PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Abi Bala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikael Kristensen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kristensen is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Pursuit of Happiness. Both these fighters had to take extra time to make weight as they missed the initial 155lb limit. Abi Bala came in at 157.9 and Mikael Kristensen came in at 157.3 but after the extra two hours, both guys managed to get within the one pound allowance. No doubt it will have affected them physically though, so let's see if that has an impact on the fight. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Bala
vs
Kristensen

174 cm
25
167 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
18
169 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Abi Bala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mikael Kristensen!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Edson Gomes and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kristensen fails to land with a series of punches.
Bala closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kristensen circles away.
Kristensen cracks Bala with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Kristensen slaps away a takedown attempt from Bala, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Kristensen gets caught flat footed, as Bala shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Kristensen had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Bala defends it easily.
Bala trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kristensen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bala. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Bala passes into half guard.
Bala prevents Kristensen from standing back up.

Bala is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Kristensen sees it coming and defends easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kristensen keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Bala is trying to control. Kristensen wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bala is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kristensen is just riding it out for now. Bala eventually gives up the hold.
Kristensen wants to control but Bala is keeping busy.
It looks like Bala is going to stand back up.

Bala is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
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.
Bala is breathing heavily.
Bala stops Kristensen from getting back to his feet.
Kristensen keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Bala is working for a submission of some sort.
Kristensen is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kristensen is trying to get back to full guard.
Kristensen is trying to maintain the position but Bala is very close to passing his half guard.
Kristensen moves into full guard.
Kristensen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bala is pushing down on Kristensen's leg trying to pass to half guard. Kristensen is fighting to maintain full guard but Bala has managed to sneak the leg through.
Kristensen moves into full guard.
Bala stopping the sweep attempt from Kristensen.
Bala wants to stand but Kristensen is controlling his posture from full guard.
Bala stopping the sweep attempt from Kristensen.

Kristensen is looking for a triangle but Bala pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kristensen is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Bala is controlling him.
Kristensen working a defensive guard here.
Kristensen looking for a sweep. Not yet Kristensen, not yet.
Bala trying to control but Kristensen is working from the bottom.
Kristensen wants to stand and escape but Bala is having none of it.
Bala is looking to stand up but Kristensen won't let him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bala wants to control from the top but Kristensen keeps moving.

Abi Bala has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Kristensen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kristensen wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abi Bala. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kristensen leaves Bala with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Abi Bala will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kristensen jabs Bala right on the nose. Bala blinks but takes it well.
Bala is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Bala misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kristensen clobbers Bala with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bala looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bala takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Bala throws a head kick but Kristensen moves out of range.
Kristensen works over Bala's head and body with a nice combination.
Kristensen lands with an uppercut that bounces Bala off the ropes and back into range.
Bala uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kristensen.
A combination from Kristensen does no damage.
Kristensen throws a nice looking combination but Bala bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kristensen has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Bala shoots in for a takedown but Kristensen shows good takedown defense.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kristensen moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kristensen lands a jab-cross combination.

Bala is rocked!
Kristensen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bala circles away quickly and effectively.
Bala showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kristensen.
A jab from Kristensen does it's job there.
Bala takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Kristensen shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Bala eats them both and turns towards Kristensen to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Kristensen lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Oh Bala is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Bala fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kristensen feints with a jab and clips Bala right behind the ear with a massive overhand right! Bala is sent crashing into the canvas and Kristensen leaps in for the kill! Bala tries to get to his feet but Kristensen is just battering him from every conceivable angle. The ref decides that Bala is in need of a savior and steps in!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:52 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Mikael Kristensen!
Post fight, Mikael Kristensen took to the microphone: 'I'll take my place in the halls of Valhalla where the brave may live forever!'.