PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Arcturus Balfour (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Acton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joe Acton is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Balfour
vs
Acton

180 cm
18
158 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

160 cm
24
150 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Arcturus Balfour!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joe Acton!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Thiago Cunha and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Acton closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Acton controlling the position from side mount.
Balfour prevents Acton from moving into mount.
Balfour tries to improve position but can't.
Acton scores with punches from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Balfour is not content to let Acton control the position.
Acton is staying tight to Balfour's torso, preventing him from escaping.

Acton wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Balfour, who protects the arm well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Acton is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Balfour has escaped the position, nice work there.
Balfour gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Acton looks to land a strike but Balfour avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Acton postures up in Balfour's guard and throws a big left but Balfour blocks it.

That's two 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.
Balfour can't keep his opponent in guard - Acton advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Acton has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Acton thows a huge punch but Balfour dodges it nicely.
Acton wants to lay and pray for a moment but Balfour keeps working.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Acton is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Acton looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Acton looks gassed!
Acton throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Acton trying to control the action but Balfour is working from the bottom.
Balfour knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Acton on the ground.
Acton works his way into side control.
Balfour is looking to regain half guard here but Acton keeps moving and retains side control.

Acton is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Balfour has escaped the position, nice work there.

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.
Acton remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

Acton thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Acton wants to control but Balfour is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Acton dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Acton staying out of range there.
Acton on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

It looks like Joe Acton has been cut.
Balfour doesn't manage to clinch there - Acton circles away.
Acton dives in and grabs Balfour's left leg, looking for a takedown. Balfour pushes down on Acton's head and hops out.
Balfour wants to clinch up but Acton keeps it at a distance.
Balfour fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Acton looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Acton is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Acton fails with a takedown attempt.
Balfour misses with a double jab.
Balfour just misses with a punch to the body.
Acton steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Balfour.
Acton is trying hard to land a takedown here. Balfour sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Arcturus Balfour has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Acton.
Acton misses with a takedown attempt - Balfour sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's two 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.
Acton slips under a jab from Balfour.
Acton fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Acton shoots for a double leg takedown but Balfour sprawls well. He's pushed Acton's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Acton tries for a takedown but Balfour sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Acton takes a shot to the body in his stride.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balfour swinging wilding here.
Acton fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Acton takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Acton avoids the body shot from Balfour.
Balfour missing with a left hand there. Acton was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balfour looks to throw the jab but Acton is out of range.
Joe Acton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Balfour throws a hook but Acton avoids it easily.
Acton shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Balfour as he avoids it easily.
Balfour takes a swing at Acton's ribcage but misses.
Acton slips under a jab from Balfour.
Acton avoids the body shot from Balfour.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Acton.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arcturus Balfour dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Joe Acton's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Balfour lands a nice shot to the body.
Acton shoots in for a double leg but Balfour sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Acton throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Balfour's waist but Balfour gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Acton off to one side.

Balfour clinches.
A shot in the inside from Balfour.
Acton is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Balfour pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Arcturus Balfour has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Acton.
Acton takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Balfour throws a punch but it's blocked by Acton.
Balfour slowing the pace effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balfour lands with a right to the head.
Acton blocks an uppercut.
Balfour lands a body punch.
Balfour misses with a short punch on the inside.
Balfour tries a body shot but Acton blocks it.
Balfour works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A short body shot lands from Balfour as the two fighters clinch.
Balfour tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Balfour lands a body shot.
Acton blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Balfour lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Balfour misses with a punch on the inside.
Balfour misses with some punches.
Acton blocking some punches.
Acton is working for takedown but Balfour is calmly controlling the position for now.
Balfour digs a right hand into Acton's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Acton's gas tank.
Balfour lands a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Acton blocking some punches.
Balfour lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Acton backwards.
Balfour doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Acton.
Acton tries for a takedown. No joy.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Balfour takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Balfour pushes Acton back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Acton blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Balfour.
A head punch on the inside from Balfour fails to land.
Balfour lands with a short shot to the head.
Balfour tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Balfour misses with a punch on the inside.
Balfour misses with a hook from the clinch.
Nice body punch from Balfour - that landed with a thud.
Balfour lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Acton backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balfour throws a head punch that misses.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Balfour.
Balfour throws a punch but it's blocked by Acton.
Acton is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
A right hook to the body lands for Balfour.
Balfour works on Acton's body with a couple of short punches.
Balfour swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Acton tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Balfour smiles and moves away.
Balfour cracks a nice hook into Acton's ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balfour tries to close the distance and clinch but Acton swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Acton shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Balfour sprawls well. Balfour wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Acton gets slowly back to his feet.
Balfour tries to clinch but Acton is having none of it.
Balfour misses with a double jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Arcturus Balfour showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Balfour 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 29:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:27
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arcturus Balfour!