PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ej Balingit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Iiro Tolonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Tolonen's choice of entrance music: Johnny Cash : The Man Comes Around. Iiro Tolonen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Balingit
vs
Tolonen

205 cm
27
294 lbs
21 - 3 - 0

213 cm
30
297 lbs
25 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

:: Happy Pills ::
Gilop®

۞ AFFAKETIΘN ۞
Raw Edge Gear (R.E.G)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the super heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ej Balingit!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Iiro Tolonen!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Anni Minnemäki and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tolonen ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

Tolonen clinches.
Balingit misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Tolonen.
Tolonen lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

It looks like Ej Balingit has been cut.
Tolonen wants to break the clinch but can't.
Balingit tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tolonen's elbow.

Tolonen manages to break the clinch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Balingit. Tolonen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tolonen listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Balingit takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Tolonen takes the fight into the clinch.
Balingit misses with a punch to the body.
Balingit is pressed up against the cage. Tolonen has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Balingit down to the mat. Balingit avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Tolonen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tolonen tries to land a leg kick but Balingit saw it coming and moves away.
Balingit avoids the body shot from Tolonen.
Balingit misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tolonen.
Balingit lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tolonen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Balingit throws out the jab.
Balingit blocks a jab.
Balingit wants to clinch up but Tolonen keeps it at a distance.
An inside leg kick from Tolonen misses.
Tolonen thuds a left hand into Balingit's body.
Balingit takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Tolonen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tolonen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Balingit swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Tolonen moves into the clinch.
Balingit managing to block the knees to the body from Tolonen.
Balingit lands with a right to the head.
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!
Tolonen lands a shoulder strike.
Balingit misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Tolonen tries a body shot but Balingit blocks it.
Balingit swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Balingit stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Tolonen blocks a body shot from Balingit.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balingit tries a body shot but Tolonen blocks it.

Tolonen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Balingit takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Tolonen tests Balingit's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Balingit connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Balingit looks to score with a jab to the body but Tolonen is just out of range.
Tolonen lands with a good body shot.
Tolonen fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Balingit has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Balingit on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Tolonen. Tolonen obviously looking to wear him down.
Donk. Tolonen catches Balingit right on the button with a cross.
Tolonen fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Balingit is looking to wear down Tolonen with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Balingit ducks under a wild hook from Tolonen.
Tolonen scores with a head kick.
Balingit showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Tolonen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balingit lands an overhand right.

Tolonen fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Balingit, pushing him back against the cage.
Tolonen lands a body punch in the clinch.
Balingit is breathing heavily.
Nice body punch from Balingit - that landed with a thud.
Tolonen blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Tolonen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Tolonen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Tolonen obliges.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tolonen landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Tolonen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Tolonen goes for a takedown attempt but Balingit pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Tolonen throws a nice looking combination but Balingit bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ej Balingit is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Balingit throws a shot from downtown. Tolonen moves away and avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balingit steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Tolonen. That one must have hurt.
Tolonen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Balingit scores with a shot to the body.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Tolonen, right into the meat.
Tolonen takes a swing at Balingit's ribcage but misses.
Tolonen cracks the inside of Balingit's front leg.
Tolonen throws a low kick, looking for Balingit's leg but Balingit calmly moves out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Tolonen misses the target.
Balingit takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Tolonen shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Balingit as he avoids it easily.
Ej Balingit has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Iiro Tolonen.
Balingit misses with a hook. Tolonen ducked under it nicely.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Balingit throws a body punch but Tolonen moves out of range.
Tolonen throws a looping overhand right but Balingit ducks down to avoid it.
Iiro Tolonen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tolonen takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Iiro Tolonen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ej Balingit's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A shot to the liver by Balingit. Beautiful body shot.
Balingit looks to throw the jab but Tolonen is out of range.
Balingit fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tolonen manages to avoid it.

Tolonen has Balingit up against the cage in a clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Balingit fails to land.
Tolonen avoiding damage as Balingit throws knees to the body.
Balingit with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A short left from Balingit.
Balingit tries to work over Tolonen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Tolonen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Tolonen.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Tolonen cracks Balingit with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sloppy strikes there by Tolonen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balingit struggling a bit here.
Balingit regains half guard, as Tolonen was trying to land strikes.
Tolonen is looking to take a break and control but Balingit is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Balingit trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balingit is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Tolonen's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Tolonen's back!
Tolonen tries to escape the position.
Tolonen is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balingit avoiding Tolonen 's attempts to control his hands.
Tolonen breaks Balingit's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Tolonen throwing strikes but missing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tolonen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Tolonen trying to control but Balingit is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tolonen throws and elbow that misses. Balingit uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Tolonen's guard. Nice move by Balingit!
Balingit has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Tolonen is pulling down on Balingit's head to control his posture.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Iiro Tolonen has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Tolonen misses the shot to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tolonen. Balingit does a little dance to reset his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Iiro Tolonen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ej Balingit's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Tolonen misses with a kick to the body.
Balingit misses with a body shot.
Nice uppercut lands for Tolonen. That snapped Balingit's head back.
Tolonen misses with a jab, cross combination.
Good shot there by Balingit.
Tolonen has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Tolonen dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Balingit. That did some damage!
Balingit throws a hook but Tolonen avoids it easily.
Tolonen moves out of range as Balingit strikes.
Tolonen lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Tolonen lands a right hook to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tolonen throws the left hand but Balingit avoids the punch easily.
A slow jab from Balingit misses its intended target.
Balingit lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Balingit is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Balingit takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Tolonen moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balingit walks into a straight right hand from Tolonen.
Tolonen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Balingit.
Tolonen lands a head shot.
Tolonen shoots in and drives through. Balingit sprawls well.

Tolonen fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Balingit sprawls well initially but Tolonen persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Tolonen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tolonen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Tolonen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Tolonen is trying to control the action in half guard but Balingit is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Tolonen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tolonen is looking to take a break and control but Balingit is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Tolonen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Tolonen controlling the pace.
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!

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Iiro Tolonen wasn't active enough on the ground.
Tolonen moves into range and connects with a jab.
Tolonen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Balingit moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tolonen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Balingit looks to land a combination but Tolonen avoids it well.
Tolonen slips a jab from Balingit.
Tolonen smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Tolonen misses with a jab, cross combination.
Balingit lands a nice hook to Tolonen's body. Tolonen takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Balingit has Tolonen up against the cage in a clinch.
Balingit prevents the takedown attempt.
Balingit lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Tolonen backwards.
Balingit swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Tolonen tries to land a knee to the head but Balingit blocks with his arms.
Balingit makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Balingit lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Balingit misses with a knee strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balingit tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Balingit landing knees to the head.
Balingit managing to block the knees to the body from Tolonen.
Balingit throws a punch but it's blocked by Tolonen.

Tolonen breaks from the clinch.
Tolonen takes a swing at Balingit's ribcage but misses.

Tolonen closes the distance and pushes Balingit back into the cage.
Balingit swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Tolonen tries to land a knee to the head but Balingit blocks with his arms.
Balingit misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Balingit is working Tolonen over against the cage.
Tolonen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Tolonen breaks the clinch.
Balingit tries to clinch up.
Tolonen takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Tolonen shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Iiro Tolonen just about did enough to take it.
The cut man is working on Ej Balingit'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.

Balingit takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Tolonen looks to score with a jab to the body but Balingit is just out of range.
A punch lands to the side of Balingit 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Balingit misses the body punch
and Tolonen counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Tolonen swings for the body but Balingit moves out of range.
Tolonen throws a low kick, looking for Balingit's leg but Balingit calmly moves out of range.
Tolonen looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Tolonen cracks a nice hook into Balingit's ribs.
Iiro Tolonen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A big left from Tolonen misses.
Balingit swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Tolonen.
Tolonen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Tolonen thumps Balingit with a low kick.
Tolonen drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Balingit scores with a sloppy right hand. Tolonen should have avoided that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balingit misses with a shot to the body

and Tolonen counters with a shoot takedown. Balingit fights it but they end up in guard.
Tolonen trying to control the position from guard on top but Balingit is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Balingit utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Balingit is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Tolonen wants to control from the top but Balingit keeps moving.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Tolonen is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Iiro Tolonen has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Tolonen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Balingit.
Tolonen shoots for a double leg takedown but Balingit sprawls well. He's pushed Tolonen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Balingit checks a low kick from Tolonen.
Balingit misses the jab.
Balingit fails with an attempt to clinch.
Tolonen shoots in but no luck this time.
Balingit blocks a low kick nicely.
Balingit doesn't manage to clinch there - Tolonen circles away.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Balingit throws a body punch but Tolonen moves out of range.
Sloppy strikes from Tolonen. Those never looked like landing.
Balingit takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balingit takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Tolonen plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Tolonen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tolonen scores with a jab to the head.
Tolonen throws a solid leg kick but Balingit takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Tolonen.
Balingit thows a left - swing and a miss!
Nice takedown defense from Balingit. No joy for Tolonen on that attempt.
Ej Balingit has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Iiro Tolonen.
Tolonen is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Balingit connects with a right hand. Tolonen shakes it off.
Balingit uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tolonen.
Tolonen throws a low kick but it's checked well by Balingit.
Tolonen just misses with a punch to the body.
That kick from Tolonen tenderised Balingit's leg. Balingit is trying to keep his angry face on.

Tolonen clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balingit lands a body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Balingit stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Balingit tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Tolonen avoids it.
Tolonen prevents a body shot from Balingit.
Knees in the clinch landing for Balingit.
Ej Balingit has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Balingit tries a body shot but Tolonen blocks it.
Balingit is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Balingit tries to work over Tolonen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Balingit misses with a hook to the ribs.
Balingit misses with a body punch.
Balingit lands an uppercut.
Tolonen blocks an uppercut.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A short right hand to the side of the head by Balingit.
Tolonen throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Balingit blocks it with crossed arms.
Balingit lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Tolonen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Balingit has him pressed against the cage.
Balingit works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ej Balingit had his way with Iiro Tolonen in that round.
The cut man is working on Ej Balingit's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Balingit bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Tolonen's head.
Tolonen staying out of range there.
Tolonen will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Balingit scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Balingit takes a swing at Tolonen's ribcage but misses.
Tolonen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Balingit was well out of range. Poor timing from Tolonen.
Tolonen thows a body shot but no joy.
Tolonen moves out of range as Balingit strikes.
Balingit takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Tolonen throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Balingit's head.
Tolonen is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tolonen pivots, looking for a leg kick but Balingit is out of range and Tolonen settles back down.
Tolonen scores with a crisp jab that stopped Balingit in his tracks.
Balingit cracks Tolonen with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Tolonen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balingit tests Tolonen's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Balingit lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Balingit wants to clinch.
A jab from Tolonen misses.
Tolonen connects with a leg kick. Balingit looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Balingit misses with a straight right.

Balingit moves into the clinch.
Balingit throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Tolonen blocks it with crossed arms.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Balingit creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Ej Balingit has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tolonen lands a left hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tolonen lands with a short shot to the head.
Tolonen tries for a takedown but Balingit manages to get underhooks.
Ej Balingit has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Iiro Tolonen.
Tolonen managing to block the knees to the body from Balingit.
Tolonen changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Balingit fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Balingit clinches with his opponent.
Balingit prevents the takedown attempt.
Balingit misses with some punches.
Tolonen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Balingit landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Balingit misses with a short punch on the inside.
Balingit is working Tolonen over against the cage.
Tolonen managing to block the knees to the body from Balingit.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Balingit.
Tolonen blocks a body shot from Balingit.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A right handed body shot lands from Balingit.
Balingit scores with a nice hook to the head.
Balingit pushes Tolonen back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Iiro Tolonen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Tolonen changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Balingit fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Balingit smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Balingit clinches.
Tolonen misses with a knee strike.
Balingit tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Tolonen tries to land a knee to the head but Balingit blocks with his arms.
Tolonen blocks a body shot from Balingit.
Nice body punch from Balingit - that landed with a thud.
Knees in the clinch landing for Tolonen.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Balingit tries a body shot but Tolonen blocks it.
Balingit presses Tolonen against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Balingit - that landed with a thud.
Balingit lands with a short shot to the head.
Balingit throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Tolonen blocks it with crossed arms.
Tolonen tries to circle away but Balingit has him pinned against the cage.
Tolonen takes a shot to the head.
Balingit tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Balingit working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Tolonen tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Balingit's elbow.
Tolonen prevents a body shot from Balingit.
Balingit with a knee to the head.
Tolonen takes a knee to the side of the body.
Balingit lands a body punch in the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Balingit misses with a knee to the head.
Tolonen lands a shoulder strike.
Balingit throws a punch but it's blocked by Tolonen.
Balingit lands with a short punch from the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ej Balingit showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Tolonen has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 47:48
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 47:48
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Iiro Tolonen!
Iiro Tolonen is the new super heavyweight champion!
A victorious Iiro Tolonen thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.