PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ulmes Balta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josefski Slabadavski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Balta
vs
Slabadavski

171 cm
24
161 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

164 cm
26
150 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ulmes Balta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Josefski Slabadavski!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Ivan Kurochkin and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balta pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Slabadavski lands an overhand right.
Slabadavski closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Slabadavski bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Balta throws a big shot that misses.
Slabadavski blocks a head kick by Balta.
Slabadavski staying out of range there.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Balta throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Balta is looking to clinch.
Balta misses with a combination
and Slabadavski counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balta throws a looping overhand right but Slabadavski ducks down to avoid it.
Balta throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Slabadavski drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Balta parries the strikes from Slabadavski easily there. Slabadavski is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Balta to escape.
Check out the look on Slabadavski's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Slabadavski throwing shots but missing, from side control.
An elbow from Slabadavski crashes against the mat.
Slabadavski misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Slabadavski scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Balta to see if he's OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slabadavski working the head and body with strikes.
Balta taking a bit of punishment here - Slabadavski scoring with strikes.
The strikes coming from Slabadavski are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Sloppy strikes there by Slabadavski.
Slabadavski fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Slabadavski working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Balta takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Slabadavski throws an elbow but Balta slips to the side and avoids it well.
Slabadavski sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Balta is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Slabadavski scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Balta to see if he's OK.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Slabadavski creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Slabadavski throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Slabadavski throws a strike aimed at the side of Balta's head but Balta avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slabadavski wants to lay and pray for a moment but Balta keeps working.
An elbow from Slabadavski crashes against the mat.
Slabadavski working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
The ground and pound from Slabadavski seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Slabadavski wants to take a breather but Balta manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Slabadavski.
Slabadavski throwing strikes but missing.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Balta lands a jab-cross combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balta misses with a looping left.
Slabadavski lands with an overhand left.

Balta gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Slabadavski wants to pass the guard but Balta is keeping the position.
Slabadavski throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Balta works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Slabadavski in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Slabadavski throws a big right hand that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josefski Slabadavski 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.

Slabadavski shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Slabadavski throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Slabadavski thows a huge punch but Balta dodges it nicely.
Balta tries to get to full guard but Slabadavski has control of the leg.
Slabadavski scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Slabadavski working Balta over with strikes.
Balta preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balta tries to get to full guard but Slabadavski has control of the leg.
Balta is trying to stand.
Balta works his way to full guard. Good work.
Slabadavski loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Slabadavski postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Slabadavski throws a strike but Balta rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Slabadavski trying to control the position here.

That's two 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.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Balta accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Balta trying to stand up but can't free himself from Slabadavski's guard.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slabadavski sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Balta's guard.
Balta is trying to stand.
Balta on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Slabadavski slips a nice elbow through Balta's hands, connecting with Balta's forehead.
Slabadavski thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Slabadavski throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Slabadavski wants to advance to full mount but Balta doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Slabadavski throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slabadavski content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Balta is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Slabadavski pushes down on Balta's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Slabadavski seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Balta is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Slabadavski is keen to just control but Balta is a slippery customer.
Slabadavski looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Balta with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Slabadavski sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Balta defending well though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Slabadavski shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Balta as he avoids it easily.
Balta swings away with a body shot that misses

and Slabadavski decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Balta's guard.
Slabadavski pushes down on Balta's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Slabadavski is pressing down on Balta's thigh, looking to free his foot. Balta is holding on for now.
Balta pushes Slabadavski off looking to stand but Slabadavski dives back in and keeps control.
Balta tries to get to full guard but Slabadavski has control of the leg.
Slabadavski is looking to pass Balta's guard but actually Balta recovers to full guard.
Slabadavski landing with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slabadavski landing some decent shots from guard.
Balta wants to stand but Slabadavski is controlling the position.
Josefski Slabadavski has got the better of the ground game so far.
Slabadavski slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Slabadavski fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Slabadavski lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Balta down.
Balta is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Check out the look on Slabadavski's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Slabadavski working the head with strikes.
Slabadavski scores with punches from side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Slabadavski scores with punches from side control.
Slabadavski landing a few strikes.
Balta dodges the ground and pound from Slabadavski.
Balta tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Slabadavski wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Balta manages to get back to half guard.
Slabadavski slows the pace down in half guard.
Slabadavski throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slabadavski is trying to control. Balta wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Slabadavski throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Slabadavski is looking to advance position but Balta won't allow it.
Slabadavski has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Slabadavski is thwarting Balta's attempts to control the position.
Balta is staying active underneath Slabadavski, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Balta is in trouble now - Slabadavski has advanced to mount!
Slabadavski lands a nice shot to the head.
Balta is bucking up trying to escape but Slabadavski cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balta is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
BOOM! Slabadavski connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Slabadavski dominating with strikes here.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Slabadavski cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Slabadavski cracks Balta with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
A nice elbow there by Slabadavski.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Balta tries to lock up and control but Slabadavski gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Slabadavski lands with some strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Balta wants to control but Slabadavski is having none of it.
Balta is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josefski Slabadavski comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Slabadavski 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 26:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 26:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josefski Slabadavski!