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WP 18 PBP Commentary |
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the super heavyweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of New York, with a TWGC record of 21 wins and 27 losses; Boris Balkan! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 47 wins and 23 losses; Bogdan Kersikov!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Luis Engracia and Seu Braga.
The fighters bow as they face eachother in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Kersikov tries for a takedown but Balkan sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Balkan decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Balkan (2) vs (0) Kersikov
Still in half guard, Balkan seems content to control.
Kersikov won't allow Balkan to pass to mount.
Balkan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kersikov keeps working.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kersikov is pressing down on Balkan's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Balkan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Balkan is working hard here to advance position.
Balkan trying to control the position from guard on top but Kersikov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Balkan looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Balkan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balkan controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Balkan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kersikov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Balkan's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Balkan slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Balkan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kersikov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov is adopting a defensive guard.
Balkan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Balkan controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Kersikov pulls Balkan in close to his closed guard and prevents Balkan from doing any damage or advancing position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Balkan's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Balkan (2) vs (2) Kersikov
Kersikov looking to sit in guard and control but Balkan gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Balkan (4) vs (2) Kersikov
Balkan will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kersikov keeping moving, preventing Balkan from controlling successfully.
Balkan is looking to pass into half guard but Kersikov pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Kersikov is in guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Balkan (4) vs (4) Kersikov
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Balkan controls Kersikov momentarily but Kersikov frees himself.
Kersikov sitting in guard here, content to control.
Balkan is trying to keep Kersikov in close.
Kersikov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Balkan trying to control the position here.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Balkan continues to stall.
Balkan wants to sweep here but Kersikov controlling him for the moment.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov trying to control but Balkan is working from the bottom.
Balkan working a defensive guard here.
Balkan is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Kersikov stopping the sweep attempt from Balkan.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Balkan has control of Kersikov's left arm, preventing Kersikov from doing any damage.
Balkan is looking to sweep but instead, Kersikov has passed into half guard.
My spies in KFA inform me that Kersikov has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Balkan wants to improve his position but Kersikov is controlling well.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Balkan keeping control of the position.
Balkan is looking to control Kersikov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Balkan avoid being mounted?
Kersikov trying to control from half guard but Balkan is working away.
Balkan keeping control of the position.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Balkan is trying to control but can't.
Kersikov is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Balkan reverses the position - he's now on top in Kersikov's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Balkan (6) vs (4) Kersikov
Balkan looking to sit in guard and control but Kersikov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Balkan (6) vs (6) Kersikov
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Balkan tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Balkan wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Kersikov trying to control but Balkan is working from the bottom.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Balkan wants to sweep but no luck.
Kersikov tries to free his leg and advance position but Balkan is retaining full guard.
Balkan trying to keep a closed guard but Kersikov is proving a slippery customer.
Balkan is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Balkan (8) vs (6) Kersikov
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Balkan looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Kersikov wants to control but Balkan is keeping busy.
Kersikov is pressing down on Balkan's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Balkan slips effortlessly into side control - very nice. Score +3 for passing guard: Balkan (11) vs (6) Kersikov
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov is not content to let Balkan control the position.
Balkan is really struggling to control Kersikov but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Balkan taking a break here but Kersikov is having none of it and regains half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Balkan with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
And that's the end of the fight!
Balkan takes the fight on points by 11 to 6.
Boris Balkan seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website. |
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