PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jouni Janteva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricky Balibula (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ricky Balibula will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Janteva
vs
Balibula

190 cm
18
220 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

205 cm
22
270 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite 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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jouni Janteva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ricky Balibula!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Marco Blurström and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Balibula.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Janteva tries to clinch but Balibula is having none of it.
Janteva shoots for a double leg takedown but Balibula sprawls well. He's pushed Janteva's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Balibula throws a sloppy head kick and Janteva moves out of range easily.
Balibula misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Janteva avoids the head kick by Balibula.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balibula keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Janteva ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Balibula moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balibula misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Janteva shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Balibula pinned against the cage. Balibula gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jouni Janteva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Janteva blocks a head kick by Balibula.
Ricky Balibula is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

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.
Janteva tries to clinch up.
Balibula throws a sloppy head kick and Janteva moves out of range easily.
Janteva fails to land the takedown.
Janteva fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Balibula avoids it really well and circles away.
Balibula throws a sloppy head kick and Janteva moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balibula misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A head kick misses from Balibula.
Horrible takedown by Janteva or perhaps it was just good defense by Balibula which made him look bad.
A head kick misses from Balibula.

That's four 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.
Janteva shoots in for a takedown but Balibula shows good takedown defense.
Janteva fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Balibula misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Janteva blocks a head kick by Balibula.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Balibula dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Balibula throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Janteva looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Balibula stuffs the takedown attempt from Janteva. Janteva gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Janteva throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Balibula was covering up waiting for the punch and Janteva finishes the takedown easily into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Balibula is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Janteva is aware though and is defending well.

Balibula throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Balibula really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Janteva. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Balibula has an active guard here but Janteva has managed to pass into half guard.

Balibula looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Janteva seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Janteva passes to side control.
Balibula tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Balibula is breathing heavily.
Balibula is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Janteva working the head and body with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Janteva in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Janteva scores with punches from side control.
Janteva cracks Balibula with a big right hand but Balibula just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Janteva wants to lay and pray for a moment but Balibula keeps working.
Janteva lands a nice forearm strike.
Janteva scoring with punches and elbows.
Janteva working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Janteva scoring with punches and elbows.
Janteva working the ground and pound from side control.

Janteva is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Balibula knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Janteva works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balibula tries to get back to half guard but can't.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
No luck for Janteva with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jouni Janteva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Balibula throws a head kick that misses.

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.
Janteva closes this distance looking for a takedown but Balibula circles away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Janteva.
Balibula throws a head kick but Janteva moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jouni Janteva dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Janteva tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Balibula swivels and escapes.
Janteva shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Balibula defends it nicely.
Janteva changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Balibula tries to avoid it but Janteva manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Balibula to the ground. Balibula escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jouni Janteva. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balibula pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Janteva shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Balibula throws a sloppy head kick and Janteva moves out of range easily.
Janteva blocks a head kick by Balibula.
Balibula throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

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.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Janteva.
Janteva fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Janteva fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balibula throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Janteva shoots in for a double leg but Balibula sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Balibula throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Janteva shoots in looking for a takedown. Balibula tries to sprawl out of it but Janteva keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Balibula manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

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.
Janteva blocks a head kick by Balibula.
A head kick misses from Balibula.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Janteva shoots for a double leg takedown but Balibula sprawls well. He's pushed Janteva's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricky Balibula comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Balibula has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricky Balibula!