PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paul Baller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mario Linic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Baller might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Helicopter, made of meat!. Paul Baller has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Baller
vs
Linic

225 cm
31
275 lbs
18 - 14 - 0

191 cm
32
262 lbs
16 - 12 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 18 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Paul Baller!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mario Linic!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Marco Blurström and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Linic cracks Baller with a right hand to the side of the head.
Linic uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Baller.
Baller really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Baller throws a body punch but Linic moves out of range.

Linic clinches up against the cage.
Baller fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A right hand to the body from Linic.
Linic is working Baller over against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Linic lands a shoulder strike.

Linic wants the takedown. Baller is fighting it off but Linic persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Baller's guard against the cage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Linic chips away with some ground and pound.
Linic has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Linic scoring with punches to the head and body.
Baller wants to sweep here but Linic controlling him for the moment.

Linic drops back looking for a leg! Baller is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Baller manages to kick Linic off! Linic jumps back into Baller's guard.
Linic with a nice head shot there.
Linic passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Linic landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Linic is looking to take a break and control but Baller is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Linic lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Linic scores with punches from side control.

It looks like Paul Baller has been cut.
Linic lands an elbow.

Linic is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Baller knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Linic connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Baller some visible discomfort.
Baller is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Linic's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Linic works his way into full mount!
Linic can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Baller is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Linic has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Baller's face.
Linic with shots to the head and body - Baller looks very uncomfortable down there.
Linic working Baller over with strikes here.
Linic looking to control but Baller is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Linic landing shots from mount.

Paul Baller's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Linic unloads with some vicious shots from mount and Baller wants out - he looks towards the referee who steps in to save him! Linic celebrates on the cage and the crowd goes wild!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Mario Linic!
Mario Linic took to the mic after the fight and begged the organizational hierarchy for a shot at the title.