PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matt Balls (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Caleb Wiggins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Balls
vs
Wiggins

199 cm
23
240 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

195 cm
20
240 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Matt Balls!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Caleb Wiggins!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Johanna Lukiainen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Balls clinches up with Wiggins and pushes him back against the cage.
Wiggins tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Balls smiles and moves away.
Balls slaps away a takedown attempt from Wiggins, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Balls darts in and clinches Wiggins up against the cage.
Wiggins looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Wiggins tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Matt Balls has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Caleb Wiggins.
Balls tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Wiggins's elbow.
Balls is trying to force a seperation but Wiggins has the dominant position.

Wiggins breaks the clinch.

Wiggins moves into range and clinches up with Balls.
Wiggins tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Balls just stands there and leans against the cage.
Wiggins just leaning against Balls, taking a breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wiggins tries to land a knee to the head but Balls blocks with his arms.
Wiggins stalls.
Balls tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Wiggins avoids it.
A right hand to the body from Balls.
Wiggins is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Balls pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Wiggins can't get the takedown.
Wiggins wants to break the clinch but can't.
Wiggins tries to break the clinch but Balls is controlling the position.
Balls is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Balls landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Wiggins looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wiggins managing to block the knees to the body from Balls.

Wiggins breaks the clinch.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Wiggins crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Balls - the referee stops the clock and Wiggins gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Balls. Wiggins manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.

Balls has taken the fight to the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Balls scores a nice knee to the body.
Wiggins blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Balls misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Balls prevents the takedown attempt.

Balls breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Balls fails with the takedown.
Wiggins has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Balls.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wiggins fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Balls defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Wiggins.

Balls has Wiggins up against the cage in a clinch.
Balls lands a nice knee to the body.
Wiggins is trying to break the clinch but Balls is controlling him.
Balls trying to land knees to the body.
Balls lands a knee to the body.

Balls escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Balls.

Balls darts in and clinches Wiggins up against the cage.
Balls lands with a light punch inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balls unloads a knee to the mid-section. Wiggins lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Balls crunches a lovely knee into Wiggins's ribcage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Balls is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Wiggins takes a knee to the side of the body.
Balls landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Balls scores a nice knee to the body.
Wiggins goes for a takedown attempt but Balls pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Balls takes the fight into the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Balls utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Balls dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A decent looking body kick lands there for Balls.

Balls gets a clinch.
Matt Balls has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Balls missing with knees to the body.
Wiggins tries to score a body lock takedown but Balls shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Balls avoids the elbow strike from Wiggins, against the cage.
Balls stalling the fight.
Balls keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Wiggins's efforts to push away.
Wiggins is looking to break free of the clinch but Balls has double underhooks.
Balls utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Wiggins jumps guard but Balls stands there with Wiggins around his waist. Wiggins gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balls scores with a hook to the body.
Wiggins is breathing heavily.
Balls tries to land knees in the clinch but Wiggins avoids the damage to the body.
Wiggins has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Balls after a bit of a struggle.
Matt Balls has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Caleb Wiggins.
Balls trying to land knees to the body.
Wiggins managing to block the knees to the body from Balls.
Balls landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Balls scores a nice knee to the body.
Wiggins takes a knee to the side of the body.
Balls controlling the action here for a moment.
Balls lands a knee to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balls tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Wiggins blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Wiggins is trying to break free.

Balls escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Balls has Wiggins up against the cage in a clinch.
Balls is looking for a takedown.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Wiggins is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Balls to keep the fight standing.
Balls is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Wiggins looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wiggins tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Balls just stands there and leans against the cage.
Wiggins blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Wiggins tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Balls lands a body punch.
Balls working Wiggins over with knees to the body.
Balls utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Balls has had enough of the clinch but Wiggins keeps him there for the moment.
Balls trying to stall but Wiggins improves his position.

Balls breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balls keeps Wiggins at a distance using the push kick.

Balls drives through and clinches with Wiggins against the cage.

Balls gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Balls trying to control the position from guard on top but Wiggins is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Balls controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Balls has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

We're going to have a standup here because Matt Balls wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Balls rushes Wiggins and presses him up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Balls dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Balls closes the distance and clinches.
Wiggins tries to circle away but Balls has him pinned against the cage.
Wiggins tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Balls just stands there and leans against the cage.
Wiggins wants a takedown but no success here.
Balls with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Wiggins is looking for a takedown.
Matt Balls has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Caleb Wiggins.
Balls lands an elbow inside that Wiggins shrugs off.

It looks like Caleb Wiggins has been cut.

Wiggins is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Balls can't fight it off and eventually Wiggins manages to take the fight to the floor. Balls looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Balls wants to get back to his feet but Wiggins is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Wiggins takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wiggins stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Balls swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Wiggins trying to control the position from guard on top but Balls is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Balls knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Wiggins on the ground.
Wiggins prevents Balls from getting back to his feet.

Wiggins stands up and waves to Balls to follow him.

Balls fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Wiggins, pushing him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wiggins tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Wiggins takes a knee to the side of the body.
Wiggins managing to block the knees to the body from Balls.
Balls jumps guard but Wiggins turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Wiggins takes a knee to the side of the body.
Wiggins on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Balls pulls guard successfully.
Wiggins missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Wiggins accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wiggins stops Balls from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balls keeping moving, preventing Wiggins from controlling successfully.
Balls is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Wiggins can do to turn this around?
Balls is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Wiggins is controlling him.
Wiggins would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Wiggins drops back, looking for a kneebar! Balls looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Balls looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Balls!
The referee asks Balls politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Balls prefers to stall for the moment though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wiggins is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Balls trying to control the position but Wiggins is working away.

Balls stands up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Balls.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Balls takes the fight into the clinch.
Caleb Wiggins has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Matt Balls is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Balls blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Matt Balls.
Well Balls 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Balls!