PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Said Balsara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joshua Bryant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Balsara
vs
Bryant

184 cm
25
254 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
20
235 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Determined

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 Sydney, Said Balsara!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Joshua Bryant!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Hugh Johnson and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Balsara closes the distance and clinches.
Balsara could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Balsara just leaning against Bryant, taking a breather.

Balsara manages to pull guard.
Balsara is pulling down on Bryant's head. It's preventing any offense from Bryant, at least for the moment.
Balsara's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

Bryant drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Balsara manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Bryant has Balsara in his guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bryant trying to control the position.
Bryant wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balsara looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Bryant keeping full guard, as Balsara tries to pass.

Bryant looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Balsara passes into half guard.

Balsara decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Bryant shoots in for a takedown but Balsara shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A big left from Balsara misses.
Balsara is looking to clinch but Bryant is avoiding it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Balsara shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Balsara not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Balsara prevents Bryant from improving his position.
Balsara performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Balsara trying to mount his opponent but Bryant defends it.
Balsara not doing much here.
Bryant wants to improve his position but Balsara is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bryant is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Balsara pulls his head out easily.

Bryant looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Balsara decides to stand and escape the position.
Bryant tries for a takedown but Balsara circles away easily

and Balsara counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Bryant's guard now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balsara passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Balsara remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Bryant wants to control but Balsara postures up.
Balsara controls the position.
Bryant prevents Balsara from moving into mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bryant gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Balsara sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Said Balsara dominated that round.
That's time! Balsara's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Balsara drives through and clinches with Bryant against the cage.
Bryant drops down looking for an ankle pick but Balsara pulls his leg out and moves away.
Balsara tries for a takedown but Bryant circles away easily

and Bryant counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Bryant has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Balsara holds on for dear life.

Bryant jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Balsara is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Balsara and Bryant has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Balsara is trying to control Bryant's posture but Bryant avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bryant working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Bryant wants to control but Balsara is keeping him busy.
Bryant might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Balsara kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Balsara regains half guard, as Bryant was trying to land strikes.
Balsara is refusing to be controlled, as Bryant sits in half guard.

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.
Balsara striking from the bottom.
Balsara makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Balsara.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Balsara holds on and takes a little breather.
Balsara is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Bryant trying to control the position from guard on top but Balsara is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Balsara controlling Bryant's posture.
Balsara keeping moving, preventing Bryant from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bryant slips nicely into half guard.
Balsara moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Balsara is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Balsara is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Balsara not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Bryant drops back, looking for a kneebar! Balsara looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Balsara looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Balsara!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bryant being controlled for a moment.
Balsara working away.
Bryant manages to get back to half guard.
Balsara content to control rather than advance.
Bryant wants to improve his position but Balsara is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Joshua Bryant will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

A nice leg kick lands there from Balsara.
Bryant takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Bryant.
Balsara is looking for a sweep.
Balsara is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Bryant's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Balsara wants to improve his position but Bryant is controlling well.
Bryant thows a huge punch but Balsara dodges it nicely.
Bryant wants to pass to mount but Balsara is defending the position.
Bryant is thwarting Balsara's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bryant is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Balsara has managed to free his arm - good work.
Bryant wants to control but Balsara is keeping him busy.
Balsara is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Bryant is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Bryant takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bryant stops Balsara from getting back to his feet.
Balsara wants to get back to full guard.

Bryant is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Balsara defends it well.
Bryant seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Balsara does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two 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.
Balsara works his way to full guard. Good work.
Bryant wants to control from the top but Balsara keeps moving.
Balsara looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bryant looking to pass the guard.
Said Balsara overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bryant is fighting to break Balsara's control of his arms but Balsara is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Balsara wants to sweep but no luck.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Bryant throws a strike but Balsara rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Balsara gets to his feet - Bryant follows without any prompting.

Balsara takes the fight into the clinch.
Balsara lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Balsara's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Bryant scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Bryant swings around for an armbar but Balsara sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Bryant's guard.
Balsara passes Bryant's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Balsara seems to be working for a kimura but Bryant defends the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balsara performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Bryant is trying to control but can't.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Balsara controlling the action here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Said Balsara showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Balsara has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 29:27
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 29:27
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Said Balsara!