PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alex O Brien (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack LeBalls (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). O Brien's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Superjoint Ritual - Dress Like a Target. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

O Brien
vs
LeBalls

192 cm
25
287 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

201 cm
27
252 lbs
13 - 10 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Balco Boys - Hilo
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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Alex O Brien!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jack LeBalls!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Leandro Rodrigues and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
LeBalls keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
O Brien slips under a jab.
LeBalls moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
LeBalls will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
LeBalls fails with an attempt to clinch.
O Brien shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as LeBalls sprawls well. LeBalls wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. O Brien gets slowly back to his feet.
LeBalls misses with a double jab.

LeBalls closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's one minute gone in the round.

LeBalls is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, O Brien has escaped the position, nice work there.
O Brien tries to get back to half guard but can't.
LeBalls controlling the position.
LeBalls advances to full mount.

LeBalls working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
LeBalls tries to control but O Brien wriggling away.
O Brien is trying desperately to improve position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
LeBalls lands a heavy elbow.
LeBalls trying to control but O Brien is having none of it.
O Brien can't escape the position.
LeBalls scores with a couple of good head shots there.
LeBalls unloading with bombs!
LeBalls can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as O Brien is looking to escape.

LeBalls has control of O Brien's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and O Brien regains control of the situation pretty easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
LeBalls looking to control and managing it successfully.
LeBalls dominating with strikes here.
O Brien tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
LeBalls looking to control but O Brien is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
O Brien is trying to escape the mount.
LeBalls wants to control the pace but O Brien is squirming around nicely.
LeBalls landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
LeBalls lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
LeBalls controlling from mount.
LeBalls lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
LeBalls putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
LeBalls wants to control the pace but O Brien is squirming around nicely.
LeBalls is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
O Brien working to try and regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack LeBalls dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

O Brien tries for a takedown but LeBalls circles away easily

and LeBalls decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in O Brien's guard.
LeBalls chips away with some ground and pound.
LeBalls controls from within his opponent's guard.
Jack LeBalls has got the better of the ground game so far.
O Brien keeping moving, preventing LeBalls from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Jack LeBalls.
LeBalls swinging wildly here.
LeBalls scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
LeBalls shoots and misses

and O Brien counters with a single leg into guard. LeBalls didn't expect that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
LeBalls controlling O Brien's posture.
O Brien trying to control but LeBalls is working from the bottom.

O Brien postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! LeBalls is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of O Brien, into his guard.
LeBalls trying to control but O Brien is working from the bottom.
LeBalls pushing down on O Brien's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
LeBalls controlling the action here.

LeBalls 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
LeBalls passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for O Brien!
O Brien working to try and regain half guard.
LeBalls lands a big elbow.
LeBalls working O Brien over with strikes here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, LeBalls cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
LeBalls looking to control and managing it successfully.
LeBalls landing shots from mount.
O Brien really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
LeBalls content just to control the position here.
O Brien is working to get back to half guard.
LeBalls looking to control but O Brien is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
O Brien is looking to improve his position but LeBalls isn't that keen on the idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
LeBalls looking to control but O Brien is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
O Brien is looking to get to half guard.
LeBalls controlling the pace for now.
LeBalls trying to control but O Brien is having none of it.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, LeBalls cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, LeBalls cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
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 fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

LeBalls tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
No joy there for LeBalls, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
LeBalls looks to score with a jab to the body but O Brien is just out of range.
LeBalls fails with an attempt to clinch.
LeBalls bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
LeBalls misses with a straight right.
A nice leg kick lands there from LeBalls.
O Brien slips a jab from LeBalls.
O Brien blocks a jab.
LeBalls throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

so O Brien counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Brien won't allow LeBalls to sweep him here.
O Brien is fighting to break LeBalls's control of his arms but LeBalls is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
LeBalls not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
LeBalls has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
LeBalls is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
LeBalls working a defensive guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Jack LeBalls.
LeBalls throws a body punch but O Brien moves out of range.

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.
O Brien gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and LeBalls counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Alex O Brien is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
LeBalls fails to land with a series of punches.
LeBalls misses with a body shot.
O Brien has his takedown stuffed

and LeBalls counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
O Brien wants to get back to full guard.
LeBalls frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
LeBalls working the ground and pound effectively.
O Brien is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
O Brien is squirming around, avoiding LeBalls's attempts to control the action.
LeBalls looking to control and managing it successfully.
LeBalls landing shots from mount.
LeBalls raining down shots from the mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
O Brien gets back to half guard.
Jack LeBalls is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
LeBalls is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. LeBalls lands a nice short elbow.
LeBalls looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks O Brien with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
LeBalls with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
LeBalls trying to control from half guard but O Brien is working away.
Alex O Brien has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
LeBalls is taking a breather. O Brien says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Jack LeBalls.
O Brien tries for a takedown but LeBalls circles away easily
and LeBalls cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 26:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 26:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 26:30

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