PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rodney Garcia (ranked 2091 p4p, 255 weight class) and Tony Bale (ranked 2932 p4p, 343 weight class). Rodney Garcia has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Garcia
vs
Bale

192 cm
39
217 lbs
36 - 27 - 2

194 cm
38
215 lbs
22 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 36 - 27 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rodney Garcia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tony Bale!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Chris Downing and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Decent striking displayed by Bale there.
Bale closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Bale tries to work over Garcia's front leg with a kick but Garcia checks it.
Bale has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
A jab lands there for Bale.
Bale avoids the head kick by Garcia.
Garcia with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Bale to score with a decent uppercut.
Garcia slips a jab from Bale.
Garcia is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bale sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Garcia takes one to the chin there.
Bale slips a jab from Garcia.
Garcia misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bale.
Garcia on the wrong end of a nice jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Garcia lands a jab to Bale's midsection.
Good work by Bale as he checks the leg kick.
Garcia takes a swing at Bale's ribcage but misses.
Bale fails to land with a series of punches.
Garcia moves out of range of the strikes.
Tony Bale seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Some wild striking there from Garcia.

Garcia tries to sprawl but Bale drives through with a takedown into half guard.
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.
Bale not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bale lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Bale throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Bale winds up and cracks Garcia with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Garcia controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Garcia tries to roll over but Bale keeps him under control.
Bale lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Bale content to control rather than advance.
Bale tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Garcia.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Garcia looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Bale is thwarting Garcia's attempts to control the position.
Bale is controlling the pace.
Garcia wants to improve his position but Bale is controlling well.
Bale takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bale looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Garcia with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Bale thows a huge punch but Garcia dodges it nicely.
Garcia wants to control but Bale is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Bale thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Garcia's head.
Garcia blocking the ground and pound attempt from Bale.
Bale seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Garcia does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Garcia wants to control but Bale is keeping busy.
Bale slips a nice elbow through Garcia's hands, connecting with Garcia's forehead.
Garcia is looking for a sweep. Bale is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Garcia has hold of Bale's hands but Bale slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Garcia wants to control the action here but instead Bale manages to pass to full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bale landing shots from mount.
Bale has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Garcia bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Bale is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Bale missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Garcia wants to get back to full guard.
Bale is keen to just control but Garcia is a slippery customer.
Bale looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Bale lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Bale scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Bale works his way into side control.
Bale lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Bale dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Bale will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Tony Bale seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Good leg kick by Bale there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
An inside leg kick lands from Bale.
Bale looks to land a right hand but Garcia moved out of range.
Garcia fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Bale lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Garcia bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Garcia closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Bale did well to prevent Garcia getting side control.
Garcia stops Bale from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bale keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Bale is trying to stand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bale is trying to get back to full guard.
Garcia throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bale wants to get back to his feet.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Bale missing with a left hand there. Garcia was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Garcia half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Garcia misses with a takedown attempt - Bale sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Bale looks to land a combination. Garcia sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Garcia shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bale sprawls well. Bale wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Garcia gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodney Garcia. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bale fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Garcia manages to avoid it.
Bale throws a series of punches but Garcia avoids them all with ease.
Bale throws a right hand that Garcia ducks under and follows up with a left that Garcia also avoids with ease.
Bale throws a hook to the side of Garcia's head but Garcia sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Garcia.
No luck for Garcia with that takedown attempt.
Bale lands with a cross.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garcia goes for a double leg but Bale avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Bale continues to drive forward.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Sloppy strikes from Garcia. Those never looked like landing.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Garcia.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Garcia misses the jab.
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!
Garcia has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Bale finds it's way round the side to connect with Garcia's head.
Bale lands a glancing blow to the side of Garcia's head.
A cross from Bale lands.
Garcia closes the distance and clinches up with Bale, looking for a takedown. Garcia pushes Bale against the cage but Bale circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A jab lands there for Bale.
Bale lands a jab to the nose.
Bale throws a nice looking combination but Garcia bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Garcia feinted there with a counter leg kick.
The crowd cheers as Bale lands an impressive looking overhand right. Garcia doesn't seem phased though.
Bale darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Bale swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Garcia appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
The crowd cheers as Bale lands an impressive looking overhand right. Garcia doesn't seem phased though.
Bale throws a right and a left that Garcia avoids nicely.
Bale lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Garcia at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcia dives in for a single leg takedown but Bale sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Bale lands a nice shot to the body.
Bale cracks Garcia with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Bale throws a head kick that misses.
Garcia thuds a left hand into Bale's body.
Garcia takes one to the chin there.
No joy there for Garcia, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Garcia is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Bale fails to land with a series of punches.
Garcia tried to counter with a leg kick but Bale avoided it.

Bale shoots in and bounces Garcia off the cage to secure the takedown into 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!

Bale gets to his feet - Garcia follows without any prompting.
Bale keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A jab from Bale misses.
Garcia drops down looking for a counter takedown but Bale sprawls and moves away.
Garcia shoots in for a takedown but Bale shows good takedown defense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garcia shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bale moves away from the strike by Garcia.
Bale lands with a good body shot.
A chopping leg kick lands by Bale.
Bale pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Bale stuffs the takedown attempt from Garcia. Garcia gets slowly back to his feet.
Bale follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Good shot there by Bale.
Bale works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Bale throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Garcia on the side of the head.
Garcia stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Bale.
Bale throws a right and a left that both miss.
Bale throws the left hand but Garcia avoids the punch easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bale's corner calls for a 1-2. Bale obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Garcia takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Bale throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Garcia on the side of the head.

Garcia is rocked!
Bale with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Bale changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Bale showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Bale ducks under a wild hook from Garcia.
Garcia misses with a low kick as Bale jumps back.
Garcia slips under a jab from Bale.
Bale lands a glancing blow to the side of Garcia's head.
Bale misses with a shot to the body
and Garcia counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Bale throws a nice outside leg kick.
Garcia throws a right and a left that Bale avoids nicely.
Bale moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Nice cross by Bale.
Bale swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Bale ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Garcia moves away.
Bale rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Garcia counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bale keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A left and a right from Bale both land. Nice combination.
Garcia tries to score with a low kick but Bale moves his leg out of the way.
Bale ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
A slapping body kick lands there for Bale.
Garcia scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Garcia shoots in looking for a takedown. Bale tries to sprawl out of it but Garcia keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Bale manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcia throws a lazy right hand but Bale sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
It seemed like Bale was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Bale fails to land with a series of punches.
Garcia throws a combination that misses
and Bale cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Bale shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Bale showed some decent athleticism there.
Garcia is trying to control but can't.
Bale looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Garcia is not content to let Bale control the position.
Bale is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Garcia is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Bale scores with a couple of nice shots.
Rodney Garcia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garcia wants to control but Bale is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Garcia wants to improve his position but Bale is controlling well.
Bale landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Bale is trying to control. Garcia wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Bale moves nicely into side control.
Garcia dodges the ground and pound from Bale.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bale is looking to take a break and control but Garcia is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bale tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Bale working away.
Tony Bale is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Garcia stops Bale from passing to mount.

Bale working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Garcia takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Garcia taking a bit of punishment here - Bale scoring with strikes.
Bale has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Garcia is not content to let Bale control the position.
Bale landing a few strikes.
Garcia is trying to improve his position.
Sloppy strikes there by Bale.
Garcia tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Bale wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Garcia regains half guard.
Bale looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Garcia with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tony Bale comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Bale has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tony Bale!
Tony Bale was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.