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WP 85 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 64 wins and 48 losses; The Reverend Jim Ignatowski! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 46 wins and 60 losses; Boris Balkan!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, James Atkins and Phil Schofield.
The official calls the fighters to the middle and the contest is under way.
Balkan tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Ignatowski defends well and Balkan ends up having to push Ignatowski into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Ignatowski shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Balkan's guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Ignatowski (2) vs (0) Balkan
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.
Ignatowski got a little sloppy there for a moment and Balkan has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ignatowski has managed to get both his arms back between Balkan's legs - danger averted.
Ignatowski trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ignatowski trying to control but Balkan is working from the bottom.
Ignatowski stays in close to Balkan's body and controls the position.
Balkan wants to sweep here but Ignatowski controlling him for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ignatowski is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Balkan keeping moving, preventing Ignatowski from controlling successfully.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Ignatowski slips nicely into half guard.
Ignatowski is looking to take a break and control but Balkan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Still in half guard, Ignatowski seems content to control.
Balkan is trying to get back to full guard.
Balkan is trying to maintain the position but Ignatowski is very close to passing his half guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balkan wants to improve his position but Ignatowski is controlling well.
Ignatowski is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ignatowski is trying to control the action in half guard but Balkan is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Ignatowski is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are battling for position here. Balkan manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Balkan is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Balkan keeping moving, preventing Ignatowski from controlling successfully.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ignatowski preventing the sweep.
Ignatowski wants to control from the top but Balkan keeps moving.
Ignatowski sitting in guard here, content to control.
Ignatowski might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Balkan looking for a sweep. Not yet Balkan, not yet.
Balkan keeping full guard, as Ignatowski tries to pass.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Balkan is trying to keep Ignatowski in close.
Balkan is adopting a defensive guard.
Ignatowski stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Balkan swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Balkan is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Ignatowski wants to pass the guard but Balkan is keeping the position.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Ignatowski's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Ignatowski preventing the sweep.
Ignatowski wants to control from the top but Balkan keeps moving.
Balkan had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ignatowski defends it easily.
Balkan looking to control.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Balkan is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Balkan is trying to keep Ignatowski in close.
Balkan throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
We've been hearing good reports from Ignatowski'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 is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Balkan is trying to keep Ignatowski in close.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Ignatowski stopping the sweep attempt from Balkan.
Ignatowski passes easily into side control. Nice work. Score +3 for passing guard: Ignatowski (5) vs (0) Balkan
Ignatowski tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Balkan is looking to reverse the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Balkan can't do much from the bottom here.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Balkan tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Balkan sneaks back into half guard.
Balkan wants to control but Ignatowski is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Ignatowski looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Ignatowski is looking for a kimura here.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Ignatowski prevents Balkan from improving his position.
Ignatowski is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Balkan defends it well.
Ignatowski is stalling here. Balkan is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Ignatowski seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Balkan has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work. Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Ignatowski (5) vs (4) Balkan
My spies in Blacktalians MMA II inform me that Balkan has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Ignatowski is looking to regain half guard here but Balkan keeps moving and retains side control.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Balkan tries to advance to mount but can't.
Balkan wants to control but Ignatowski is keeping him busy.
Balkan tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Balkan has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Balkan takes a little break here. Ignatowski wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Ignatowski is looking to regain half guard here but Balkan keeps moving and retains side control.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Balkan wants to control but Ignatowski is keeping him busy.
Ignatowski keeps Balkan under control for a moment.
Ignatowski tries to improve position but can't.
Balkan is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Ignatowski knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Balkan wants to control but Ignatowski is keeping him busy.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Ignatowski tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ignatowski can't do much from the bottom here.
Ignatowski tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Balkan presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount! Score +2 for reaching mount: Ignatowski (5) vs (6) Balkan
Ignatowski is looking to get to half guard.
Balkan wants to take Ignatowski's back but he can't do it this time.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Ignatowski is squirming around, avoiding Balkan's attempts to control the action.
Ignatowski is looking to get to half guard.
Balkan tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ignatowski is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
And that's the end of the fight!
Balkan wins on points by 6 to 5.
Boris Balkan thanked the fans post fight for their support. |
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