PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Patty O Reilly (ranked 400 p4p, 13099 weight class) and Marian Balkon (ranked 54 p4p, 668 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

O Reilly
vs
Balkon

181 cm
33
186
17 - 6 - 0

184 cm
49
183
16 - 13 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Heavy handed

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 17 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Patty O Reilly!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 13 - 0, fighting out of New York, Marian Balkon!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balkon on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by O Reilly. O Reilly obviously looking to wear him down.
Balkon uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from O Reilly.
Balkon throws a jab but it's blocked by O Reilly.
O Reilly looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
The crowd cheers as O Reilly lands an impressive looking overhand right. Balkon doesn't seem phased though.
O Reilly digs a good hook to Balkon's body.
Balkon fakes high and swings low for a body shot but O Reilly manages to avoid it.
O Reilly throws a nice inside leg kick.
Balkon throws an ugly left hook that misses
and O Reilly counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Balkon swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Balkon misses with a straight left.
Balkon throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
O Reilly cracks a nice hook into Balkon's ribs.
O Reilly misses with a body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Balkon tries to move into range but O Reilly moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Balkon throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
O Reilly slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Balkon misses with a leg kick
and O Reilly counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

O Reilly moves into the clinch.
Balkon throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but O Reilly blocks it with crossed arms.
A nice right hand lands inside from O Reilly.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Reilly misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short right hand to the side of the head by O Reilly.
A right handed body shot lands from O Reilly.
O Reilly lands with a right to the head.
Balkon tries to land knees in the clinch but O Reilly avoids the damage to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from O Reilly.
O Reilly scores with a nice hook to the head.
Balkon looks winded!
O Reilly working some nice short punches in the clinch.

O Reilly successfully pulls guard.
O Reilly has his hands on Balkon's head, controlling the position.

O Reilly is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Balkon defends well.
Balkon stays in close to O Reilly's body and controls the position.

O Reilly is looking for a triangle here but Balkon uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
O Reilly is trying to get back to half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
O Reilly gets back to half guard.

O Reilly looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
My spies in Underground New York (Semi-private) inform me that Balkon has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Balkon is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
O Reilly trying to control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balkon keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
O Reilly moves into full guard.
Balkon trying to control but O Reilly is working from the bottom.
O Reilly trying to control the position.
Balkon is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
O Reilly managing to control the position.
Balkon trying to control the position from guard on top but O Reilly is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

O Reilly is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Balkon is aware though and is defending well.
Balkon wants to pass the guard but O Reilly is keeping the position.
Balkon is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
O Reilly throws a nice outside leg kick.
Balkon rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and O Reilly counters with a leg kick.
O Reilly lands a nice leg kick that just misses Balkon's sensitive parts.
O Reilly buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Balkon thows a leg kick but O Reilly checks it
letting O Reilly counter with a right hand.
O Reilly clobbers Balkon with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Balkon misses with a hook
and O Reilly counters with an outside leg kick.
Balkon jabbing away but nothing is landing.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Patty O Reilly dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

A solid leg kick lands there for O Reilly.
Balkon takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
O Reilly moves away from the strike by Balkon.
O Reilly takes a swing at Balkon's ribcage but misses.
Balkon takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Balkon swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by O Reilly.
Crunch! O Reilly slams his shin into Balkon's torso.
O Reilly moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
O Reilly connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Marian Balkon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Balkon jabs at O Reilly's body.
Balkon throws an ugly left hook that misses
and O Reilly counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
O Reilly lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Balkon at a distance.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Balkon misses with a lunging right hand

and O Reilly counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
O Reilly is nestled in close to Balkon, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Balkon is looking to improve his position.
Balkon is trying to maintain the position but O Reilly is very close to passing his half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Still in half guard, O Reilly seems content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Reilly wants to take a breather but Balkon is having none of it.
O Reilly slips a nice elbow through Balkon's hands, connecting with Balkon's forehead.
O Reilly is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
O Reilly is looking to take a break and control but Balkon is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
O Reilly is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Balkon wants to improve his position but O Reilly is controlling well.
Balkon is trying to maintain the position but O Reilly is very close to passing his half guard.
Balkon on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balkon wants to get back to full guard.
Nice strikes from O Reilly there.
O Reilly is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Balkon is looking to improve his position.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. O Reilly connects with a nice short shot to Balkon's temple.
Balkon manages to get to full guard.
Balkon keeping full guard, as O Reilly tries to pass.
Balkon working a defensive guard here.
Balkon looking to hit a scissor sweep but O Reilly is one step ahead there.
Balkon is trying to keep O Reilly in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Reilly slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Balkon keeping full guard, as O Reilly tries to pass.
O Reilly makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Balkon is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
O Reilly controls from within his opponent's guard.
O Reilly tries to free his leg and advance position but Balkon is retaining full guard.
O Reilly trying to control the position from guard on top but Balkon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Balkon is trying to control the position but O Reilly postures up.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
O Reilly wants to control from the top but Balkon keeps moving.
O Reilly engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A big left from Balkon misses.
O Reilly delivers a nice body kick.
Balkon throws a push kick but O Reilly slaps the foot to one side.
Patty O Reilly is winning the standup battle so far.
O Reilly swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Balkon.
Balkon misses with a straight right.
O Reilly swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Balkon looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A little feinted left hand from O Reilly on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
O Reilly is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Balkon can do to turn this around?
Nice uppercut lands for O Reilly. That snapped Balkon's head back.
Balkon showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from O Reilly.
Balkon throws an uppercut from half a mile away. O Reilly sees it coming and avoids it easily.
O Reilly checks the leg kick nicely there.
O Reilly takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
O Reilly digs a good body shot into Balkon's ribs.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Patty O Reilly dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

O Reilly uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Balkon.
It appears O Reilly was looking to counter with a kick there.
O Reilly scores with a nice strike.
A punch lands to the side of Balkon 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Balkon scores with a shot to the body.
O Reilly scores with a punch to the head.
Balkon throws out a loose jab but O Reilly uses good head movement to avoid it.
Balkon on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
A shot to the body from Balkon misses
and O Reilly counters with a straight right hand.
O Reilly with a hook.
O Reilly lands a jab to Balkon's midsection.
Balkon looking to land some kicks to the body here.
As Balkon backs away, O Reilly returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Balkon looks to land a left hand but O Reilly moved out of range nicely.
A nice leg kick from O Reilly, right into the meat of the thigh.
Balkon tries to move into range but O Reilly moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

Balkon is rocked!
Balkon on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Balkon is still on wobbly legs! Can O Reilly finish him?
Balkon ducks down and throws a hook to the body but O Reilly moves away.
O Reilly is looking to slow Balkon down with leg kicks.
O Reilly keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good leg kick by O Reilly.
A nice leg kick from O Reilly, right into the meat of the thigh.
O Reilly with the inside leg kick.
O Reilly ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Balkon misses with a hook.
O Reilly scores with a shot to the body.
Balkon seems to have recovered his senses.

O Reilly takes the fight into the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from O Reilly.
Balkon takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Balkon looking to throw knees to the head but O Reilly is blocking nicely.
O Reilly throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Nice body punch from O Reilly.
O Reilly gets through Balkon's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

O Reilly has Balkon pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. O Reilly pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Balkon tumbling to the mat - O Reilly dives into Balkon's 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!
O Reilly passes into half guard.

O Reilly is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Balkon sees it coming and defends easily.
Marian Balkon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balkon on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
O Reilly scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
O Reilly is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
O Reilly trying to control the pace.

O Reilly is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
O Reilly works his foot free and advances to mount.
O Reilly working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Reilly is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Balkon can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
O Reilly working Balkon over with strikes here.
O Reilly avoids the attempt from Balkon to control.
O Reilly cracks Balkon with a big head shot that has him covering up instantly! He's rolled onto his side and the referee has seen enough - this one is aaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:41 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Patty O Reilly!
Patty O Reilly spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.