PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matt Zwart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Ball (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ball has chosen Hammer Smashed Face as his entrance music. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Joe Ball was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Zwart
vs
Ball

200 cm
29
271 lbs
14 - 4 - 1

199 cm
27
280 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

- - - - - All Nutrients 160 - - - - -

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 14 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Matt Zwart!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Joe Ball!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ball sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Ball chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Zwart can pounce on him.
Ball throws a head kick that misses.
Ball looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Ball takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Zwart tries a head kick but it misses.
Zwart misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ball tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zwart was well out of range. Poor timing from Ball.
Ball chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Zwart can pounce on him.
Ball takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Zwart fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Ball has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Ball takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Ball misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A big left from Ball misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Zwart instigates a clinch.
Zwart looking to throw knees to the head but Ball is blocking nicely.
Zwart landing knees to the head.

It looks like Joe Ball has been cut.

Ball gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Ball won't allow Zwart to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zwart seems keen to control Ball's posture.
Zwart looking for a sweep. Not yet Zwart, not yet.
Zwart working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ball.
Ball missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ball trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ball has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Zwart looking for a sweep. Not yet Zwart, not yet.
Zwart utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ball throws a big right hand that misses.
Zwart keeping full guard, as Ball tries to pass.
Ball forces his way into half guard.
Ball thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Zwart's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ball moves nicely into side control.
Ball trying to control the position but Zwart is working away.
Zwart regains half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zwart is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ball not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ball looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Ball throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Zwart works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zwart is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ball throws a strike but Zwart rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Ball has his hands on Zwart's head, controlling the position.
Ball trying to control the position.
Ball wants to sweep here but Zwart controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ball is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Ball tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ball manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Zwart manages to get himself to full guard.
Ball postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ball makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Ball trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Zwart is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ball is controlling him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zwart wants to sweep here but Ball controlling him for the moment.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ball makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Joe Ball will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Joe Ball'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.

Ball misses with a low kick.
Ball throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Zwart's waist but Zwart gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ball off to one side.
Zwart showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ball.
Ball has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Zwart.
Ball on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Zwart defending well as Ball loads up on a big left hand.
Zwart avoids a punch combination nicely.
Ball on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Zwart. Zwart obviously looking to wear him down.
Joe Ball is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zwart lands a leg kick that knocks Ball off balance momentarily.
Ball shoots in for a double leg but Zwart sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Zwart delivers a nice body kick.
Ball gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Zwart counters with a nice low kick that buckles Ball's knee momentarily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Zwart gets a clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Ball.
Ball is breathing heavily.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Zwart obliges.
Zwart landing knees to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zwart is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Zwart gets through Ball's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Zwart is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A knee to the head by Zwart.
Zwart scores a nice knee to the body.
Zwart connects with a nasty looking knee right to Ball's face.
Zwart unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Zwart landing knees to the head.
Zwart throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Ball blocks it with crossed arms.
Zwart tries to land a knee to the head but Ball blocks with his arms.
A knee to the head by Zwart.

That has opened up Joe Ball's cut even more.
Zwart misses with a knee to the head.
Zwart connects with a nasty looking knee right to Ball's face.
Zwart connects with a knee to the head.
A right hook to the body lands for Zwart.
Zwart scores a nice knee to the body.
Zwart crunches a lovely knee into Ball's ribcage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zwart misses with a body punch.
Ball throws a punch but it's blocked by Zwart.
Zwart with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

The cut above Joe Ball's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Zwart lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Zwart scores with a knee to the head.
Zwart misses with a knee to the head.
Zwart using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Zwart.
Matt Zwart has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Zwart digs a right hand underneath Ball's ribcage. Ball let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Knees to the body from Zwart.
Zwart lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Zwart tries a knee to the head but Ball blocks it.
Zwart using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ball has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Zwart connects with a nasty looking knee right to Ball's face.

Joe Ball's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
Zwart lands a good knee to the midsection. Ball won't want to take too many of those.
Ball working aggressively here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A right handed body shot lands from Zwart.
Zwart is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Zwart misses with a knee to the head.
Zwart lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Zwart with a knee to the head.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Joe Ball's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:30 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Matt Zwart!
Matt Zwart very nearly forgot to thank Balco Boys - Hilo amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.