PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rocky Balboa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Talib Singh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Balboa comes to the cage accompanied by Eye of the Tiger. Talib Singh is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Balboa
vs
Singh

182 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

186 cm
19
185 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rocky Balboa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Talib Singh!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Chris Downing and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balboa has a takedown stuffed.
Balboa looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Singh tries to clinch there but Balboa circles away.
Singh throws a right hand that Balboa ducks under and follows up with a left that Balboa also avoids with ease.
Balboa shoots in but Singh avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Singh tries to close the distance and clinch up but Balboa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Singh tries to clinch up but Balboa circles away and keeps his distance.

Singh clinches with his opponent.

Singh breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Singh closes the distance and pushes Balboa back into the cage.
Singh landing knees to the head.
Balboa is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Singh connects with a nasty looking knee right to Balboa's face.
Balboa takes an elbow to the temple.

Singh gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Singh is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Balboa has a closed guard, preventing Singh from standing up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Singh accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Singh.

Singh drops back looking for a leg! Balboa is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Balboa manages to kick Singh off! Singh jumps back into Balboa's guard.
Singh throwing strikes from guard but Balboa blocks nicely.
Singh trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Singh's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Balboa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Singh.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Singh closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Singh using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Balboa has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

That's two 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.
Balboa can't break the clinch.
Singh is trying to drag Balboa to the mat but Balboa just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Balboa tries to land a knee to the head but Singh blocks with his arms.
Singh changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Balboa fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Balboa uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Balboa wants to clinch.
Balboa misses with a body kick.
Balboa misses with a looping left.
Singh tries to clinch there but Balboa circles away.
Balboa throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balboa circles away from the clinch attempt
and Balboa counters with a straight right hand.
Balboa swats away the attempt to clinch by Singh.
The fight stays on the outside here - Singh looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Balboa misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rocky Balboa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Singh fails with a takedown attempt.
Singh misses with a takedown attempt - Balboa sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Singh tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Balboa paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Balboa fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Singh moves into range and clinches up with Balboa.
Singh lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Singh.
Balboa gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Singh.

Balboa breaks the clinch.
Balboa misses the shot to the body.
Singh wants to clinch.
Singh is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Singh gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Singh connects with a knee to the head.

Singh manages to break the clinch.
Singh showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Balboa.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Talib Singh dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Balboa moves in looking to clinch but Singh pushes him off.
Singh scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Balboa gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Balboa misses with a takedown attempt - Singh sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Singh bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Balboa takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Balboa can't do much from the bottom here.
Balboa taking punishment in the form of punches.
Balboa is looking to reverse the position.
Singh is putting a hurting on Balboa here, landing some big shots from side control.
Balboa trying to control but Singh flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Singh controlling well, preventing Balboa from escaping the position.
Singh has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Balboa trying to control but not successfully.
Balboa can't escape the position.
Singh looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
Balboa covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Balboa tries to escape but Singh has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Singh avoiding Balboa 's attempts to control his hands.
Singh connects with a big shot to the side of Balboa's head.
Singh scores with punches to the body.
Balboa rolls, trying to escape but Singh keeps control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Balboa is trying to stand back up.
Singh is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Singh punches the canvas rather than the man.
Balboa covers up after that shot from Singh.
Balboa is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Balboa trying to control but not successfully.
Singh is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Balboa up.
Singh thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Balboa trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Balboa's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Singh struggling to land strikes to the head as Balboa covers up.
Balboa is really stuck here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Singh doesn't have the hooks in and Balboa manages to turn into his guard.
Balboa distracts Singh with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Balboa takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Singh closes the distance and clinches.

Singh breaks from the clinch.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Singh.
Balboa shoots in for a double leg but Singh sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Singh closes the distance but Balboa moves to the side

and Balboa counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Singh thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Singh will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Singh manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Balboa manages to get himself to full guard.
Balboa on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Balboa tries to get out of the position.

Balboa has his foot on Singh's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Singh works his way back into a safe position though.
Singh throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Balboa works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Balboa is looking to stand up but Singh isn't so interested in that idea.
Singh throws a big right hand that misses.

Singh stands up from Balboa's guard - Singh perhaps looking for a knockout.
Singh misses with the combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Talib Singh showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Singh shoots and misses

and Balboa counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Singh!
Balboa looking to ground and pound but Singh is blocking nicely.
Balboa blocks Singh's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Singh regains half guard.
Singh throws a sloppy strike from the bottom. He's now off balance and Balboa manages to pass to side control.

Singh bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Singh closes the distance but Balboa moves to the side

and Balboa moves into the clinch.
Balboa tries to pull guard but Singh holds him up against the cage and eventually Balboa drops back down to his feet.

Singh breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
No joy there for Singh, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Singh misses with a combination
and Balboa counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Singh tries to clinch
and Balboa counters with a nice body shot.
Balboa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Singh doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Balboa lands a nice leg kick that just misses Singh's sensitive parts.
A head kick by Balboa misses

and Singh counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Balboa breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Balboa misses with a looping right.
Singh shoots in and drives through. Balboa sprawls well.
Balboa circles away from the clinch attempt

and Balboa counters with a nice double leg into side control. Singh won't be happy with that.
Singh wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Balboa advances nicely into full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Singh is squirming around, avoiding Balboa's attempts to control the action.
Balboa breaks from Singh's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Singh can't escape the position.
Balboa trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Balboa blocks Singh's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Balboa cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Balboa looking to control but Singh is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Balboa tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Balboa prevents Singh from getting the reversal.
Singh flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Balboa takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Singh swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Talib Singh is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Singh wants to hold on but Balboa pushes him away.
Balboa looking to control but Singh is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Singh wants to try and get back to his feet.
Singh is trying to escape the mount.
Singh manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Balboa wants to control but Singh is keeping him busy.
Balboa lands with a punch from half guard.
Balboa thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Singh is trying to maintain the position but Balboa is very close to passing his half guard.
Rocky Balboa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rocky Balboa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Singh wants to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rocky Balboa showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Singh has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Talib Singh!