PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Arthur King (ranked 5559 p4p, 24534 weight class) and Bob Balch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bob Balch acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

King
vs
Balch

182 cm
24
140
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
18
130
0 - 6 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Arthur King!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bob Balch!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, James Glass and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balch misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Balch has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
King lands with an uppercut that bounces Balch off the cage and back into range.
King works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
King lands with a kick to the ribs.
King rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Balch moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
King dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Balch. That did some damage!

Balch closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Balch breaks the clinch.
King leaves Balch with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
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!
Balch fails with a takedown attempt.
King went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balch shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and King counters with a series of strikes. Balch will be more careful next time no doubt.
Arthur King has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bob Balch.
Balch showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from King.
Balch wants to counter the offense by King and move into the clinch position.
Balch is looking to clinch.
Bob Balch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
King looks to land a combination. Balch sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Balch fails with a takedown attempt.
Balch fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Balch looks winded!
Sloppy strikes from King. Those never looked like landing.
A left lands for King.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Balch has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by King.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
King scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
King swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Balch.
We've been told by King's head coaches at Cozad MMA London that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Balch chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before King can pounce on him.
Balch with a poor takedown
and King counters with a one-two to the body.
Balch drops his hands momentarily and King takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Balch changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. King tries to avoid it but Balch manages to keep hold of a leg and drag King to the ground. King escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
King connects with a solid leg kick.
King lands a really nice looking cross but Balch seems unphased.
King bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balch walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Balch takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
King throws a nice inside leg kick.
King throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Balch looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
King lands a nice leg kick that just misses Balch's sensitive parts.
King really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
King scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
King feints and then cracks Balch's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Balch down.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A thudding body kick lands there by King!
Balch throws a body kick that misses.
King appears to be looking for a big counter.
King scores with a nice body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
King scores with a jab.
King is working the combinations to good effect here.
King works over Balch's head and body with a nice combination.
King scores with a jab to the body.
King bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Balch's head backwards.
King uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
King lands a nice looking kick to the body. Balch takes a step back to recover.
King dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Balch. That did some damage!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Balch stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from King.
King scores with a three punch combo!
Balch walks forward, straight into a front kick from King.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Arthur King dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

King fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Balch.
Balch looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? King is fending him off so far but Balch persists. Nope, King circles away and we're back to standing.
King throws a quick counter kick to the body but Balch avoids it.
Balch throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around King's waist but King gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Balch off to one side.
Balch with a poor takedown
and King counters with a nice uppercut.
Arthur King has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bob Balch.
King stalks Balch and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Balch's face. Balch staggers backwards, shaken.
Balch tries to clinch
enabling King to counter with a crisp jab.

Balch is rocked!
Nice body kick from King.
King lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by King.
Balch is still on wobbly legs! Can King finish him?
Arthur King is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
King thumps Balch with a low kick.
Balch seems to have recovered his senses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
King fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Balch.
Balch tries to clinch up
and King counters with a slapping leg kick.
Balch is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
King buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Balch forces King back against the cage and clinches.
King is looking to break free of the clinch but Balch has double underhooks.
King is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Balch can do to turn this around?
Balch is trying to drag King to the mat but King just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

King's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Balch takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Balch misses with a straight left.
Good leg kick by King.
Balch swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and King cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Balch takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Balch on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Balch takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
King moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Balch chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before King can pounce on him.
Balch is trying desperately to land a takedown but King is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Balch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King throws a combination. Balch tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
King lands with a thumping leg kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from King.
King lands a jab to the nose.
Balch misses with a takedown
and King cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
King scores with a three punch combo!
King lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
King lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Balch backs up against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
King scores with a sloppy right hand. Balch should have avoided that one.
King throws a combination. Balch tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from Balch is predictable there
and King counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
King throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
King cracks a nice hook into Balch's ribs.
King lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
King throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Balch fails with the takedown
and King counters with a three punch combo that has Balch backing up. Balch nods at King to acknowledge the strikes.
King throws a nice inside leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
King scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Balch has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from King.
Balch with a poor takedown
and King counters with a series of strikes. Balch will be more careful next time no doubt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Arthur King dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

A right-left combo lands from King.
Balch looks to throw a body kick
and King counters with a left and a right that stings Balch.
Balch dives in for a single leg takedown but King sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Balch tries to score a power double leg takedown but King sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Balch somewhat.
Balch takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
King looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A shot to the liver by King. Beautiful body shot.
Balch takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King lands with a kick to the temple. Balch shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
King digs a good body shot into Balch's ribs.
King works over Balch's head and body with a nice combination.
King stalks Balch and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Balch's face. Balch staggers backwards, shaken.
Balch throws a sloppy head kick
and Balch takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Balch's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
King scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Balch doesn't succeed with the takedown
and King counters with a series of strikes. Balch will be more careful next time no doubt.
Arthur King has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bob Balch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
King scores with the left hand. Balch knows he should have avoided that one.
King misses with the combination.
Arthur King is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balch takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Balch has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Balch scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
King lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Balch with a poor takedown
and King counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
King throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
King stuns Balch with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Balch is on the wrong end of a nice combination from King.
A nice leg kick lands there from King.
A solid leg kick lands there for King.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King with a jab.
Balch shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts King as he jumps to the side.
King lands a nice looking body shot.
Balch takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
King scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
King lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
King lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Balch dives in for a single leg takedown but King sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
King lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Balch at a distance.
King feints a jab promting Balch to slip. King then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Balch slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Danga de danga de dang - King scores with a four punch combination!
Balch thows a left - swing and a miss!
King lands with a slapping head kick.
Arthur King is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Balch sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.

Balch shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Balch was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Balch scores with punches from side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Arthur King showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for King, 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:24
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:25
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:24

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arthur King!