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WP 39 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 41 losses; Boris Balkan! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 62 wins and 30 losses; Bogdan Kersikov!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Phil Schofield and Sam Margolis.
The official calls the fighters to the middle and the contest is under way.
Balkan scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Balkan (2) vs (0) Kersikov
Kersikov won't allow Balkan to pass to mount.
Balkan is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Balkan is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Balkan slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balkan works a leg free and moves into half guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Balkan in particular looking to stall.
Balkan is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kersikov is just riding it out for now. Balkan eventually gives up the hold.
Balkan is working for a kimura but Kersikov is defending it quite comfortably.
Balkan is looking for a kimura here.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov is positioning himself well to prevent Balkan advancing to mount.
Balkan is working for a submission of some sort.
Balkan seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balkan wants to pass to mount but Kersikov is defending the position.
Balkan is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Balkan wants to pass to mount but Kersikov is defending the position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balkan stalling away here and it's allowed Kersikov to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Balkan controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Kersikov is adopting a defensive guard.
Balkan wants to pass the guard but Kersikov is keeping the position.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
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 (2) vs (2) Kersikov
Kersikov trying to control but Balkan is working from the bottom.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Balkan working a defensive guard here.
Kersikov sitting in guard, not really doing much.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Balkan swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Balkan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kersikov is one step ahead there.
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 seems keen to control Kersikov's posture.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Balkan keeping moving, preventing Kersikov from controlling successfully.
Kersikov won't allow Balkan to sweep him here.
Balkan is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kersikov's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Kersikov tries to free his leg and advance position but Balkan is retaining full guard.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Balkan can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kersikov controls the pace.
Balkan looking for a sweep. Not yet Balkan, not yet.
Balkan is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Balkan being controlled here, momentarily.
Balkan looking for a sweep. Not yet Balkan, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Balkan controls Kersikov momentarily but Kersikov frees himself.
Kersikov trying to control but Balkan is working from the bottom.
Balkan is pulling down on Kersikov's head. It's preventing any offense from Kersikov, at least for the moment.
Kersikov trying to control but Balkan is working from the bottom.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Balkan looking to control.
Balkan managing to control the position.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Balkan's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Balkan is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Balkan is on top in guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Balkan (4) vs (2) Kersikov
Balkan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kersikov is keeping the position for now.
Balkan will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
That's thirteen 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 (4) vs (4) Kersikov
Kersikov passes Balkan's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Kersikov content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Balkan wants to get back to full guard.
Balkan keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Balkan regains full guard. Nicely done.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Balkan looking for a sweep. Not yet Balkan, not yet.
And that's the end of the fight!
As we have tied on points, we go to a tie breaker and Balkan gets a bonus point for attempting more subs.
Balkan takes the fight on points by 5 to 4.
Boris Balkan thanked the fans post fight for their support. |
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