PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Ballinger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Timothy Kershaw (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ballinger comes to the cage accompanied by A Scottish Soldier by Andy Stewart. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Ballinger
vs
Kershaw

191 cm
21
222 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

184 cm
20
212 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Powerful

Terror-Trition: Video Proven 155Q for $49 [†CoE†]

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ryan Ballinger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Timothy Kershaw!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, John Roberts and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kershaw is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ballinger.
Kershaw lands with a straight right. Ballinger didn't see that one coming.
Ballinger throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kershaw.
Ballinger takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Kershaw looks to throw the jab but Ballinger is out of range.
Ballinger misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kershaw avoids a punch combination nicely.

Kershaw lands a left and a right that send Ballinger crashing to the mat, dazed. Kershaw thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Ballinger is rocked!

It looks like Ryan Ballinger has been cut.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kershaw throws a nice looking combination but Ballinger bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ballinger goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Ballinger blocks a jab.
Ballinger lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
A jab from Kershaw misses.
Ballinger misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ballinger throws a right hand that Kershaw ducks under and follows up with a left that Kershaw also avoids with ease.
Kershaw swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ballinger looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Timothy Kershaw seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Ballinger clinches with his opponent.
Ballinger unloads a knee to the mid-section. Kershaw lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Kershaw lands a nice shot to the body.
Kershaw can't find room to land a body shot as Ballinger controls the action.
Kershaw struggles to land a body shot inside as Ballinger controls his hands.
Ballinger unloads a knee to the mid-section. Kershaw lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Kershaw misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kershaw lands a body punch.
Ballinger is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ballinger landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Good body shot from Ballinger.
Ballinger prevents a body shot from Kershaw.
Kershaw tries to work over Ballinger's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kershaw scores with a hook to the body.
Kershaw misses with a punch to the body.
Ballinger has a couple of punches blocked by Kershaw.
Ballinger misses with the head strike.
Kershaw stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Kershaw tries to work over Ballinger's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ballinger prevents a body shot from Kershaw.
Kershaw digs a right hand into Ballinger's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Ballinger's gas tank.
Kershaw lands a body punch.
A left hand lands to the body for Kershaw.
Kershaw can't find room to land a body shot as Ballinger controls the action.
Ballinger tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kershaw avoids it.
Kershaw misses with a body punch.
Ballinger prevents a body shot from Kershaw.
Kershaw misses with a punch to the body.
Ballinger keeps control of Kershaw as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Ballinger blocks a body shot from Kershaw.
Ballinger lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Kershaw or not.
Kershaw tries to throw a body punch but Ballinger avoids it by throwing Kershaw back against the cage.
Kershaw tries a body shot but Ballinger blocks it.
Kershaw lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Kershaw wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Kershaw tries to throw a body punch but Ballinger avoids it by throwing Kershaw back against the cage.
Ballinger lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ballinger with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Ballinger.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kershaw.
Kershaw lands a body punch in the clinch.
Ballinger throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kershaws head.
Kershaw stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Kershaw lands a body punch.
Kershaw misses with a punch to the body.
Kershaw wants to break the clinch but can't.
A frustrated look appears on Kershaw's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Kershaw struggles to land a body shot inside as Ballinger controls his hands.
Kershaw is leaning against Ballinger and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ballinger keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kershaw's efforts to push away.
Kershaw misses with a punch to the body.
Kershaw can't find room to land a body shot as Ballinger controls the action.
Kershaw swings wildly with an uppercut but Ballinger uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kershaw wants to break free but Ballinger has control.
Kershaw tries to throw a body punch but Ballinger avoids it by throwing Kershaw back against the cage.
Ballinger keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kershaw's efforts to push away.
Kershaw misses with the head strike.
Kershaw lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Ballinger backwards.
Kershaw misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kershaw tries to work over Ballinger's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kershaw misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ballinger lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ballinger digs a right hand underneath Kershaw's ribcage. Kershaw let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Ballinger lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Ballinger lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kershaw backwards.
Kershaw can't find room to land a body shot as Ballinger controls the action.
Ballinger lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Ballinger prevents a body shot from Kershaw.
Ballinger lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Ballinger misses with a body punch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ballinger.
Kershaw goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kershaw misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ballinger fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kershaw misses with a hook to the ribs.

Ballinger pulls Kershaw into guard.
Ballinger has a closed guard, preventing Kershaw from standing up.
Kershaw postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Kershaw stands up from Ballinger's guard - Kershaw perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kershaw missing with a left hand there. Ballinger was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ballinger ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Kershaw waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ballinger.
Kershaw lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ballinger circles away quickly and effectively.
Ballinger swinging wildly here.
Kershaw misses the body punch
and Ballinger counters with a one-two to the body.

Ballinger darts in and clinches Kershaw up against the cage.
Ballinger lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Kershaw is looking to control Ballinger's arms but Ballinger gets an underhook and turns him. Now Kershaw has his back to the cage.

Ballinger drags the fight down to the ground.
Ballinger is controlling Kershaw's posture.
Kershaw trying to control but Ballinger is working from the bottom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ballinger has control of Kershaw's left arm, preventing Kershaw from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Timothy Kershaw dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ryan Ballinger's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Ballinger fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kershaw, pushing him back against the cage.
Ballinger lands with a left to the head.
Ballinger lands a body shot.
Ballinger with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kershaw tries to throw a body punch but Ballinger avoids it by throwing Kershaw back against the cage.
Ballinger tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kershaw just stands there and leans against the cage.
Kershaw struggles to land a body shot inside as Ballinger controls his hands.
Ballinger lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Ballinger lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Knees to the body from Ballinger.
Good body shot from Kershaw.
A short body shot lands from Ballinger as the two fighters clinch.
Ballinger lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Kershaw misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kershaw is trying to force a seperation but Ballinger has the dominant position.
Kershaw misses with a punch to the body.
Ballinger digs a right hand into Kershaw's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Kershaw's gas tank.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Ballinger successfully pulls guard.
Kershaw would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ballinger trying to keep a closed guard but Kershaw is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ballinger lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Kershaw!
Ballinger looking to finish with strikes here!
A nice elbow there by Ballinger.
Kershaw is looking to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kershaw in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Ballinger raining down shots from the mount!
Kershaw working to try and regain half guard.
Ballinger thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Kershaw's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ballinger unloads with some shots from mount but Kershaw bucks and avoids them well.

Ballinger jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Kershaw manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Kershaw takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
You can see the frustration on Kershaw's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Ballinger with the ground and pound but Kershaw regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Ballinger has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

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.
Ballinger thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kershaw's head.
Kershaw is trying to stand.
Ballinger not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kershaw can do anything to dispel that myth.
Ballinger missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kershaw on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ballinger trying to mount his opponent but Kershaw defends it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kershaw throws a combination that misses
and Kershaw takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ballinger tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Ballinger dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ryan Ballinger's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Kershaw misses with a double jab
and Ballinger counters with a three punch combo that has Kershaw backing up. Kershaw nods at Ballinger to acknowledge the strikes.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Ballinger displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kershaw throws out the jab.
Ballinger misses with a body kick.
Ballinger slips under a jab.
Ballinger moves out of range of the strikes.
Ballinger lands with a nice body punch.
Ballinger avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ballinger shoots in for a double leg but Kershaw sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
No joy there for Ballinger, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kershaw is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Kershaw misses with a straight right.
Kershaw with a nice cross.

Ballinger rushes Kershaw and presses him up against the cage.
Ballinger lands a left hand.
Ballinger prevents a body shot from Kershaw.
Kershaw tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kershaw tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ballinger's elbow.
Ballinger works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Ballinger with a knee to the head.
Ballinger tries to land a knee to the head but Kershaw blocks with his arms.
Ballinger prevents a body shot from Kershaw.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ballinger looking to throw knees to the head but Kershaw is blocking nicely.
Ryan Ballinger has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Kershaw blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kershaw misses with a punch to the body.
Kershaw struggles to land a body shot inside as Ballinger controls his hands.
Kershaw goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ballinger tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Ballinger blocking some punches.
Ballinger swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kershaw misses with a body punch.
A frustrated look appears on Kershaw's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Good body shot from Ballinger.
Good body shot from Kershaw.
Kershaw working aggressively here.
Ballinger prevents a body shot from Kershaw.
Kershaw misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kershaw has Ballinger pushed against the cage.

Ballinger jumps guard and drags Kershaw to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Kershaw tries to stand but Ballinger is controlling from the bottom.
Kershaw must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kershaw stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ballinger swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kershaw stays in close to Ballinger's body and controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kershaw has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Ballinger is proving hard to escape from.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kershaw is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Kershaw wants to control from the top but Ballinger keeps moving.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kershaw takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Nice shot by Kershaw.
Ballinger ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Kershaw misses.
Ballinger misses with a double jab.
Ballinger moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Ballinger will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kershaw throws a jab but it's blocked by Ballinger.
Timothy Kershaw is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ballinger defending well as Kershaw loads up on a big left hand.
Kershaw throws an overhand right that lands on Ballinger's shoulder, as Ballinger tries to avoid the shot.
Ballinger lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kershaw circles away quickly and effectively.
Timothy Kershaw seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kershaw throws a hook to the side of Ballinger's head but Ballinger sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Ballinger has closed the distance and engaged Kershaw in a clinch.
Ballinger keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kershaw's efforts to push away.
Ballinger is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Ballinger lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Kershaw's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Ballinger cracks Kershaw with a nice body shot.

Ballinger jumps guard and drags Kershaw to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Kershaw wanted to stand there but Ballinger had control of the position.
Ballinger pulls Kershaw in close to prevent any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan Ballinger showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ballinger 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryan Ballinger!