PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rocky Balboa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Connor MacLeod (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rocky Balboa could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Connor MacLeod's chin.

Balboa
vs
MacLeod

185 cm
25
215 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

185 cm
25
214 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Heavy handed

Adrenaline

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rocky Balboa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Connor MacLeod!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Anni Minnemäki and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
MacLeod on the wrong end of a nice hook.
MacLeod takes a swing at Balboa's ribcage but misses.
Balboa scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Balboa swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by MacLeod.
Balboa lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
MacLeod moves out of range of the strikes.

MacLeod fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Balboa, pushing him back against the cage.
MacLeod working hard to break the clinch.

Balboa breaks the clinch.
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!
MacLeod steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Balboa.
Balboa throws a sloppy body shot
and MacLeod counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rocky Balboa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
MacLeod tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A big left from Balboa misses.
The fighters circling - Balboa throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
MacLeod slips a straight right by Balboa.
MacLeod uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Balboa.
Balboa swats away the attempt to clinch by MacLeod.
Balboa connects with a looping right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacLeod throws a nice inside leg kick.
Balboa misses with a body shot.
MacLeod looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
MacLeod defending well as Balboa loads up on a big left hand.
Balboa scores with a three punch combo!
MacLeod misses with a double jab.
Balboa misses with the combination.
Balboa throws a nice looking combination but MacLeod bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Balboa pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Balboa throws a body punch but MacLeod moves out of range.
MacLeod throws a body punch but Balboa moves out of range.
Balboa wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Balboa getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
MacLeod avoids a punch combination nicely.
Balboa scores with a nice strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A swing and a miss from Balboa.
Balboa lands a jab to the head.
MacLeod tries a head kick but it misses.
Balboa swings for the body but MacLeod moves out of range.
Balboa swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Balboa lands a head shot.
MacLeod tests Balboa's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Balboa takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
MacLeod throws a solid leg kick but Balboa takes the impact on his shin and smiles at MacLeod.
MacLeod looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
An inside leg kick lands from MacLeod.
Balboa misses with a hook to the body
and MacLeod counters with a nice uppercut.

MacLeod closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
MacLeod works on Balboa's body with a couple of short punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balboa lands with a short head shot on the inside.

MacLeod breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
MacLeod moves out of range as Balboa strikes.
Balboa throws a good cross that connects.
Balboa will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Balboa throws an ugly left hook that misses
and MacLeod counters with a two punch combo.
MacLeod slips under a jab.
Balboa is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Balboa pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
MacLeod ducks under a wild hook from Balboa.
MacLeod tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Balboa jabbing away but nothing is landing.
MacLeod scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Balboa. MacLeod does a little dance to reset his feet.
Balboa misses with a straight left.
Balboa lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Balboa throws a nice looking combination but MacLeod bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balboa works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Balboa throws a lazy right hand but MacLeod sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Balboa looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A jab from Balboa does it's job there.
MacLeod rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Balboa moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Balboa lands a jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - MacLeod looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
MacLeod ducks under a wild hook from Balboa.
Sloppy strikes from Balboa. Those never looked like landing.
Balboa is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
MacLeod throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Balboa sees it coming and avoids it easily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Balboa looks to land a combination but MacLeod avoids it well.
Balboa connects with a right hand. MacLeod shakes it off.
MacLeod slips a jab and a cross from Balboa.
Balboa misses with a few strikes there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rocky Balboa dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

MacLeod moves out of range as Balboa strikes.
MacLeod slips under a jab from Balboa.
MacLeod scores with a hook to the body. Balboa takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Balboa keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
MacLeod tries to work over Balboa's front leg with a kick but Balboa checks it.
Balboa looks to throw the jab but MacLeod is out of range.
Balboa throws a jab when MacLeod was well out of range.

MacLeod rushes Balboa and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Balboa lands a hook that snaps the head of MacLeod backwards.

MacLeod breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
MacLeod wants to clinch up but Balboa keeps it at a distance.
Balboa throws a jab but it's blocked by MacLeod.
Balboa throws a hook but MacLeod blocks it.
Balboa misses with a two punch combination.
MacLeod drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
MacLeod avoids a punch combination nicely.
MacLeod throws a hook but Balboa avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A decent looking cross lands there for MacLeod.
MacLeod throws out a loose jab but Balboa uses good head movement to avoid it.
MacLeod staying out of range there.
Balboa swings widly with a right hand
and MacLeod counters with a nice low kick that buckles Balboa's knee momentarily.
MacLeod scores with a punch to the head.
Balboa misses with a series of wild punches.
Balboa misses with an uppercut. MacLeod saw that one coming.
Balboa misses with a hook
and MacLeod counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Balboa moves out of range as MacLeod strikes.
Balboa feints a jab promting MacLeod to slip. Balboa then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. MacLeod slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
MacLeod scores with a head kick.
Rocky Balboa is winning the standup battle so far.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Balboa throws a body punch but MacLeod moves out of range.
Balboa takes one to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balboa throws an overhand right that lands on MacLeod's shoulder, as MacLeod tries to avoid the shot.
A slapping leg kick lands for MacLeod.
Balboa throws a jab when MacLeod was well out of range.
Balboa throws a shot to the body.
A big right from Balboa misses.
Balboa throws a big shot that misses.
MacLeod misses the jab.
Balboa punishes MacLeod's body with a nice straight punch.
Balboa scores with a hook.
MacLeod steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Balboa.
Balboa throws a hook but MacLeod avoids it easily.
Balboa lands a really nice looking cross but MacLeod seems unphased.
MacLeod scores with a jab.
Balboa swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
MacLeod defending well as Balboa loads up on a big left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
MacLeod defending well as Balboa loads up on a big left hand.
Balboa misses with a right hand
and MacLeod counters with a big head kick but Balboa shrugs it off.
Balboa waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract MacLeod.
Balboa on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by MacLeod. MacLeod obviously looking to wear him down.
Balboa throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Balboa takes a shot to the body in his stride.
MacLeod slips a jab and a cross from Balboa.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nice defenses there by MacLeod.
MacLeod has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
MacLeod misses with a double jab.
Balboa misses with a right hand
and MacLeod counters with a straight right hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
MacLeod is looking to clinch.
Balboa is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by MacLeod.
Balboa gets cracked with a nice right hand there by MacLeod.
MacLeod tried to score with a low kick but Balboa checks it.
Balboa throws a lazy right hand but MacLeod sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Balboa slips under a jab from MacLeod.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balboa lands with a cross.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from MacLeod in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
MacLeod fails to land with a series of punches.
Balboa dips to his left and cracks MacLeod with an uppercut!
MacLeod just misses with a punch to the body.
Balboa moves into range and connects with a jab.
Balboa cracks MacLeod with a good jab.
A swing and a miss from Balboa.
MacLeod throws a series of strikes that have Balboa backpedaling.
A left and a right from MacLeod both land. Nice combination.
The crowd cheers as MacLeod lands an impressive looking overhand right. Balboa doesn't seem phased though.
Balboa misses with a straight right.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Balboa ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
MacLeod throws a body punch but Balboa moves out of range.
MacLeod avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Connor MacLeod showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

MacLeod bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from MacLeod, right into the meat.
MacLeod thumps Balboa with a low kick.
MacLeod throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nice cross by Balboa.
MacLeod tries to clinch there but Balboa circles away.
A big left from Balboa misses.
Balboa throws a lazy uppercut
and MacLeod makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Balboa is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Balboa throws a shot from downtown. MacLeod moves away and avoids it.
MacLeod avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
MacLeod moves out of range as Balboa strikes.
MacLeod bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A clash of legs there as Balboa blocks the low kick.
MacLeod wants to clinch
letting Balboa counter with a right hand.
MacLeod cracks Balboa with a right hand to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacLeod slips a jab from Balboa.
Balboa dips to his left and cracks MacLeod with an uppercut!
MacLeod throws a low kick but it's checked well by Balboa.
Balboa connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed MacLeod momentarily.
Balboa misses with an uppercut. MacLeod saw that one coming.
MacLeod takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

MacLeod rushes Balboa and presses him up against the cage.
Balboa lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of MacLeod backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Balboa.
A short right from Balboa on the inside.
MacLeod tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Balboa's elbow.

MacLeod breaks the clinch.
Balboa loads up on a big right hand but MacLeod slips the punch.
MacLeod uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Balboa.
MacLeod connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
MacLeod lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
MacLeod looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
MacLeod staying out of range there.
Balboa lands a jab to the nose.
MacLeod throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Balboa lands a nice hook to MacLeod's body. MacLeod takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Balboa throws a right and a left that both miss.
MacLeod loads up on a big right hand but Balboa slips the punch.
Balboa throws a right hand that MacLeod ducks under and follows up with a left that MacLeod also avoids with ease.
MacLeod with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Balboa will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

MacLeod pushes Balboa up against the cage in a clinch.
MacLeod looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Balboa throws a blind hook that connects with the side of MacLeods head.
Balboa can't break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
MacLeod keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Balboa's efforts to push away.
MacLeod scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Balboa fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Balboa misses with a short punch on the inside.
MacLeod misses with the head strike.
Balboa fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
MacLeod lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
MacLeod is trying to break free.
Balboa struggles to land a body shot inside as MacLeod controls his hands.
MacLeod misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short right hand to the side of the head by MacLeod.

MacLeod breaks from the clinch.
A punch combination from Balboa misses.
Balboa misses with a straight right.
A slapping leg kick lands for MacLeod.
MacLeod walks into a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Balboa connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Balboa pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Balboa misses the shot to the body.
Balboa misses with the combination.
Balboa waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract MacLeod.
MacLeod looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Balboa connects with a jab.
A big right from Balboa misses.
MacLeod motions for Balboa to come forward. MacLeod throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
MacLeod looks to land a left hand but Balboa moved out of range nicely.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
MacLeod scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
MacLeod turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Balboa works the jab nicely.
Balboa takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

And that's the end of the fight!
Connor MacLeod comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think MacLeod 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Connor MacLeod!
Post fight, Connor MacLeod took to the microphone: 'I would Like to thank myself for being such a bad motherfucker! '.