulls Ballsawash in close to prevent any damage.
Ballsawash trying to control the position from guard on top but Porter is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Porter is defended easily by Ballsawash.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Porter shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ballsawash as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gary Porter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Porter stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Porter wants it to stay on the feet.
Porter shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ballsawash as he jumps to the side.
Porter gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Ballsawash counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Porter misses with a takedown attempt
and Ballsawash counters with a one-two to the body.
Porter has his takedown stuffed
and Ballsawash counters with a two punch combo.
Porter goes for a double leg but Ballsawash avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Ballsawash continues to drive forward.
Ballsawash shoots in looking for a takedown but Porter manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ballsawash's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Ballsawash fails to land the takedown.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Porter shoots in but Ballsawash avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ballsawash keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ballsawash unleashes a big counter combination but Porter bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Victor Ballsawash showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Ballsawash swinging wildly here.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Porter is defended easily by Ballsawash.
Ballsawash stuffs the takedown attempt from Porter. Porter gets slowly back to his feet.
Porter fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gary Porter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ballsawash defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Porter.
Ballsawash lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Porter shoots in but Ballsawash avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Porter fails to land the takedown.

Porter gets a takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ballsawash has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Porter is working away from the top position though.
Porter looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Ballsawash is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ballsawash is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Porter's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Porter's back!
Ballsawash struggling to land strikes to the head as Porter covers up.
Ballsawash doesn't have the hooks in and Porter manages to turn into his guard.
Porter sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Porter seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Ballsawash for as long as he can get away with.
Porter'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.
Porter cracks Ballsawash with a solid left hand.

Ballsawash is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Porter presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ballsawash goes for a takedown in the clinch but Porter prevents it.

Porter gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Ballsawash has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Porter is on him like a limpet, forcing Ballsawash back against the cage.
Ballsawash is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Porter wants a takedown.
Porter goes for a takedown attempt but Ballsawash pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Victor Ballsawash seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ballsawash looks to land a combination but Porter avoids it well.
Porter goes for a double leg but Ballsawash avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Ballsawash continues to drive forward.
Ballsawash lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Porter looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ballsawash is fending him off so far but Porter persists. Nope, Ballsawash circles away and we're back to standing.
Ballsawash throws a counter combo.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Porter drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ballsawash wants to sweep but no luck.
Porter is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Porter throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ballsawash works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Porter is in close to Ballsawash's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Porter postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Porter with a flurry of punches that miss.
Porter preventing the sweep.
Porter postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Ballsawash controls Porter momentarily but Porter frees himself.
Porter scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Ballsawash is trying to control the position but Porter postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Victor Ballsawash.
I think Ballsawash 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 Chris Dean scores the fight 28:29
Judge Darius Henderson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Watson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Victor Ballsawash!