PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Balal Lama (ranked 2766 p4p, 3819 weight class) and Gustav Rinaldi (ranked 382 p4p, 510 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Lama
vs
Rinaldi

195 cm
27
220
3 - 3 - 0

198 cm
33
205
12 - 21 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Balal Lama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Gustav Rinaldi!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Saam Ante and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lama darts in looking for a takedown but Rinaldi gets double underhooks and turns Lama into the cage.
Lama misses with a knee to the head.

Lama escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lama has his takedown stuffed

and Rinaldi counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Rinaldi.

Lama pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Lama misses with a wild body shot.
Rinaldi leaves Lama with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Rinaldi lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Balal Lama. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lama closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rinaldi circles away.
It seemed like Rinaldi was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

Lama shoots in and bounces Rinaldi off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Rinaldi is adopting a defensive guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lama wants to pass the guard but Rinaldi is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rinaldi is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Rinaldi keeping moving, preventing Lama from controlling successfully.
Rinaldi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Lama has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Rinaldi keeping moving, preventing Lama from controlling successfully.
Lama prevents Rinaldi from getting back to his feet.
Lama stopping the sweep attempt from Rinaldi.
Lama trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lama seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Lama just misses with a punch to the body.

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.
Lama shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rinaldi sprawls well. Rinaldi wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lama gets slowly back to his feet.
Lama fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Lama looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Rinaldi takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

Lama looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Rinaldi!
Lama creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Rinaldi is trying to control Lama's posture but Lama avoids it.
Rinaldi is looking to reverse the position.
Lama wants to control but Rinaldi is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lama is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Rinaldi is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Lama tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Rinaldi is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Lama wants to control but Rinaldi is keeping him busy.
Lama with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Rinaldi moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Lama passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Lama tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lama landing strikes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rinaldi stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rinaldi wants it to stay on the feet.
Rinaldi unleashes a big counter combination but Lama bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Lama fails with the takedown

and Rinaldi counters by clinching up.
Lama prevents Rinaldi from breaking the clinch.
Lama wants to take the fight to the mat but Rinaldi manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Balal Lama. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lama lands a right hand that snaps the head of Rinaldi backwards.
Lama tries to score a body lock takedown but Rinaldi shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Lama is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rinaldi gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Lama's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Balal Lama seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No joy there for Lama, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Lama looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rinaldi is fending him off so far but Lama persists. Nope, Rinaldi circles away and we're back to standing.
Lama throws a right hand that misses
enabling Rinaldi to counter with a crisp jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lama dives in and grabs Rinaldi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rinaldi pushes down on Lama's head and hops out.
It seemed like Rinaldi was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rinaldi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lama fails to land with a series of punches.
Rinaldi now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Lama lands a high kick!
Gustav Rinaldi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lama looks to land a combination but Rinaldi avoids it well.
A big left from Lama misses.
Rinaldi lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Lama misses with a takedown

and Rinaldi counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rinaldi is looking to break free of the clinch but Lama has double underhooks.

Rinaldi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nice defenses there by Rinaldi.
Lama feints a jab promting Rinaldi to slip. Lama then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Rinaldi slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Balal Lama is winning the standup battle so far.
Lama tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rinaldi throws a shot from downtown. Lama moves away and avoids it.
Lama dives in for a single leg takedown but Rinaldi sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Lama escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lama goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Lama dodges the punch combination from Rinaldi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lama takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rinaldi checks a low kick from Lama.
Lama shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rinaldi sprawls well. Rinaldi wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lama gets slowly back to his feet.
Lama goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Lama misses with a low kick.
Lama lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rinaldi circles away quickly and effectively.
Lama is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rinaldi can do to turn this around?
Lama connects with a body shot that sends Rinaldi's belly button to the back.

Lama drives through with a takedown into guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Rinaldi holds on and takes a little breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lama trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lama trying to control the position from guard on top but Rinaldi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rinaldi manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Lama manages to get himself to full guard.

Rinaldi controls from within his opponent's guard.

Lama working for a triangle but Rinaldi defends it easily.

Lama escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rinaldi gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lama lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rinaldi is pulling down on Lama's head. It's preventing any offense from Lama, at least for the moment.
Lama lands a couple of digs.
Lama pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rinaldi is keeping the position for now.
Lama stopping the sweep attempt from Rinaldi.
We've been hearing that Lama has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Balal Lama overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lama throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rinaldi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Balal Lama dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Rinaldi on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

Lama has closed the distance and engaged Rinaldi in a clinch.
Rinaldi gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Lama.
Lama has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rinaldi is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Rinaldi has had enough of the clinch but Lama keeps him there for the moment.

Lama has picked Rinaldi up - he's going for a ride! Lama dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Lama wants to control but Rinaldi is keeping him busy.
Rinaldi is doing well to control the position and prevent Lama from advancing to side control.
Lama stalling.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lama wants to control but Rinaldi is keeping him busy.
Rinaldi controlling the position well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lama wants to take a breather but Rinaldi is having none of it.
Lama wants to pass to mount but Rinaldi is defending the position.
Rinaldi moves into full guard.
Lama trying to control the position from guard on top but Rinaldi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lama is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Lama wants to control from the top but Rinaldi keeps moving.
Lama trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lama is working hard here to advance position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rinaldi is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lama is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rinaldi defends well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Rinaldi drops back looking for a leg! Lama is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Lama manages to kick Rinaldi off! Rinaldi jumps back into Lama's guard.
Rinaldi controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Rinaldi wants to pass the guard but Lama is keeping the position.
Rinaldi preventing the sweep.
Rinaldi scoring with some ground and pound.

Lama has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rinaldi can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rinaldi looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Rinaldi trying to control the position from guard on top but Lama is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lama not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Lama is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rinaldi working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Lama's head.
Rinaldi stopping the sweep attempt from Lama.
Lama on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Lama tries to get out of the position.
Rinaldi passes into half guard.
Lama has hold of Rinaldi's hands but Rinaldi slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lama wants to improve his position but Rinaldi is controlling well.
Lama is trying to stand.

Lama has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Rinaldi is on him like a limpet, forcing Lama back against the cage.
Balal Lama is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Rinaldi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lama misses with a body shot
and Rinaldi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Left hook, right uppercut from Rinaldi.
Rinaldi stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Balal Lama. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Lama shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Rinaldi manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rinaldi seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

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 Balal Lama.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Lama, 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Balal Lama!