PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Julio Balestrin (ranked 3486 p4p, 2089 weight class) and Borislaw Stankov (ranked 451 p4p, 283 weight class). Borislaw Stankov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Balestrin
vs
Stankov

180 cm
26
182
3 - 3 - 0

182 cm
26
170
2 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Julio Balestrin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Borislaw Stankov!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Daniel Franklin and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stankov throws a series of strikes that have Balestrin backpedaling.
Stankov steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Balestrin.
Balestrin throws out a loose jab but Stankov uses good head movement to avoid it.
A punch lands to the side of Balestrin 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Stankov on the wrong end of a nice jab.

It looks like Borislaw Stankov has been cut.
Balestrin takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Balestrin throws a right hand that misses
and Stankov counters with a stiff right hand.
A jab from Stankov does it's job there.
Stankov lands a nice looking body kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stankov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
It looked like Balestrin wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Stankov fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balestrin moves out of range of the strikes.
Stankov lands a head kick. Balestrin smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Stankov throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Balestrin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Stankov was well out of range. Poor timing from Balestrin.
Stankov slips a straight right by Balestrin.
Stankov has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Stankov stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Stankov has a takedown stuffed.
It looked like Balestrin wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Balestrin blocks a low kick nicely.
Stankov moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stankov lands with a right hand.
Balestrin is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stankov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Stankov slips a straight right by Balestrin.
Stankov buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Balestrin on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Stankov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Balestrin.
Stankov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Balestrin misses with an uppercut.
Balestrin waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Stankov.
Stankov fails to land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balestrin throws a big shot that misses.
Balestrin avoids the head kick by Stankov.
Stankov shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Balestrin defends it nicely.
Balestrin is looking for a counter combo.
A head kick from Stankov lands but Balestrin takes it in his stride.
Stankov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Balestrin was well out of range. Poor timing from Stankov.
A big left from Balestrin misses.
Stankov throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stankov throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Balestrin's head.
Stankov with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Borislaw Stankov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stankov misses with a double jab
and Balestrin counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Stankov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Stankov throws a leg kick which misses Balestrin's front leg but catches the back leg as Balestrin tries to avoid it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stankov tries a head kick but it misses.
A head kick by Stankov misses
and Balestrin cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Stankov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Balestrin is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Stankov goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Balestrin missing with a left hand there. Stankov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Stankov is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Balestrin with a body shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Borislaw Stankov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Borislaw Stankov's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Stankov throws a low kick but Balestrin avoids it.
Borislaw Stankov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stankov lands a nice leg kick that just misses Balestrin's sensitive parts.
Nice defenses there by Stankov.
Stankov lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Stankov moves out of range as Balestrin strikes.
Balestrin has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Stankov.
Balestrin keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Stankov scores with a nice body kick.
Balestrin chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Stankov can pounce on him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balestrin misses with a looping left.
Balestrin blocks a head kick by Stankov.
Stankov scores with a three punch combo!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stankov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Balestrin definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Stankov scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A head kick misses from Stankov.
A low kick from Stankov is predictable there
and Balestrin counters with a left and a right that stings Stankov.
Balestrin sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Balestrin misses with a body shot.
Stankov misses with a series of wild punches.
As Stankov looks to move away, Balestrin throws a big counter combo but Stankov just gets out of the way.
Balestrin avoids the head kick by Stankov.
Stankov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Balestrin.
Stankov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Balestrin.
Balestrin throwing a counter right hand but Stankov manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balestrin misses with a straight left.
Stankov misses with a head kick.
Balestrin is looking to counter punch.
Balestrin avoids the head kick by Stankov.
Balestrin was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Balestrin misses with a double jab
and Stankov counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
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!
Balestrin dodges the punch combination from Stankov.
Borislaw Stankov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Balestrin misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Balestrin has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Stankov misses with a combination
and Balestrin counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stankov throws a low kick, looking for Balestrin's leg but Balestrin calmly moves out of range.
Balestrin scores with a body shot.
Balestrin avoids a kick to the body.
Stankov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Julio Balestrin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Balestrin getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Stankov throws a head kick but Balestrin moves out of range.
Balestrin showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Stankov.
Stankov is breathing heavily.
Balestrin looks to score with a jab to the body but Stankov is just out of range.
No joy there for Stankov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stankov lands a high kick!
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Stankov. Balestrin shrugs it off though.
Stankov walks into a straight right hand from Balestrin.
Balestrin throws a sloppy body shot
and Stankov counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Balestrin dodges the punch combination from Stankov.
It looked like Balestrin was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Stankov.
Stankov misses with a double jab.
Stankov throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Balestrin throws a right and a left that Stankov avoids nicely.
Balestrin misses with a hook.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Borislaw Stankov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Borislaw Stankov's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

A big right from Balestrin misses.
Stankov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A punch combination from Stankov misses.
Stankov throws a sloppy head kick and Balestrin moves out of range easily.
Balestrin went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Stankov lands a slapping body shot.
Stankov throws a lazy right hand but Balestrin sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Balestrin looks to land a left hand but Stankov moved out of range nicely.
Balestrin moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromStankov.
Balestrin takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stankov avoids the body shot from Balestrin.
Stankov moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Stankov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Stankov goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balestrin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Stankov manages to avoid it.
Stankov plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Stankov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Stankov scores with a head kick.
Stankov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Stankov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Balestrin.
A telegraphed right hand from Balestrin misses the target.
Stankov throws a chopping leg kick but Balestrin manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Stankov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A punch combination from Balestrin misses.
Good standup being displayed there by Balestrin as he connects with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stankov pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A quick step to the side and Balestrin tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Balestrin looks to throw the jab but Stankov is out of range.
Balestrin throws a hook but Stankov blocks it.
Stankov let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Balestrin swings for the body but Stankov moves out of range.
Stankov is looking for the big counter here.
The fighters circling - Balestrin throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Stankov is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Stankov throws a head kick that misses.
Balestrin was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Stankov lands with a good body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice defenses there by Stankov.
Stankov tries to bum rush Balestrin with a series of wild strikes but Balestrin uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Stankov walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Balestrin checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balestrin avoids the head kick by Stankov.
Balestrin is looking for a counter combo.
A solid body kick from Stankov.
Stankov goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Balestrin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Stankov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Balestrin fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
A head kick misses from Stankov.
Stankov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Stankov throws a right hand that misses
and Balestrin counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Balestrin misses with a straight left.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Balestrin misses its intended target.
Stankov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Despite the aggression on Stankov's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Balestrin changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Balestrin wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
A slow jab from Balestrin misses its intended target.
Balestrin scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A head kick misses from Stankov.
Stankov misses with a wild combination.
Julio Balestrin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Balestrin lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Stankov circles away quickly and effectively.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Borislaw Stankov.
Well Stankov has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Winston Alpacca scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Borislaw Stankov!