PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zmesan Borec (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Backman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Borec's entrance music is Megadeth - Lucretia. A fine choice. Zmesan Borec had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 206.9lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Borec
vs
Backman

187 cm
33
224 lbs
20 - 4 - 0

184 cm
25
220 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Zmesan Borec!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Ben Backman!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, James Atkins and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Borec tries to clinch up.
Backman throws a one two combo.

It looks like Zmesan Borec has been cut.
Borec takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Borec walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

Borec fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Backman sprawls well initially but Borec persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Backman is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Backman is trying to stand up here but Borec is controlling him well.
Backman is staying active underneath Borec, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Backman trying to hold on to Borec's head to control him but Borec postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Borec frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Backman is looking to improve his position but Borec isn't that keen on the idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Backman tries to lock up and control but Borec gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Borec lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Backman hang on?

Borec working for a guillotine from mount but Backman is in no mood to give up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Borec throwing strikes but Backman uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Borec missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Backman kicks off Borec and gets to his feet.
Borec fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Backman avoids it really well and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Borec closes this distance looking for a takedown but Backman circles away.
Nice takedown defense from Backman. No joy for Borec on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zmesan Borec. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Backman throws a combination. Borec tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Borec lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Backman circles away quickly and effectively.
Jab from Backman.
No luck for Borec with that takedown attempt.
Borec is breathing heavily.
Backman misses with a wild combination.
A punch combination from Backman misses.
Backman looks to land a combination but Borec avoids it well.
Backman punishes Borec's body with a nice straight punch.
Backman works Borec's body with a nice hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Backman stuffs the takedown attempt from Borec. Borec gets slowly back to his feet.
Backman lands a jab.
Nice cross by Backman.
A jab from Backman finds it's way through Borec's defenses.
Ben Backman is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Backman scores with a jab. Borec acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Zmesan Borec's cut is getting worse.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Backman catches Borec with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Borec looks for a takedown but Backman sprawls well.
Backman looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Backman misses with a series of wild punches.
Backman misses with a double jab.
Backman lands a nice shot that snaps Borec's head back.
Backman is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Borec had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Backman lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Borec circles away quickly and effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Borec tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Backman displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Borec.
Zmesan Borec seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Backman takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Backman digs a good body shot into Borec's ribs.
Backman connects with the punch.
A right-left combo lands from Backman.
Borec on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Borec shoots in but Backman avoids the takedown attempt easily.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Backman throws out a powerful jab.

Zmesan Borec's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Backman scores with a one two! Borec had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

Borec is rocked!
Nice uppercut lands for Backman. That snapped Borec's head back.
Oh Borec is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Borec fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Backman dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Zmesan Borec's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A punch combination from Backman misses.
Borec seems to have got his legs back now.
Backman pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Borec scores with a hook.
Ben Backman seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Backman scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Nice uppercut lands for Backman. That snapped Borec's head back.
Backman jabs at Borec's body.
Backman darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Backman lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Borec at a distance.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Backman thuds a left hand into Borec's body.
Backman with a jab.

Borec is rocked!
Borec takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Oh Borec is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Borec takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Borec seems to have got his legs back now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Backman misses with a wild combination.
Backman lands a nice hook to Borec's body. Borec takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Backman throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Backman lands with a straight right. Borec didn't see that one coming.

Jeez, Zmesan Borec's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Backman lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Borec circles away quickly and effectively.

Oooooh!!! Backman has knocked Borec down with a huge combo! Backman steps away and waves a wobbly Borec back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sloppy strikes from Backman. Those never looked like landing.
Backman scores with a hook to the body. Borec takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Borec has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Backman finds it's way round the side to connect with Borec's head.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Zmesan Borec's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:41 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Ben Backman!
After the fight, Ben Backman was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.