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WP 40 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 40 wins and 14 losses; Nick Rodriquez! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 30 wins and 41 losses; Boris Balkan!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Steven Brown and James Ackerman.
The fighters bow as they face eachother in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Balkan shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Rodriquez manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Rodriquez (0) vs (2) Balkan
Rodriquez wants to sweep here but Balkan controlling him for the moment.
Rodriquez being controlled here, momentarily.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Balkan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rodriquez is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodriquez might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Balkan trying to control the position from guard on top but Rodriquez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rodriquez pulls Balkan in close to prevent any damage.
Balkan passes into half guard.
Balkan is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
My spies in Blacktalians MMA inform me that Balkan has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Balkan's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriquez wants to improve his position but Balkan is controlling well.
Rodriquez has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Rodriquez is staying active underneath Balkan, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rodriquez gets back to full guard.
Balkan wants to control from the top but Rodriquez keeps moving.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balkan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rodriquez is keeping the position for now.
Balkan preventing the sweep.
Balkan trying to control but Rodriquez is working from the bottom.
Rodriquez 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.
Balkan slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Balkan won't allow Rodriquez to sweep him here.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balkan trying to control the position from guard on top but Rodriquez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Balkan is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Rodriquez 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.
Balkan looking to sit in guard and control but Rodriquez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Rodriquez (2) vs (2) Balkan
Balkan pulls Rodriquez in to control the position.
Rodriquez controlling from the top position.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Rodriquez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Balkan swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rodriquez preventing the sweep.
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.
Rodriquez trying to control the position from guard on top but Balkan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Balkan has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Balkan is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Balkan tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Balkan had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rodriquez defends it easily.
Rodriquez is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Balkan keeping moving, preventing Rodriquez from controlling successfully.
Rodriquez wants to pass the guard but Balkan is keeping the position.
Balkan trying to keep a closed guard but Rodriquez is proving a slippery customer.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Balkan had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rodriquez defends it easily.
Rodriquez trying to control but Balkan is working from the bottom.
Rodriquez stopping the sweep attempt from Balkan.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Balkan wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Rodriquez is now in half guard.
Balkan is refusing to be controlled, as Rodriquez sits in half guard.
Rodriquez is controlling the pace.
Rodriquez works his foot free and advances to mount. Score +3 for passing guard: Rodriquez (5) vs (2) Balkan
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Rodriquez controlling his opponent.
Balkan tries to lock up and control but Rodriquez gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Balkan is wriggling around trying to escape.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Rodriquez sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Balkan is working to get back to half guard.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Balkan is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Rodriquez with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Rodriquez trying to control but Balkan is having none of it.
Balkan is trying to reverse the position but instead Rodriquez has taken his back - oops! Score +3 for taking back: Rodriquez (8) vs (2) Balkan
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
You can see the frustration on Balkan's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Balkan prevents Rodriquez from getting a body triangle.
Balkan tries to escape the position.
And that's the end of the fight!
Rodriquez takes the fight on points by 8 to 2.
Nick Rodriquez decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well. |
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