PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between al gore (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Valerii Balanko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Valerii Balanko has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with al gore's chin.

gore
vs
Balanko

196 cm
25
260 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
19
215 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, al gore!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Valerii Balanko!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, John Roberts and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balanko shoots for a takedown but gore saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Balanko misses with a low kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from gore. Balanko does a little dance to reset his feet.

gore has Balanko up against the cage in a clinch.

gore breaks the clinch.

Balanko gets a takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
gore pushes Balanko off looking to stand but Balanko dives back in and keeps control.
Balanko looks to land a strike but gore avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Balanko trying to stand up but can't free himself from gore's guard.
gore is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Still in half guard, gore seems content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
gore seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Balanko for as long as he can get away with.
gore trying to mount his opponent but Balanko defends it.
Balanko wants to improve his position but gore is controlling well.
Balanko trying to control but gore postures up.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up because al gore just wasn't active enough.

gore darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Balanko is trying to defend against the ground and pound but gore scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balanko has a hand on gore's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. gore takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
gore is landing with some decent strikes but Balanko is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
gore looking to control and managing it successfully.

gore is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Balanko looks gassed!
gore tries to clinch there but Balanko circles away.
gore shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
gore misses the shot to the body.
gore circles away from the clinch attempt

and gore decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Balanko's guard.
gore controls from within his opponent's guard.
Balanko tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Balanko is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

gore has gone for a leg lock! Balanko slips out almost immediately though and dives into gore's guard.
gore 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Balanko got a little sloppy there for a moment and gore has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Balanko has managed to get both his arms back between gore's legs - danger averted.
gore has a closed guard, preventing Balanko from standing up.
gore is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
gore is taking a breather. Balanko 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

al gore 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.

Balanko has his takedown stuffed

and gore counters by moving into the clinch.

gore escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
No luck with that takedown attempt from gore.
Balanko swats away the attempt to clinch by gore.

gore decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
gore controlling the pace.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. gore connects with a nice short shot to Balanko's temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with gore in particular looking to stall.
gore trying to control the action but Balanko is working from the bottom.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
gore is controlling the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of al gore.
Balanko throws a leg kick that is checked

and gore counters with a single leg into guard. Balanko didn't expect that.
gore pushing down on Balanko's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
gore sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
gore will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Balanko wants to get back to his feet.
gore thows a huge punch but Balanko dodges it nicely.
gore not doing much here.
Balanko really doesn't want to stay on the ground with gore. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because al gore just wasn't active enough.

gore has Balanko up against the cage in a clinch.

gore gets a trip takedown into half guard.
gore prevents Balanko from improving his position.

Balanko is trying to control gore's posture. gore takes advantage of the lull and advances to side control. He also appears to have an arm triangle here! Uh oh, big trouble for Balanko! gore is rotating here... this could be the end... Balanko is out! gore has ended this one emphatically! Great submission!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). al gore!