PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joe McConnell (ranked 1546 p4p, 3096 weight class) and Borscht Balgav (ranked 83 p4p, 139 weight class). The key to victory for Joe McConnell has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

McConnell
vs
Balgav

200 cm
28
300
8 - 5 - 0

200 cm
28
300
5 - 4 - 0

Decent wrestler
Great elbows
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Northern Zombie
Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joe McConnell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Borscht Balgav!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, David Schapiro and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

McConnell pushes Balgav up against the cage in a clinch.
Balgav blocks an uppercut.
Balgav takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Borscht Balgav has been cut.
Balgav is looking to break free of the clinch but McConnell has double underhooks.
McConnell comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Balgav tries to score a body lock takedown but McConnell shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
McConnell throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Balgav blocks it with crossed arms.

McConnell escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
McConnell closes the distance but Balgav moves to the side
letting Balgav counter with a right hand.

McConnell closes the distance and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

McConnell escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
McConnell throws a right and a left that both miss.
A little jabbing left from Balgav on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

McConnell has taken the fight to the clinch.
McConnell misses with an elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McConnell lands a hook that snaps the head of Balgav backwards.

Balgav is trying to trip McConnell. He has hold of a leg but McConnell is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Balgav persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
McConnell is looking to stand back up but Balgav counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by McConnell.

Balgav is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, McConnell has managed to free his arm - good work.
McConnell knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Balgav on the ground.

Balgav moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from McConnell.
Balgav connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused McConnell some visible discomfort.
Balgav is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balgav working the ground and pound.
McConnell on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if McConnell tries to get out of the position.

Balgav swings around for an armbar but McConnell sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Balgav's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Balgav wants to stand and escape but McConnell is having none of it.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Balgav manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Balgav looking for a takedown.

McConnell breaks the clinch.
McConnell is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
McConnell tries to close the distance and clinch but Balgav swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McConnell is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Balgav let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
McConnell cracks Balgav with an open hand slap.

McConnell rushes Balgav and presses him up against the cage.
McConnell fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Balgav is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Balgav has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Nice elbow from McConnell.

That has opened up Borscht Balgav's cut even more.
Balgav looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

McConnell manages to break the clinch.

McConnell fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Balgav, pushing him back against the cage.

Balgav breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Joe McConnell is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McConnell misses with a two punch combination.
McConnell fails with an attempt to clinch.
McConnell misses with a jab, cross combination.
It seemed like Balgav was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
The fight stays on the outside here - McConnell looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
McConnell closes the distance but Balgav moves to the side
and Balgav counters with a nice uppercut.
McConnell throws a sloppy head kick
and Balgav makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
We've been told by McConnell's head coaches at The Jungle Room that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McConnell darts in trying to clinch
and Balgav counters with a stiff right hand.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Joe McConnell dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Borscht Balgav's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

McConnell tries to clinch up but Balgav circles away and keeps his distance.
Balgav is looking for the big counter here.
Balgav circles away from the clinch attempt
and Balgav counters with a nice body shot.
McConnell missing with a left hand there. Balgav was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

McConnell clinches with his opponent.
Balgav tries to score a body lock takedown but McConnell shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice right hand lands inside from McConnell.
Balgav drops to a knee looking for a takedown but McConnell gets the underhooks and prevents it.
McConnell is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Balgav can do to turn this around?

McConnell breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from McConnell lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Balgav has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Balgav and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Balgav unleashes a big counter combination but McConnell bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
McConnell throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Balgav unleashes a big counter combination but McConnell bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
McConnell closes the distance but Balgav moves to the side
and Balgav counters with a one-two to the body.

McConnell gets a clinch.
Balgav blocks an uppercut.
McConnell throws an elbow that misses.
McConnell creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Balgav's defenses.
McConnell pushes off an throws an elbow but Balgav leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
McConnell lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Balgav is rocked!
McConnell throws a big uppercut that drops Balgav! More strikes from McConnell and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Balgav lies dazed against the cage as McConnell celebrates with his cornermen!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Joe McConnell!
Joe McConnell gave a mention to Northern Zombie in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).