PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Balal Lama (ranked 1472 p4p, 2265 weight class) and Brazilian Gremlin (ranked 202 p4p, 283 weight class). Balal Lama has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Lama
vs
Gremlin

195 cm
29
220
7 - 4 - 0

225 cm
26
269
3 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Balal Lama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazilian Gremlin!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Sosuke Kotani and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lama thuds a left hand into Gremlin's body.
Lama lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Lama throws a shot to the body.
Lama lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Lama shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Gremlin's guard.
Lama works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Gremlin tries to get to full guard but Lama has control of the leg.
Lama takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Lama is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Lama is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Gremlin doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Lama.
Lama is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gremlin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Lama prevents Gremlin from improving his position.
Gremlin slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Lama controlling from the top position.
Gremlin is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Lama trying to control but Gremlin is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Lama slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
A control attempt from Gremlin but he's now mounted!
Lama takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Lama lands a couple of good shots and Gremlin has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Gremlin is trying to break free.
Lama just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.

Gremlin is in a bad position with Lama working for a choke. Gremlin manages to spin nicely into guard and the danger is over for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gremlin postures up.
Gremlin won't allow Lama to get back to his feet.

Lama is looking for a triangle but Gremlin pushes his legs off easily.
Gremlin is stalling in the full guard.
Gremlin looking to sit in guard and control but Lama gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Lama landing with the ground and pound.
Lama wants to pass the guard but Gremlin is keeping the position.
Gremlin wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Our spies down at at Alpha Brasil inform us that Gremlin has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Gremlin keeping full guard, as Lama tries to pass.
Gremlin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Lama manages to get himself to full guard.

Lama uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Lama scores with a hook.
Lama thows a body kick. Gremlin tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Gremlin tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Lama defends well and Gremlin ends up having to push Lama into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
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!
Lama lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Lama throws a series of punches but Gremlin moves out of range.
Lama misses with a head kick.

Lama drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Lama trying to control the position but Gremlin is working away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Lama shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Gremlin eats them both and turns towards Lama to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Lama connects with a crisp jab.
Lama catches Gremlin with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Lama jabs at Gremlin's body.
A low kick from Lama is predictable there

and Gremlin counters with a takedown into side control.

Lama explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gremlin shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Lama but Lama pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Balal Lama is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Lama closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Gremlin quickly recovers to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gremlin wants to get back to his feet.
Lama is trying to control. Gremlin wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Well, if Lama is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Lama drops an elbow to the side of Gremlin's head.
Gremlin is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gremlin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Lama looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Gremlin with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Lama is trying to work for a kimura but Gremlin is defending well.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Lama here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Lama controlling the pace.
Gremlin trying to control from the bottom.
Lama scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gremlin wants to improve his position but Lama is controlling well.
Lama missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Lama is looking to take a break and control but Gremlin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gremlin is looking to control Lama's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gremlin avoid being mounted?
Lama trying to pass the guard but Gremlin defending well.
Lama is looking to stall here but Gremlin recovers full guard.
Gremlin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Lama missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gremlin is trying to control the position but Lama postures up.
Lama is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Lama forces his way into half guard.
Gremlin wants to improve his position but Lama is controlling well.

Lama wants to work for an arm triangle but Gremlin is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Lama seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

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.
Gremlin is refusing to be controlled, as Lama sits in half guard.
Lama content to control rather than advance.
Lama wants to take a breather but Gremlin is having none of it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Balal Lama seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Gremlin looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Lama looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Lama wants to stand and escape but Gremlin is having none of it.
Lama looking for a sweep. Not yet Lama, not yet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Balal Lama dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Gremlin closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lama circles away.

Lama shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Gremlin is trying to defend but Lama finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Lama prevents Gremlin from improving his position.
Gremlin has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Lama is working away from the top position though.
Lama stalling.
Lama stalling away here and it's allowed Gremlin to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gremlin trying to control the position.
Lama controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lama looking to pass the guard.
Lama's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Lama stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gremlin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Lama has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Gremlin controls Lama momentarily but Lama frees himself.
Lama pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gremlin is keeping the position for now.

Gremlin escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lama gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Lama advances position into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Lama wants to control but Gremlin is keeping him busy.
Lama is really struggling to control Gremlin but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Gremlin being controlled for a moment.
Gremlin tries to buck Lama off but Lama is having none of it.
Lama wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gremlin keeps working.
Balal Lama overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gremlin is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lama working the head with strikes.
Lama just content to control the position.
Lama seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Gremlin for as long as he can get away with.
Lama is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gremlin can do to turn this around?
Gremlin tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Lama presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Lama controlling his opponent.
Lama has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Gremlin tries to lock up and control but Lama gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
We've been hearing that Lama has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Lama connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Gremlin is trying desperately to improve position.
Balal Lama is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Lama takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Gremlin can't escape the position.
Lama landing punches.
Lama content just to control the position here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lama landing punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Balal Lama showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Lama has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Balal Lama!
Balal Lama took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Altitude Clothing for their support in the buildup to the fight.