PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Arry Ballen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Wakefield (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). John Wakefield is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Ballen
vs
Wakefield

190 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

195 cm
22
185 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Likes ground

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Arry Ballen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, John Wakefield !
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Daniel Cesar and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wakefield stuffs the takedown attempt from Ballen. Ballen gets slowly back to his feet.
Ballen shoots in but Wakefield avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ballen on the wrong end of a nice jab.

Ballen gets the takedown into side control.
Ballen just content to control the position.

Ballen is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Wakefield has escaped the position, nice work there.
Ballen is breathing heavily.
Ballen controlling the position from side mount.
Wakefield gets back to half guard.
Wakefield trying to control from the bottom.
Wakefield is not content to let Ballen control the position.
Wakefield is looking to control Ballen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Wakefield avoid being mounted?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ballen winds up and cracks Wakefield with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Wakefield moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ballen stopping the sweep attempt from Wakefield .
Ballen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Wakefield keeping moving, preventing Ballen from controlling successfully.
Ballen thows a big elbow that misses.
Ballen postures up in Wakefield 's guard and throws a big left but Wakefield blocks it.

Wakefield looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Wakefield wants to sweep but no luck.

Wakefield had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Ballen is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Wakefield Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Ballen's back instead.
Ballen trying to control but not successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ballen is in bad spot here.
Wakefield not allowing Ballen to control his hands.

Wakefield working for a choke but Ballen is defending well.
Ballen tries to escape the position.
Ballen tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Ballen tries to hold on but Wakefield pushes him away.

Wakefield has hold of Ballen's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Ballen manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ballen really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Wakefield is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Ballen can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Ballen really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Ballen throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Wakefield is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Ballen is trying to reverse the position but instead Wakefield has taken his back - oops!
Wakefield is hanging on to Ballen's back as he tries to escape.

Wakefield is looking for the choke from the back position but Ballen is controlling his hands well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wakefield avoiding Ballen 's attempts to control his hands.
Wakefield is trying to stick to Ballen's back but Ballen is turning into Wakefield . He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Wakefield 's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Ballen.
Ballen sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Wakefield 's guard.
Wakefield works his way to full guard. Good work.

Wakefield throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Ballen drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Ballen jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Ballen is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Ballen drops back looking for a leg! Wakefield is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Wakefield manages to kick Ballen off! Ballen jumps back into Wakefield 's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Wakefield has his foot on Ballen's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ballen works his way back into a safe position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ballen shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Ballen throwing strikes from guard but Wakefield blocks nicely.
Ballen is looking to work some ground and pound but Wakefield has wrist control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Ballen thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Ballen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Wakefield is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ballen chips away with some ground and pound.
Wakefield looking for a sweep. Not yet Wakefield , not yet.
Ballen cracks Wakefield with a solid left hand.

Ballen has gone for a leg lock! Wakefield slips out almost immediately though and dives into Ballen's guard.

Ballen working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Wakefield doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Wakefield manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Wakefield preventing the sweep.

Ballen has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Wakefield can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Ballen has his foot on Wakefield 's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Wakefield works his way back into a safe position though.
Wakefield passes Ballen's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Wakefield looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ballen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Wakefield is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Wakefield wants to stand up but Ballen is controlling the position.
Ballen regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ballen is looking for a triangle but Wakefield pushes his legs off easily.

Ballen has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Wakefield can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ballen throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Ballen keeping moving, preventing Wakefield from controlling successfully.
Ballen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Wakefield is one step ahead there.
Wakefield trying to control the position from guard on top but Ballen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Ballen working for submissions but it's allowed Wakefield to get to half guard.
Ballen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Wakefield moves into range and connects with a jab.

Wakefield shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Wakefield was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Ballen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Wakefield is landing with some decent strikes but Ballen is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Ballen is looking to improve his position but Wakefield isn't that keen on the idea.

Wakefield stands up from mount. Strange move.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Wakefield darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Wakefield is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ballen sees it coming and defends easily.

Ballen actively working from the bottom here.
Ballen tries to get to full guard but Wakefield has control of the leg.

Ballen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
John Wakefield has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ballen wants to get back to full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Wakefield is working for a kimura but Ballen is defending it quite comfortably.
Ballen gets full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wakefield trying to control but Ballen is working from the bottom.

Ballen looking for a guillotine here but Wakefield defends easily.
Ballen wants to sweep but no luck.

Wakefield drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Wakefield jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Wakefield avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Wakefield wants to control from the top but Ballen keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wakefield stopping the sweep attempt from Ballen.
Ballen trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Wakefield forces his way into half guard.
Ballen gets back to full guard.
Ballen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Wakefield is one step ahead there.
Ballen doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Ballen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ballen is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wakefield drops back looking for a leg! Ballen is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Ballen manages to kick Wakefield off! Wakefield jumps back into Ballen's guard.
Ballen thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Ballen looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Wakefield !
Ballen with good strikes from the mount here!
Ballen landing punches.
Wakefield slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Wakefield wants to get back to full guard.

Wakefield looking for submissions off his back.
Ballen takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Ballen lands a nice short elbow.

Ballen is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Wakefield sees it coming and defends easily.
Ballen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Wakefield keeps working.
Ballen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ballen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Wakefield clinches.
Wakefield is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Ballen pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Wakefield jumps into guard, dragging Ballen to the mat.
Ballen sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Wakefield 's guard.
Ballen slips a nice elbow through Wakefield 's hands, connecting with Wakefield 's forehead.

Ballen is working for a submission of some sort.
Arry Ballen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
John Wakefield is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ballen is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Arry Ballen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Wakefield 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Wakefield !