PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kebab Bal (ranked 4681 p4p, 4573 weight class) and GunnHee Choung (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.

Bal
vs
Choung

178 cm
18
170
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
150
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight 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, Kebab Bal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, GunnHee Choung!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, John Roberts and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Choung clinches up with Bal and pushes him back against the cage.

Bal manages to break the clinch.
Bal fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bal tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Choung paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Choung clinches.
Choung drops down looking for an ankle pick but Bal pulls his leg out and moves away.
Choung changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Bal tries to avoid it but Choung manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Bal to the ground. Bal escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Choung shoots in looking for a takedown. Bal tries to sprawl out of it but Choung keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Bal manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kebab Bal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of GunnHee Choung.

Bal closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Choung's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bal wants to get up but he can't break Choung's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Bal content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Choung trying to control the position.

Bal thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Bal slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Choung keeping full guard, as Bal tries to pass.
Choung working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Choung 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.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Bal has managed to clinch.
Bal taking a breather.
Choung has Bal pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Bal manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Choung fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Bal breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The crowd cheers as Choung lands an impressive looking overhand right. Bal doesn't seem phased though.

Choung scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Bal wants to improve his position but Choung is controlling well.
Choung wants to pass the guard but Bal is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bal trying to hold on to Choung's head to control him but Choung postures up.
Bal is trying to stand.
Bal trying to control here.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Choung is figuring out what he wants to do next.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Choung shoots for a double leg takedown but Bal sprawls well. He's pushed Choung's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Bal tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Choung manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Choung swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Choung throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bal's waist but Bal gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Choung off to one side.
Bal throws a big counter combination but Choung scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Choung looks winded!

Choung moves into the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Bal - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Bal jumps guard but Choung stands there with Bal around his waist. Bal gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Bal escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bal stuffs the takedown.

Choung bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Kebab Bal will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Bal shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Bal controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Bal wants to stand but Choung is controlling his posture from full guard.
Bal showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Choung managing to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Choung looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Choung really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bal. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bal postures up in Choung's guard and throws a big left but Choung blocks it.
Bal is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Bal with a flurry of punches that miss.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Choung closes the distance and clinches.
Bal tries for a takedown. No joy.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Bal breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bal keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bal misses with a body kick.
Kebab Bal is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bal moves in looking to clinch but Choung pushes him off.
Bal leaves Choung with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Choung closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Choung goes for a takedown in the clinch but Bal prevents it.

Bal decides to pull guard.

Bal had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Choung defends it easily.
Choung sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Bal's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bal trying to control here.
Bal is refusing to be controlled, as Choung sits in half guard.
Bal is on the bottom, trying to hold on to half guard. He's throwing a few small shots here, to keep his opponent honest.
Choung wants to take a breather but Bal is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Bal moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Bal wants to get back to his feet but Choung is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Bal working a defensive guard but Choung manages to pass into side control anyway.
Choung tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bal defending against the ground and pound.
Choung has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Bal is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Kebab Bal will probably get the nod.
That's time! Bal's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Bal with a lazy takedown attempt

and Choung counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Bal gets control of Choung's arms and successfully pulls guard. Bal will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Choung controlling from the top position.
Choung is continuing to stall.
Choung stopping the sweep attempt from Bal.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Choung stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Choung shoots for a takedown but Bal saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Choung or perhaps it was just good defense by Bal, which made it look bad.
Choung fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kebab Bal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of GunnHee Choung.
Choung takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Choung tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Choung shoots for a double leg takedown but Bal sprawls well. He's pushed Choung's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Bal closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Choung did well to prevent Bal getting side control.
Bal controlling the action here.
Choung tries to get to full guard but Bal has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bal is controlling the pace.
Bal trying to control the action but Choung is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bal sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Choung defending well though.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Choung throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bal's waist but Bal gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Choung off to one side.
Bal tries to clinch there but Choung circles away.
Bal goes for a double leg but Choung avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Choung continues to drive forward.
Choung gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Bal.
Choung tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Bal smiles and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bal shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Choung as he avoids it easily.

Bal drives through with a takedown into Choung's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Bal wants to control from the top but Choung keeps moving.
Choung is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Choung trying to keep a closed guard but Bal is proving a slippery customer.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bal stopping the sweep attempt from Choung.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kebab Bal showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bal, 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 David Schapiro scores the fight for Kebab Bal!
Judge John Roberts scores the fight for Kebab Bal!
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight for Kebab Bal!

Kebab Bal wins by unanimous decision!