PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Chris Nettles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bentong Baliskad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Nettles
vs
Baliskad

175 cm
22
170 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

190 cm
24
170 lbs
2 - 8 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Heavy handed

Win Nutritional

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Chris Nettles!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bentong Baliskad!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Marco Blurström and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baliskad is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nettles pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nettles keeps the fight on the outside.
Baliskad takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

It looks like Bentong Baliskad has been cut.
Baliskad has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Nettles finds it's way round the side to connect with Baliskad's head.
Baliskad shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Nettles but Nettles pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nettles looks for the body kick but Baliskad saw that one coming.
Nettles stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Nettles wants it to stay on the feet.
Baliskad is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Baliskad looks gassed!
Nettles fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Nettles lands an overhand right.
A head kick misses from Nettles.
Baliskad fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nettles misses with a head kick.

Nettles has managed to clinch.
Nettles has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Knees to the body from Baliskad.
Baliskad throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Nettles blocks it with crossed arms.
Nettles wants to break the clinch but can't.
Nettles lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Baliskad has Nettles pressed against the cage, preventing Nettles from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Nettles tries to break free but Baliskad pushes him back against the cage.
Nettles is trying to break the clinch but Baliskad is controlling him.
Nettles working hard to break the clinch.
Baliskad misses with an elbow over the top.
Baliskad misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Nettles.
Baliskad has Nettles pressed against the cage, preventing Nettles from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nettles tries to circle away but Baliskad has him pinned against the cage.
Nettles wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Baliskad has him pressed against the cage.
Nettles wants to break the clinch but can't.
Nettles is trying to break the clinch but Baliskad is controlling him.
Nettles wants to break the clinch but can't.
Nettles tries to circle away but Baliskad has him pinned against the cage.
Nettles tries to circle away but Baliskad has him pinned against the cage.
Nettles wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Baliskad has Nettles pressed against the cage, preventing Nettles from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Baliskad is trying to break free.
Nettles tries to break free but Baliskad pushes him back against the cage.
Nettles is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Nettles has had enough of the clinch but Baliskad keeps him there for the moment.
Nettles tries to circle away but Baliskad has him pinned against the cage.
Nettles wants to break the clinch but can't.
Nettles working hard to break the clinch.
Nettles tries to break free but Baliskad pushes him back against the cage.
Nettles is trying to break free.
Nettles looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Nettles working hard to break the clinch.
Baliskad keeps control of Nettles as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Nettles is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A short right from Nettles on the inside.
Baliskad keeps control of Nettles as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Nettles scores with a shot to the side of Baliskad's head.
Nettles lands with a right to the head.
Nettles has had enough of the clinch but Baliskad keeps him there for the moment.

Nettles escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A head kick misses from Nettles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Baliskad takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Nettles dives in and grabs Baliskad's left leg, looking for a takedown. Baliskad pushes down on Nettles's head and hops out.
Nettles throws a good cross that connects.
Nettles connects with a right hand. Baliskad shakes it off.
Nettles sizes up Baliskad with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Good exchange - Nettles coming out on top.
Baliskad takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Nettles shoots in looking for a takedown. Baliskad tries to sprawl out of it but Nettles keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Baliskad manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chris Nettles. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Baliskad throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Nettles's head.
Baliskad with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Nettles to score with a decent uppercut.
Nettles lands with a straight right. Baliskad didn't see that one coming.

Nettles forces Baliskad back against the cage and clinches.
Baliskad tries to break the clinch but Nettles is controlling the position.
Baliskad landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Nettles has had enough of the clinch but Baliskad keeps him there for the moment.

Nettles's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nettles misses with a head kick.
Bentong Baliskad seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Baliskad has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Nettles finds it's way round the side to connect with Baliskad's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Nettles. That snapped Baliskad's head back.
Nettles lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Nettles fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Nettles is defended easily by Baliskad.
Nettles on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Baliskad. Baliskad obviously looking to wear him down.
Baliskad gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Nettles.
Baliskad takes a jab right on the kisser.
Nettles slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Nettles pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Baliskad wants to clinch up but Nettles keeps it at a distance.
Baliskad blocks a head kick by Nettles.
Baliskad blocks a head kick by Nettles.
Baliskad darts in trying to clinch
letting Nettles counter with a right hand.
Baliskad is looking to clinch but Nettles is avoiding it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nettles misses with a hook. Baliskad ducked under it nicely.
Nettles shoots in looking for a takedown. Baliskad tries to sprawl out of it but Nettles keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Baliskad manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Baliskad tries to clinch but Nettles moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Baliskad looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Nettles!
Nettles throws a lazy right hand but Baliskad sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Nettles lands with a shot to the body.
Baliskad blocks a head kick by Nettles.
Baliskad takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Baliskad displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Nettles throws out the jab.
Nettles throws a head kick but Baliskad moves out of range.
Nettles swats away the attempt to clinch by Baliskad.
A jab lands there for Nettles.
A lazy left from Nettles finds it's target.
Baliskad shoots in for a double leg but Nettles sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Nettles dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Bentong Baliskad's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

A left and a right from Nettles both land. Nice combination.
Nettles swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Baliskad has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Baliskad drops his hands momentarily and Nettles takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Baliskad takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Baliskad tries to clinch up but Nettles circles away and keeps his distance.
Nettles fails to land the takedown.
Baliskad fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nettles shoots in looking for a takedown. Baliskad tries to sprawl out of it but Nettles keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Baliskad manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Nettles is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Baliskad bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Baliskad wants to clinch.
Baliskad moves in looking to clinch but Nettles pushes him off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baliskad tries to clinch but Nettles is having none of it.
Nettles lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Nettles.
Nettles scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Nettles misses with a two punch combination.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nettles throws a push kick but Baliskad slaps the foot to one side.
Some wild striking there from Nettles.
Nettles misses with a double jab.
Baliskad shoots in but no luck this time.
Nettles looks for a takedown but Baliskad sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chris Nettles. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Baliskad lands with a kick to the temple. Nettles shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Nettles throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nettles fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Baliskad wants to clinch.
Baliskad avoids the head kick by Nettles.
Baliskad tries to clinch but Nettles moves out of range.
Nettles jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Nettles throws a head kick that misses.
Baliskad throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Baliskad fails with an attempt to clinch.

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.
Nettles tests Baliskad's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Nice shot by Nettles.
Nettles tries to clinch but Baliskad moves out of range.
Baliskad is looking to clinch.
Donk. Nettles catches Baliskad right on the button with a cross.
Baliskad stuffs the takedown.
Baliskad fails in his attempt to clinch.
Baliskad dodges the punch combination from Nettles.
Baliskad avoids the head kick by Nettles.
Baliskad moves in looking to clinch but Nettles pushes him off.
Baliskad shoots in and drives through. Nettles sprawls well.
Nettles clobbers Baliskad with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Bentong Baliskad is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nettles scores with a jab to the jaw.
Nettles lands a nice shot that snaps Baliskad's head back.
Baliskad takes one to the side of the head.

Nettles closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Baliskad is trying to stand back up but Nettles is controlling him

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nettles is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

Nettles postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Baliskad to stand up.
A head kick misses from Baliskad.
Nettles throws a head kick that misses.
Baliskad blocks a head kick by Nettles.
Nettles tries to clinch up.
Nettles shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Baliskad but Baliskad pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Baliskad moves forwards but Nettles connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Baliskad shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Nettles sprawls well. Nettles wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Baliskad gets slowly back to his feet.
Nettles is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

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.
Nettles avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nettles avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nettles digs a good hook to Baliskad's body.
Nettles bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

Nettles clinches up against the cage.
Nettles tries to break the clinch but Baliskad is controlling the position.
Nettles tries to break the clinch but Baliskad is controlling the position.
Baliskad keeps control of Nettles as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Baliskad wants to break free but Nettles has control.
Nettles wants to break free but Baliskad has control.
Nettles wants to break the clinch but can't.
Baliskad is trying desperately to land a takedown but Nettles is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Baliskad.
Nettles has had enough of the clinch but Baliskad keeps him there for the moment.
Nettles working hard to break the clinch.
Nettles wants to break the clinch but can't.
Nettles wants to break free but Baliskad has control.
Nettles has had enough of the clinch but Baliskad keeps him there for the moment.
Nettles scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Baliskad gets underhooks to prevent Nettles's takedown attempt.
Nettles takes a knee right on the jaw!

Nettles breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nettles fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Baliskad tries to close the distance and clinch but Nettles swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Nettles clinches.
Nettles is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Nettles dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Bentong Baliskad's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Nettles decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Nettles decides to return to a standing position.
Nettles scores with a jab.
Nettles tries a head kick but it misses.
Nettles tries a head kick but it misses.
Baliskad tries to clinch
and Nettles counters with a left to the body.
Nettles throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nettles throws a sloppy head kick and Baliskad moves out of range easily.
Nettles shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Baliskad as he avoids it easily.
Baliskad looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Baliskad throws a nice head kick!
Nettles tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nettles scores with a body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nettles throws a head kick but Baliskad moves out of range.
Baliskad lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Nettles swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Nettles closes the distance and clinches.
Nettles looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baliskad is looking to break free of the clinch but Nettles has double underhooks.
Nettles is trying to force a seperation but Baliskad has the dominant position.
Nettles looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A frustrated look appears on Nettles's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Nettles is looking to break free of the clinch but Baliskad has double underhooks.
Nettles tries to break free but Baliskad pushes him back against the cage.
Nettles dodges an elbow strike from Baliskad.
Nettles is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Nettles is trying to break the clinch but Baliskad has him pressed against the cage.
Nettles wants to break the clinch but can't.
Baliskad keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Nettles's efforts to push away.
Baliskad keeps control of Nettles as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Nettles gets underhooks to prevent Baliskad's takedown attempt.
Nettles wants to get back to striking at distance but Baliskad won't allow it.
Nettles can't break the clinch.
Nettles wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Baliskad lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Nettles working hard to break the clinch.
Nettles wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Nettles wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Baliskad has him pressed against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Baliskad throws an elbow but misses.
Nettles is looking to break free of the clinch but Baliskad has double underhooks.
Baliskad can't break the clinch.
Baliskad keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Nettles's efforts to push away.
Baliskad is trying to break free.
Chris Nettles is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Nettles is trying to break free.
Baliskad goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Nettles has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Baliskad keeps control of Nettles as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Nettles tries to circle away but Baliskad has him pinned against the cage.
Nettles is trying to force a seperation but Baliskad has the dominant position.
Nettles wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Nettles has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Baliskad goes for a takedown attempt but Nettles pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Chris Nettles has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bentong Baliskad.
Nettles fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Baliskad tries to clinch but Nettles moves away

and Nettles counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Nettles decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Baliskad, up you get!
Baliskad tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Nettles counters with a two punch combo.
Nettles lands a jab to the nose.
Nettles lands with an overhand left.
Nettles jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Baliskad walks into a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nettles fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Nettles lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Baliskad circles away quickly and effectively.
Nettles scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Baliskad has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Nettles finds it's way round the side to connect with Baliskad's head.
Baliskad fails with the takedown
and Nettles counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Nettles jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Baliskad closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Nettles.
Nettles cracks Baliskad with a right hand to the side of the head.
Baliskad tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nettles paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Nettles jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Nettles fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nettles circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nettles misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Baliskad closes the distance but Nettles moves to the side
and Nettles counters with a three punch combo that has Baliskad backing up. Baliskad nods at Nettles to acknowledge the strikes.

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.
Nettles stuffs the takedown attempt from Baliskad. Baliskad gets slowly back to his feet.
Baliskad fails with a takedown attempt.
Nettles avoids the body shot from Baliskad.
Nettles lands the left hand.
Chris Nettles is winning the standup battle so far.
Nettles fails to land the takedown.
Baliskad takes one to the chin there.
Baliskad takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Baliskad tries to close the distance and clinch but Nettles swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nettles tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Donk. Nettles catches Baliskad right on the button with a cross.
Nettles pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nettles with a hook.

Nettles has taken the fight to the clinch.
Baliskad is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Bentong Baliskad has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Nettles pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nettles listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris Nettles showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Nettles has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris Nettles!