PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Xche Balam (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Edward Newgate (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Newgate is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Cream By Wu Tang Clan. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Balam
vs
Newgate

193 cm
26
275 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

225 cm
25
285 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

Great wrestler
Brawler
Insanely flexible

BJJ Blue Belt
World class boxer
Powerful

Revolution Fatigues

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Xche Balam!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Edward Newgate!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Yves DeLean and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balam tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Newgate swivels and escapes.

Balam fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Newgate sprawls well initially but Balam persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Newgate has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Balam is working away from the top position though.
Balam content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Balam sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Newgate defending well though.
Newgate keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Balam throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Newgate has his hands clasped together around Balam's back. He's all about the action.
Newgate wants to get back to full guard but Balam has mounted him!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Newgate regains half guard.
Newgate moves into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balam trying to control but Newgate is working from the bottom.
Newgate tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Balam has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Balam accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Balam wants to pass the guard but Newgate is keeping the position.
Balam won't allow Newgate to get back to his feet.
Newgate is controlling Balam's posture.
Balam cracks Newgate with a solid left hand.
Balam won't allow Newgate to sweep him here.
Balam trying to control the position from guard on top but Newgate is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Newgate is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Balam with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balam postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Balam pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Newgate is keeping the position for now.
Newgate controls Balam momentarily but Balam frees himself.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Edward Newgate hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Newgate defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Balam.
Newgate is looking to clinch.
Newgate swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Balam bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Balam drives through with a takedown into Newgate's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Balam trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Balam lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Balam accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Newgate looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balam sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Newgate's guard.
Balam with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Newgate trying to hold on to Balam's head to control him but Balam postures up.
Balam tries to pass the half guard into mount. Newgate knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Newgate trying to control from the bottom.
Newgate keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Newgate on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Newgate is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Balam passes into side control, despite Newgate's attempt to control the position.
Balam cracks Newgate with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Newgate is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Balam off and has taken his back!
Balam rolls, trying to escape but Newgate keeps control of the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Newgate is riding his opponent, not letting Balam buck him off.
Balam might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Newgate tries to keep control of the position but Balam is staying busy.
Newgate keeps control of the position easily here as Balam tries to buck him off.
Newgate is not going to allow Balam to sit and survive in this position.
Balam wants to escape the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Will Newgate go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Balam breaks Newgate's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xche Balam dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Newgate throws a hook but Balam blocks it.
Balam shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Newgate misses with the combination.
Newgate tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A big right from Newgate misses.
Newgate thuds his right hand into Balam's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Balam shoots in but Newgate avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Balam closes this distance looking for a takedown but Newgate circles away.
Newgate connects with a looping right hand.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Balam.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Xche Balam. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Newgate defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Balam.
Newgate stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

Newgate gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Newgate struggles to land a body shot inside as Balam controls his hands.
Balam is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Newgate misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Newgate has a couple of punches blocked by Balam.
Newgate cracks Balam with a nice body shot.
Newgate lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Balam backwards.
Newgate misses with the head strike.
Newgate tries a body shot but Balam blocks it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Newgate.
Newgate misses with some punches.

Balam turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Newgate can't do much from the bottom here.
Balam throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balam lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Newgate down.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Newgate manages to get back to half guard.
Balam winds up and cracks Newgate with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Xche Balam overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Still in half guard, Balam seems content to control.
Balam drops an elbow to the side of Newgate's head.
Newgate is trying to maintain the position but Balam is very close to passing his half guard.
Balam wants to free his trapped foot but Newgate is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Newgate is positioning himself well to prevent Balam advancing to mount.
Balam trying to mount his opponent but Newgate defends it.
Balam winds up and cracks Newgate with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Newgate is trying to maintain the position but Balam is very close to passing his half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Balam connects with a nice short shot to Newgate's temple.
Newgate is refusing to be controlled, as Balam sits in half guard.
Newgate is in trouble now - Balam has advanced to mount!
Newgate wants to hold on but Balam pushes him away.
Balam lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Balam working Newgate over with strikes here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The referee warns Newgate that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Newgate is breathing heavily.
Balam landing strikes, looking to finish!
Newgate is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Balam cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Newgate tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Balam with a couple of short strikes.

Newgate is rocked!
Balam controlling from the full mount.
Balam dominating with strikes here.
Newgate is still in real trouble! Can Balam finish him?
Balam lands a big elbow - Newgate is in trouble! More strikes from the mount and Newgate is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:44 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Xche Balam!