PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jay Sponseller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack LeBalls (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Sponseller
vs
LeBalls

185 cm
21
225 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

201 cm
24
265 lbs
8 - 5 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

aKua

Balco Boys - Hilo

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jay Sponseller!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Jack LeBalls!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sponseller misses with a series of wild punches.
Sponseller tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
LeBalls throws a leg kick but Sponseller checks it.
Sponseller swinging wilding here.
Sponseller doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Sponseller throws a big shot that misses.
LeBalls throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sponseller has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

It looks like Jay Sponseller has been cut.
Sponseller misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Sponseller fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sponseller takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Sponseller is breathing heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sponseller throws a nice looking combination but LeBalls bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
LeBalls blocks a head kick by Sponseller.

LeBalls throws a big overhand right that connects, sending Sponseller tumbling to the canvas!
LeBalls scoring with punches to the head and body.
LeBalls seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Sponseller keeping full guard, as LeBalls tries to pass.
Sponseller might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
LeBalls not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
LeBalls trying to control but Sponseller is working from the bottom.
Sponseller on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Sponseller tries to get out of the position.
LeBalls scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
LeBalls postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
LeBalls thows a big elbow that misses.
LeBalls seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Sponseller preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
LeBalls throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
LeBalls working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
LeBalls loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
LeBalls looking to pass the guard.

LeBalls postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Sponseller is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of LeBalls, into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sponseller wants to get up but he can't break LeBalls's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Sponseller wants to stand and escape but instead LeBalls has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
LeBalls wants to control from the top but Sponseller keeps moving.
LeBalls controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
LeBalls wants to control from the top but Sponseller keeps moving.
LeBalls trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
LeBalls is in close to Sponseller's body, working some short punches and elbows.
LeBalls has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as LeBalls accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
LeBalls trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack LeBalls dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jay Sponseller's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Sponseller misses with a hook.
LeBalls fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

LeBalls drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
LeBalls sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Sponseller is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Sponseller is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, LeBalls asserts his dominance and retains side control.
LeBalls tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
The referee asks LeBalls politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. LeBalls prefers to stall for the moment though.
LeBalls with the ground and pound but Sponseller regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Sponseller is refusing to be controlled, as LeBalls sits in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, if LeBalls 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.
LeBalls tries to pass the half guard into mount. Sponseller knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
LeBalls throwing shots but Sponseller is blocking nicely.
LeBalls scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
LeBalls is controlling the pace.
LeBalls is stalling here. Sponseller is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! LeBalls seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Sponseller has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
LeBalls is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Sponseller off and has taken his back!
LeBalls is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Will LeBalls go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
LeBalls throwing wild punches that miss their target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sponseller covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Sponseller has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from LeBalls.
LeBalls tries to keep control of the position but Sponseller is staying busy.
Sponseller looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
LeBalls thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
A lull in the action here.
LeBalls struggling to land strikes to the head as Sponseller covers up.

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.
LeBalls throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Sponseller holding both LeBalls 's hands and preventing any damage.
Sponseller is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by LeBalls.
Sponseller has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from LeBalls.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sponseller has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from LeBalls.

LeBalls tightening his grip on Sponseller, looking for the choke.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack LeBalls showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jay Sponseller's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Sponseller throws a combination but it was largely blocked by LeBalls.
LeBalls lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
LeBalls connects with a nice looking jab.
LeBalls tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sponseller swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sponseller throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
LeBalls tries a low kick but Sponseller avoids it.
Sponseller misses with a head kick.

Sponseller gets caught flat footed, as LeBalls shoots in with a quick takedown into 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!
LeBalls trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
LeBalls throwing strikes but missing.
LeBalls content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sponseller utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
LeBalls passes Sponseller's left leg - he's now in half guard.
LeBalls has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
LeBalls with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
LeBalls passes to full mount!

That's two 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.
LeBalls looking to control and managing it successfully.
LeBalls misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sponseller is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Sponseller knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for LeBalls on the ground.
LeBalls takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Despite being in the dominant position, Jack LeBalls just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
LeBalls blocks a head kick by Sponseller.
A combination from Sponseller does no damage.
Sponseller swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and LeBalls moves into the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Sponseller fails to land.
Sponseller misses with a punch on the inside.
Sponseller throws a punch but it's blocked by LeBalls.
LeBalls has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
LeBalls wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sponseller has him pressed against the cage.
LeBalls blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sponseller misses with a short punch on the inside.

LeBalls pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Jay Sponseller seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

LeBalls has closed the distance and engaged Sponseller in a clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sponseller.
LeBalls lands with a right to the head.
Sponseller misses with some punches.
LeBalls works on Sponseller's body with a couple of short punches.

LeBalls's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
LeBalls misses with a few strikes there.
Jay Sponseller is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Sponseller gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
LeBalls postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Jack LeBalls is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
LeBalls trying to control the position from guard on top but Sponseller is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jay Sponseller has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
LeBalls passes Sponseller's left leg - he's now in half guard.
LeBalls is trying to control the action in half guard but Sponseller is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jack LeBalls comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well LeBalls 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 25:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 25:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jack LeBalls!