PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jack Mills (ranked 917 p4p, 119 weight class) and Garegin Balayan (ranked 483 p4p, 73 weight class). Mills comes to the cage accompanied by Dexter theme song. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Mills
vs
Balayan

180 cm
23
175 lbs
7 - 2 - 1

180 cm
24
176 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

XFighter Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 1, fighting out of London, Jack Mills!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Garegin Balayan!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Daniel Franklin and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balayan throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Mills 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.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Mills checks a leg kick.
Balayan pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Balayan swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mills fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Balayan manages to avoid it.
Balayan uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mills.
Balayan lands with a hook. Mills tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Balayan lands a body shot.
Garegin Balayan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Balayan ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balayan moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Mills pushes Balayan up against the cage in a clinch.
Balayan lands a nice uppercut.
Balayan blocks a body shot from Mills.
Mills misses with some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mills's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Balayan can't find room to land a body shot as Mills controls the action.
Mills lands an elbow inside that Balayan shrugs off.
Mills misses with an elbow over the top.
Mills blocks a body shot from Balayan.
Mills will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Balayan up against the cage.
Mills stalling in the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Balayan as Mills tries to tie him up.
A shot in the inside from Balayan.
Balayan misses with a punch to the body.
With the fighters up against the cage, Mills throws an elbow but misses.
Mills lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

It looks like Garegin Balayan has been cut.
Mills misses with a body punch.
A shot in the inside from Balayan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mills is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Mills pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Balayan avoids the elbow strike from Mills, against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Mills misses with an elbow strike.
Balayan lands with a right to the head.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Mills.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mills leaning his opponent against the cage.
Balayan tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Balayan misses with a short punch on the inside.
Balayan fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Nice body punch from Mills - that landed with a thud.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balayan tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Balayan lands a shot to the body.
Balayan working aggressively here.
Balayan just leaning against Mills, taking a breather.
Mills throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Balayan working aggressively here.
Mills's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Balayan dodges an elbow strike from Mills.
Mills tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Mills.
Mills tries to throw a body punch but Balayan avoids it by throwing Mills back against the cage.
Balayan misses with a hook to the ribs.
Balayan misses with a hook from the clinch.
Mills comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Balayan softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Balayan fails to land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balayan working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Mills pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Balayan working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mills prevents a body shot from Balayan.

Balayan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Balayan throws a jab when Mills was well out of range.
Balayan swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Mills misses the shot to the body.
Mills swings for the body but Balayan moves out of range.
Balayan steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Mills wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Balayan throws a sloppy head kick and Mills moves out of range easily.
Mills tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Balayan manages to circle out of the way.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Balayan - that will leave a mark!
Mills is looking to wear down Balayan with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Balayan ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
A jab lands there for Balayan.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Garegin Balayan dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Garegin Balayan's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Balayan misses with a kick to the body.
Jab, jab by Balayan - just one landing.
Balayan cracks the inside of Mills's front leg.
Balayan lands a really nice looking cross but Mills seems unphased.
Balayan keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Balayan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mills. Balayan does a little dance to reset his feet.
Garegin Balayan seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Balayan scores with a nice head shot.
Balayan lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balayan wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Balayan misses with an uppercut.
Mills jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balayan throws a jab when Mills was well out of range.
Mills misses with a straight right.
A decent looking cross lands there for Balayan.
Balayan fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Mills checks it well.
Mills scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Mills avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Balayan looks to land a left hand but Mills moved out of range nicely.
Balayan lands a head kick!
The fighters circling - Balayan throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Mills wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Balayan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A jab from Balayan misses.
Mills swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Balayan throws a wild body kick that Mills sees coming a mile off.
As Balayan tries to get set, Mills tries to push him back and clinch up but Balayan manages to avoid the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balayan throws a body punch but Mills moves out of range.
Balayan misses with a body kick.
A quick step to the side and Mills tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
A head kick misses from Balayan.
Balayan shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Mills throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Mills looks to score with a jab to the body but Balayan is just out of range.
Mills steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Balayan. That one must have hurt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Balayan scores with a jab.
Balayan throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Balayan looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Mills is looking to counter punch.
Balayan lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Mills ducks under a wild hook from Balayan.
Mills tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Balayan manages to circle out of the way.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balayan throws a low kick but Mills moves out of range easily.
Balayan looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Balayan tries to land a front kick but Mills steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
As Balayan tries to get set, Mills tries to push him back and clinch up but Balayan manages to avoid the attempt.
Balayan fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Balayan connects with a right hand. Mills shakes it off.
A head kick by Balayan misses
and Mills counters with a left to the body.
Mills avoids a kick to the body.
Mills seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Balayan misses with a hook.
Balayan thuds his right hand into Mills's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Balayan moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Mills has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Balayan.
Mills waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Balayan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mills avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
It looked like Mills wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Balayan dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Mills. That did some damage!
Mills misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Balayan.
Balayan is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Mills with a body shot.
Balayan misses with a hook. Mills ducked under it nicely.
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!
Mills swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Balayan.
Mills moves out of range as Balayan throws a body kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mills. Balayan does a little dance to reset his feet.
Balayan takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Mills avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Mills seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Balayan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mills was well out of range. Poor timing from Balayan.
Mills tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Balayan manages to circle out of the way.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mills. Balayan does a little dance to reset his feet.
Mills on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Garegin Balayan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Garegin Balayan's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Mills ducks under a wild hook from Balayan.
Mills swings for the body but Balayan moves out of range.
Balayan looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Jab by Balayan.
Balayan lands a nice shot to the body.
Balayan lands a body shot.
Balayan throws the kick towards the body but Mills avoids it.
Mills blocks the body kick.
Mills avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balayan misses the jab.
Good standup being displayed there by Balayan as he connects with a hook.
Mills takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Mills moves out of range of the body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balayan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mills was well out of range. Poor timing from Balayan.
Balayan moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Balayan is looking to score with low kicks.
Balayan looks to land a left hand but Mills moved out of range nicely.
Balayan throws a right and a left that both miss.
Balayan throws a looping overhand right but Mills ducks down to avoid it.
Balayan takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Mills lands a right hook to the body.
Balayan tries to land a front kick but Mills steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Balayan thuds a left hand into Mills's body.
Balayan throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balayan throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Balayan throws a hook but Mills avoids it easily.
Mills walks into a jab.
Mills bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
As Balayan tries to get set, Mills tries to push him back and clinch up but Balayan manages to avoid the attempt.
Mills connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Balayan's hands.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Balayan buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Balayan throws a head kick that misses.
Mills was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Balayan throws a front kick aimed at Mills's knee but Mills avoids it well.
Balayan lands a nice looking body kick.
The fighters circling - Balayan throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Mills misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Balayan.
Balayan throws an overhand right that lands on Mills's shoulder, as Mills tries to avoid the shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balayan connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
A chopping leg kick lands by Balayan.
Balayan misses with a hook.
Mills moves out of range of the leg kick from Balayan.
Mills is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Balayan.

Mills has taken the fight to the clinch.
Mills is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Balayan slowing the pace effectively.
Mills holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Mills lands an elbow inside.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
A nice right hand lands inside from Balayan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Balayan.
Mills throws an elbow but it's blocked.
A head punch on the inside from Balayan fails to land.
Mills creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Mills throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Mills gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Balayan blocks a body shot from Mills.

Balayan breaks the clinch.
Mills swings for the body but Balayan moves out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Balayan thows a leg kick but Mills checks it

and Mills moves into the clinch.
Balayan lands a body punch in the clinch.
Mills doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Mills throws an elbow that misses.
Jack Mills has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stalling in the clinch from Balayan.

And that's the end of the fight!
Garegin Balayan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Balayan winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Garegin Balayan!