PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight kickboxing rules bout between Apollo Balboa (ranked 4954 p4p, 4834 weight class) and Aubrey Grant (ranked 603 p4p, 598 weight class). Balboa comes to the ring accompanied by Eye of the Tiger. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Balboa
vs
Grant

176 cm
18
168
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
18
170
0 - 0 - 0

Brawler
Big heart

Dangerous knees
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Apollo Balboa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Aubrey Grant!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Balboa darts in and clinches Grant up against the ropes.
Grant tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Balboa's elbow.
Grant swings wildly with an uppercut but Balboa uses good head movement to avoid it.
A left hand lands to the body for Balboa.
Grant being controlled against the ropes.
Balboa gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Balboa with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Grant tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Balboa's elbow.
Nice body punch from Balboa.
Balboa has Grant pressed against the ropes.
Grant misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grant working aggressively here.
Balboa has Grant pressed against the ropes.
Balboa lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

It looks like Aubrey Grant has been cut.
Grant misses with the head strike.
Balboa blocking some punches.
Grant misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the ropes.
Balboa is stalling here.
Balboa with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Balboa lands an elbow just above Grant 's eye.
Grant misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Grant misses with a short punch on the inside.
Balboa creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Grant's defenses.
Balboa lands a damaging elbow.
Balboa prevents a body shot from Grant.

Balboa pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Grant throws a right hand that misses

and Balboa counters by moving into the clinch.

Balboa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Balboa tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Grant throws a head kick that Balboa semi-blocks.

Balboa moves into range and clinches up with Grant.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

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

Grant tries to keep at a distance but Balboa has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grant scores a nice knee to the body.
Balboa taking a breather.
Grant can't find room to land a body shot as Balboa controls the action.
Grant lands a hook to the side of the head.
Balboa is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Grant is defending well for now.
Grant tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Balboa's elbow.
Grant swings wildly with an uppercut but Balboa uses good head movement to avoid it.
Balboa lands an elbow inside that Grant shrugs off.
Grant misses with the head strike.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Balboa creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Balboa leaning his opponent against the ropes.
Grant tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Grant misses with a short punch on the inside.
Balboa blocks a punch to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Apollo Balboa dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Aubrey Grant's cut.
That's time! Balboa's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A looping hook to the body misses from Grant. Balboa does a little dance to reset his feet.
No joy there for Grant, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
As Grant looks to move away, Balboa throws a big counter combo but Grant just gets out of the way.
A bone on bone clash there as Grant blocks the leg kick.
Balboa checks a low kick from Grant.
Grant throws a chopping leg kick but Balboa manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Grant looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Balboa has managed to clinch.
Balboa blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Balboa lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Grant tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Grant misses with a hook from the clinch.

Balboa breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Grant fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Balboa has Grant up against the ropes in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Balboa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Balboa rushes Grant and presses him up against the ropes.
Nice elbow from Balboa.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Balboa lands with a right to the head.
Balboa comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A body shot lands from Balboa.
Apollo Balboa has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Balboa pressing his opponent against the ropes.
Grant working aggressively here.
Balboa lands a body punch in the clinch.
Grant on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Balboa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Grant tries to keep at a distance but Balboa has taken the fight into the clinch.
Grant takes an elbow to the forehead.
A body shot lands from Balboa.
Balboa lands a right hand.
Balboa is stalling here.
Balboa comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Balboa pressing his opponent against the ropes.
Grant misses with a punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grant can't find room to land a body shot as Balboa controls the action.
Grant doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Balboa content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Balboa lands an elbow just above Grant 's eye.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Balboa blocks a body shot from Grant.
Grant fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Balboa effectively controlling the action here.
Balboa lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Balboa's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
The referee is keeping an eye on Balboa - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Grant letting Balboa take a breather here.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Apollo Balboa.
Grant throws a half hearted mid kick.

Balboa forces Grant back against the ropes and clinches.
Grant tries to throw a body punch but Balboa avoids it by throwing Grant back against the ropes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Apollo Balboa dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Aubrey Grant's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Grant misses with an uppercut. Balboa saw that one coming.

Balboa darts in and clinches Grant up against the ropes.
Grant tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Balboa's elbow.
Grant misses with a punch to the body.

Balboa breaks from the clinch.

Balboa rushes Grant and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Grant misses with a short punch on the inside.
Grant struggles to land a body shot inside as Balboa controls his hands.
Grant misses with the head strike.
Grant working aggressively here.
Grant working aggressively here.
Balboa lands a body punch.
Grant misses with a body punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balboa looking to throw knees to the head but Grant is blocking nicely.
Balboa will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Grant up against the ropes.
Balboa prevents a body shot from Grant.
Balboa lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Balboa breaks the clinch.
Apollo Balboa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grant blocks the body kick.
Grant looks to land a right hand but Balboa moved out of range.
As Grant backs away, Balboa returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
A slow jab from Grant misses its intended target.
Grant throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Balboa is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Grant can do to turn this around?

Balboa gets a clinch.
Balboa has Grant pushed against the ropes.

Balboa manages to break the clinch.
Grant moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Balboa closes the distance and clinches.
Balboa stalling against the ropes.
Balboa is leaning against Grant and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Balboa lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Balboa breaks the clinch.
Balboa throws a wild body kick that Grant sees coming a mile off.
Grant misses with a body shot.
Grant misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balboa wants to clinch.

Balboa gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Grant.
Grant misses with a hook to the ribs.

Balboa pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Balboa has taken the fight to the clinch.
Grant lands a knee to the body.
Grant fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Balboa breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Grant throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Balboa is looking to clinch but Grant is avoiding it.
Aubrey Grant seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Balboa avoids the body shot from Grant.
Grant throws a head kick that Balboa semi-blocks.
Aubrey Grant has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Apollo Balboa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Balboa moves in looking to clinch but Grant pushes him off.
Grant doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Balboa throws a head kick but Grant moves out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Apollo Balboa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Balboa, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Apollo Balboa!
An out of breath Apollo Balboa thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
Aubrey Grant spoke after the fight, saying '7.05'.