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WP 36 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 29 wins and 38 losses; Boris Balkan! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 37 wins and 13 losses; Nick Rodriquez!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, William Gold and Donald Grub.
The fighters connect hands in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Balkan shoots in for a takedown but Rodriquez shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Balkan shoots in for a double leg but Rodriquez sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Rodriquez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Balkan is fending him off so far but Rodriquez persists. Nope, Balkan circles away and we're back to standing.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Rodriquez closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Balkan did well to prevent Rodriquez getting side control. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Balkan (0) vs (2) Rodriquez
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Let's hope that Rodriquez has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Balkan regains full guard. Nicely done.
Balkan can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rodriquez controls the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balkan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rodriquez is one step ahead there.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriquez stays in close to Balkan's body and controls the position.
Rodriquez's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Balkan will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Rodriquez won't allow Balkan to sweep him here.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriquez forces his way into half guard.
Rodriquez performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Balkan moves into full guard.
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 (2) vs (2) Rodriquez
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balkan seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rodriquez does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Rodriquez is looking to control Balkan's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rodriquez avoid being mounted?
Rodriquez is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Balkan with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Rodriquez works his way to full guard. Good work.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriquez keeping moving, preventing Balkan from controlling successfully.
Rodriquez lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Balkan (2) vs (4) Rodriquez
Rodriquez postures up.
Balkan is pulling down on Rodriquez's head. It's preventing any offense from Rodriquez, at least for the moment.
Rodriquez is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Balkan working a defensive guard here.
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.
Rodriquez is stalling in the full guard.
Balkan lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Balkan (4) vs (4) Rodriquez
Balkan wants to pass the guard but Rodriquez is keeping the position.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Rodriquez is controlling Balkan's posture.
Rodriquez being controlled here, momentarily.
Balkan slips nicely into half guard.
Rodriquez trying to control here.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Rodriquez moves into full guard.
Balkan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rodriquez is keeping the position for now.
Rodriquez is pulling down on Balkan's head. It's preventing any offense from Balkan, at least for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Balkan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Balkan trying to control the position from guard on top but Rodriquez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Balkan sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Rodriquez's guard.
Rodriquez is looking for a sweep. Balkan is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Balkan wants to take a breather but Rodriquez is having none of it.
The fighters are battling for position here. Rodriquez manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Balkan content to stall in guard here.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Rodriquez is pulling down on Balkan's head. It's preventing any offense from Balkan, at least for the moment.
Balkan 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.
Rodriquez 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 (4) vs (6) Rodriquez
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Rodriquez's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Balkan looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Rodriquez trying to control the position from guard on top but Balkan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rodriquez preventing the sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Rodriquez stays in close to Balkan's body and controls the position.
Balkan wants to sweep here but Rodriquez controlling him for the moment.
Balkan trying to keep a closed guard but Rodriquez is proving a slippery customer.
My spies in KFA inform me that Rodriquez has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Balkan wants to sweep here but Rodriquez controlling him for the moment.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Rodriquez not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Well,Balkan is on his way to losing a decision here. Can he use his experience to pull something off in the closing minutes?
Rodriquez looking to pass the guard.
Rodriquez controlling from the top position.
Rodriquez postures up.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Rodriquez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Balkan is keeping the position for now.
Balkan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rodriquez is one step ahead there.
Balkan trying to control the position.
Balkan is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Rodriquez passes Balkan's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Balkan is trying to get back to full guard.
Balkan is trying to control but can't.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Balkan tries to get to full guard but Rodriquez has control of the leg.
And that's the end of the fight!
Rodriquez wins on points by 6 to 4.
A victorious Nick Rodriquez thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter. |
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