PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Elijah Ballard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gary Grice (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gary Grice has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Ballard
vs
Grice

174 cm
19
158 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

172 cm
19
150 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Elijah Ballard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Gary Grice!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Anni Minnemäki and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big left from Ballard misses.
Grice swings for the body but Ballard moves out of range.
Ballard connects with an inside leg kick.
Grice throws an overhand right that lands on Ballard's shoulder, as Ballard tries to avoid the shot.
Grice ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Ballard throws out a loose jab but Grice uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ballard connects with a body shot.
Elijah Ballard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ballard misses with a body kick.
Ballard misses with a body shot.
A swing and a miss from Ballard.
Grice with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Ballard swings away with a body shot that misses
and Grice counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Ballard throws a hook to the side of Grice's head but Grice sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ballard throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Grice swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Grice throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ballard misses with a straight left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ballard throws an overhand right that lands on Grice's shoulder, as Grice tries to avoid the shot.
Ballard getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Grice looks to throw the jab but Ballard is out of range.
Grice ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ballard moves away.
Grice is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Ballard rather than just go for the knockout.
Ballard lands a head shot.
Ballard steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Grice.
Ballard throws a lazy body kick
and Grice counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Grice throws an overhand right that lands on Ballard's shoulder, as Ballard tries to avoid the shot.
Grice jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Grice connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Ballard momentarily.
Grice takes one on the button.
Ballard displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Grice throws out the jab.
Ballard tries to bum rush Grice with a series of wild strikes but Grice uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
The fighters circling - Grice throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ballard cracks Grice with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Ballard just misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Ballard.
Grice lands a jab to the nose.
Ballard slips a jab from Grice.
Ballard throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Ballard ducks under a wild hook from Grice.
Grice waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ballard.
Grice avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Grice scores with a crisp jab that stopped Ballard in his tracks.
Ballard throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Grice sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ballard looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Nice shot by Grice.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ballard. Grice does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ballard connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Grice's hands.
Grice moves out of range of the body kick.
Grice chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Ballard can pounce on him.
Ballard throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grice ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

Grice feints and as Ballard raises his hands in defense, Grice changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Grice distracts Ballard with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Grice trying to control the position from guard on top but Ballard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Grice sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Grice working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ballard wants to sweep here but Grice controlling him for the moment.
Grice 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.
Grice is looking to work some ground and pound but Ballard has wrist control.
Grice looking to pass the guard.
Ballard wants to stand up but Grice is controlling him.
Ballard is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Grice stands up over Ballard, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grice trying to control the position from guard on top but Ballard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Grice might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Ballard kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

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

Grice looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Ballard passes into half guard.
Ballard controlling the action here.
Grice has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ballard is working away from the top position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elijah Ballard dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ballard misses the body punch
and Grice counters with a nice uppercut.
Ballard throws out a loose jab but Grice uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ballard catches Grice with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Grice keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ballard attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Ballard misses with a kick to the body.
Grice sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Grice missing with a left hand there. Ballard was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Grice swings for the body but Ballard moves out of range.
Grice keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ballard.
Grice tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ballard was well out of range. Poor timing from Grice.
Ballard misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Grice.
Ballard throws a lazy right hand but Grice sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Grice throws a predictable looking body shot
and Ballard counters with a nice leg kick.
Ballard thows a body shot but no joy.
Ballard swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Grice counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ballard moves forwards but Grice connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Ballard takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Grice throws a big shot that misses.
Grice gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Grice blocks a head kick by Ballard.
Ballard walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Grice checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Grice tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ballard was well out of range. Poor timing from Grice.
Ballard throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Grice stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Grice bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Ballard's head.
Ballard staying out of range there.
Ballard misses the shot to the body.
Grice fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
A big right from Ballard misses.
Grice closes the distance and clinches up with Ballard, looking for a takedown. Grice pushes Ballard against the cage but Ballard circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the body from Grice misses
and Ballard counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Grice misses with a looping left.
Grice looks to score with a jab to the body but Ballard is just out of range.
Grice checks a leg kick.
Ballard throws a sloppy head kick and Grice moves out of range easily.
Grice defending well as Ballard loads up on a big left hand.
Grice fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ballard looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Grice misses the shot to the body.
Ballard ducks under a wild hook from Grice.
Grice scores with a hook to the body. Ballard takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Elijah Ballard is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ballard keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Grice.
Grice changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grice throws a hook but Ballard avoids it easily.
Grice throws a hook but Ballard blocks it.
Ballard defending well as Grice loads up on a big left hand.
Ballard looks to land a left hand but Grice moved out of range nicely.
Ballard throws out a loose jab but Grice uses good head movement to avoid it.
Grice throws a shot from downtown. Ballard moves away and avoids it.
Grice misses with a straight right.
Ballard dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Grice. That did some damage!
Ballard throws a leg kick which misses Grice's front leg but catches the back leg as Grice tries to avoid it.
Grice waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ballard.
Grice checks a leg kick nicely.
Ballard misses with a two punch combination.
Ballard throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ballard shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Ballard pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's four 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.
Grice throws a body punch but Ballard moves out of range.
Ballard goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A swing and a miss from Ballard.
Ballard thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ballard misses the shot to the body.
Ballard misses with a body punch
and Grice counters with a right hand to the body.
Ballard takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Grice swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Grice connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Ballard throws a looping overhand right but Grice ducks down to avoid it.
Grice throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Ballard on the side of the head.
Ballard fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Grice has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Ballard misses with a low kick.
Ballard misses with a straight left.
Grice punishes Ballard's body with a nice straight punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elijah Ballard dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Ballard on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Ballard will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Grice throws a jab but it's blocked by Ballard.
Ballard misses with a body shot
and Grice counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Ballard thinking.
Ballard tries to score with a low kick but Grice moves his leg out of the way.
Grice moves away from the strike by Ballard.
An inside leg kick lands from Ballard.
Grice uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ballard.
Grice misses the shot to the body.
Ballard throws out a loose jab but Grice uses good head movement to avoid it.
Grice misses with a body shot
and Ballard cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Grice swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ballard lands the left hand.
Ballard avoids the body shot from Grice.
Ballard misses with a body kick.
Jab from Ballard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ballard misses with a body punch
and Grice counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ballard pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Elijah Ballard is winning the standup battle so far.
Ballard lands a body shot.
Ballard moves away from the strike by Grice.
Ballard lands a jab to the nose.
Ballard lands a jab.
Grice keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Grice tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ballard was well out of range. Poor timing from Grice.
Ballard throws a body punch but Grice moves out of range.
Grice throws a body punch but Ballard moves out of range.
Grice throws the left hand but Ballard avoids the punch easily.
Ballard misses with a jab to the body
and Grice counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Grice throws a lazy right hand but Ballard sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Grice with a nice cross.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grice throws out a loose jab but Ballard uses good head movement to avoid it.
Grice lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Grice uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ballard.
Ballard pushes Grice away with a front kick.
Ballard looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Grice shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Ballard is trying to defend but Grice finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Grice looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Grice seems to be working for a kimura but Ballard defends the submission attempt.
Grice sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ballard defending well though.
Ballard is trying to control but can't.
Ballard knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Grice on the ground.
Ballard is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Grice wants to take a breather but Ballard is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grice throwing shots but Ballard is blocking nicely.
Grice thows a huge punch but Ballard dodges it nicely.
Grice looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Ballard wants to control but Grice is keeping busy.
Ballard keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Grice trying to control from half guard but Ballard is working away.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ballard misses with an uppercut.
Ballard ducks under a wild hook from Grice.
Grice takes a swing at Ballard's ribcage but misses.
Ballard fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A jab from Grice misses.
Ballard throws a shot from downtown. Grice moves away and avoids it.
Ballard walks into a left hand.

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.
Grice misses with a body shot.
Nice jab there from Grice.
Grice throws a sloppy body shot
and Ballard counters with a big head kick but Grice shrugs it off.
Grice misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ballard.
Ballard misses with an uppercut. Grice saw that one coming.
Grice misses the jab.
The fighters circling - Grice throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Grice checks a low kick from Ballard.
Ballard throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Grice stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Ballard ducks under a wild hook from Grice.
Grice slips under a jab from Ballard.
Grice with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Nice cross by Grice.
Gary Grice has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ballard uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Grice.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Gary Grice.
I think Ballard 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Elijah Ballard!