PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rocky Balboa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Landau (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matt Landau has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Balboa
vs
Landau

205 cm
18
280 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

185 cm
23
219 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rocky Balboa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Matt Landau!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Tiny Johnson and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balboa avoids a punch combination nicely.
An inside leg kick lands from Landau.

Balboa shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Landau manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Balboa trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Landau tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Landau is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Balboa is controlling him.
Balboa forces his way into half guard.
Landau blocking the ground and pound attempt from Balboa.
Landau slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Landau is looking for a triangle but Balboa pushes his legs off easily.
Balboa looking to pass the guard.
Landau is adopting a defensive guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Landau wants to sweep but no luck.
Balboa pushes down on Landau's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Landau is trying to get back to full guard.
Balboa has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Landau is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Balboa passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Landau!
Balboa connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Landau wants to hold on but Balboa pushes him away.
Balboa lands a big elbow.
Landau looks gassed!
Balboa lands a nice shot to the head.
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!
Balboa landing punches.
Landau really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Balboa will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balboa scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Landau?
BOOM! Balboa connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Balboa lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Landau hang on?
Balboa lands a big elbow.
Balboa is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Landau can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Balboa connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Balboa is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Landau can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Balboa postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Landau looks a forlorn figure.
Balboa postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Landau looks a forlorn figure.
Landau taking shots to the head.
Landau is in a horrible position here. Balboa smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Landau tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balboa lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Landau is working to get back to half guard.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Balboa cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Balboa breaks from Landau's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Balboa lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
The referee warns Landau that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Balboa in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Balboa lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
A nice elbow there by Balboa.
Balboa prevents Landau from getting the reversal.
Balboa lands a big elbow.
The referee warns Landau that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

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.
Balboa with the ground and pound from mount.
Landau is in a horrible position here. Balboa smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Balboa cracks Landau with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Balboa looking to finish Landau with some ground and pound. This is bad for Landau!
Balboa lands a big elbow.
Balboa landing punches.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Balboa cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Landau regains half guard.
Landau wants to control but Balboa is keeping busy and won't allow it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Balboa wants to pass the guard but Landau is defending well.
Balboa is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rocky Balboa dominated that round.
That's time! Balboa's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Landau throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Landau wants to clinch.

Landau changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Balboa looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Landau is trying to get an arm triangle but Balboa is defending well.
Balboa tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Balboa is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa regains half guard.
Landau scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Landau looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Balboa slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Balboa is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
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. Balboa connects with a nice short shot to Landau's temple.
Balboa lands strikes from half guard.
Balboa not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Landau wants to improve his position but Balboa is controlling well.
Balboa thows a huge punch but Landau dodges it nicely.
Balboa is looking to advance position but Landau won't allow it.
Rocky Balboa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Balboa passes to full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balboa is landing with some decent strikes but Landau is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
BOOM! Balboa connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Balboa connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Landau tries to hold on but Balboa pushes him away.
Landau is looking to get to half guard.
Balboa is landing with some decent strikes but Landau is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Balboa with the ground and pound from mount.
Landau really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Balboa dominating with strikes here.
Landau is desperately trying to improve his position but Balboa has a good base and remains in mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Balboa cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Landau is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Balboa scoring with strikes but Landau is staying in there.
Balboa landing strikes, looking to finish!
Landau tries to hold on but Balboa postures up.
Balboa with shots to the head and body - Landau looks very uncomfortable down there.
Landau is wriggling around trying to escape.
Balboa unloading with bombs!
Balboa is landing with some decent strikes but Landau is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Landau can't escape the position.
Balboa connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Balboa with a couple of short strikes.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Balboa cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Landau sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Balboa wants to pass to mount but Landau is defending the position.
Balboa working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Ground and pound from Balboa.
Landau flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Landau is looking for a sweep. Balboa is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Landau is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Balboa's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Balboa's back!
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Landau.
Balboa manages to reverse the position and now he's in Landau's guard. Nice work there by Balboa.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Balboa throwing strikes but missing.
Landau wants to sweep here but Balboa controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rocky Balboa dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Landau is looking to clinch but Balboa is avoiding it.
Balboa misses with a takedown

and Landau decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Balboa's guard.
Landau trying to control but Balboa is working from the bottom.
Balboa looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Landau keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Balboa's head.
Landau preventing the sweep.
Landau postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Landau trying to control the position from guard on top but Balboa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Landau must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Landau won't allow Balboa to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Landau tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Balboa paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Landau looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Balboa looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Balboa manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Landau tries to lock up and control but Balboa gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
BOOM! Balboa connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Landau tries to hold on but Balboa postures up.
Landau regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balboa trying to mount his opponent but Landau defends it.
Landau slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Balboa is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Landau is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Landau working the head and body with strikes.
Balboa slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Landau stopping the sweep attempt from Balboa.
Landau in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Balboa manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Balboa postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Landau looks a forlorn figure.
Landau is trying desperately to improve position.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Balboa cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

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.
Landau keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Balboa landing strikes from the mount and Landau is in trouble!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Balboa cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Landau is bucking up trying to escape but Balboa cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Landau is looking to get to half guard.
Balboa lands a nice shot to the head.
Matt Landau has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Landau tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Balboa landing strikes, looking to finish!
Balboa punishing his opponent with strikes.
Balboa connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Balboa lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Rocky Balboa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Landau working to try and regain half guard.
Balboa tries to control but Landau wriggling away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Landau comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Balboa has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rocky Balboa!