PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ronna Ponna (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rocky Balboa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Balboa has chosen Gonna Fly Now as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ponna
vs
Balboa

181 cm
25
175 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ronna Ponna!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rocky Balboa!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, John Kavanagh and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Balboa fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Ponna to the ground. Balboa is now in Ponna's guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Ponna wants to stand and escape but Balboa is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Balboa wants to pass the guard but Ponna is keeping the position.
Balboa is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Ponna is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Ponna can't keep his opponent in guard - Balboa advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Balboa sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ponna wants to get back to his feet.
Ground and pound from Balboa.
Ponna is trying to stand back up but Balboa is controlling him

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balboa controlling the pace.
Balboa working over Ponna with some ground and pound. Ponna looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Balboa content to control rather than advance.
Balboa scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Balboa seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Rocky Balboa was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Balboa circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ponna tries to clinch up.
Ponna tries to close the distance and clinch up but Balboa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ponna is looking to clinch but Balboa is avoiding it.
Ponna looks to clinch

and Balboa moves into the clinch.
Ponna misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ponna tries to land a knee to the head but Balboa blocks with his arms.

Balboa manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Ponna gets to his feet. Balboa looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ponna tries to clinch there but Balboa circles away.
Balboa shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ponna as he jumps to the side.
Balboa keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

Ponna rushes Balboa and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Balboa has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Ponna misses with a knee to the head.
Balboa blocking some punches.
Ponna tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Balboa takes a knee right on the jaw!
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!
Ponna with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Balboa blocks an elbow strike.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nice elbow from Ponna.
Balboa takes an elbow to the temple.
With the fighters up against the cage, Ponna throws an elbow but misses.
Ponna with a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rocky Balboa will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Ponna tries to clinch but Balboa moves out of range.
Balboa shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ponna pinned against the cage. Ponna gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ponna tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Balboa circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ponna tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Balboa counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Ponna!
Balboa lands a nice shot to the head.
Balboa sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Ponna is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ponna has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.
Ponna controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

Balboa has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Ponna has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Oooh a big shot gets through from Balboa. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balboa biding his time, controlling Ponna.
Ponna is trying to stand back up.

Balboa looking for the choke but no joy.
Ponna has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ponna is trying to shake Balboa off. He's managed it and has hopped back to his feet! Balboa won't be happy about giving up the dominant position.
Ponna looks to clinch

and Balboa counters by moving into the clinch.
Balboa is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Ponna lands an elbow just above Balboa 's eye.

It looks like Rocky Balboa has been cut.

Ponna manages to break the clinch.

Balboa dives in and scores a takedown into Ponna's guard.
Balboa prevents Ponna from getting back to his feet.
Balboa controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Balboa has gone for a leg lock! Ponna slips out almost immediately though and dives into Balboa's guard.
Balboa is breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ponna wants to stand but Balboa is controlling his posture from full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rocky Balboa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rocky Balboa's cut.
That's time! Ponna's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Balboa tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ponna swivels and escapes.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ponna looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nice sprawl there from Ponna as Balboa shoots in.
Ponna darts in trying to clinch

and Balboa counters by moving into the clinch.
Ponna lands an elbow that stopped Balboa in his tracks for a moment.
Balboa fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Ronna Ponna has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rocky Balboa.

Balboa has Ponna pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Balboa pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Ponna tumbling to the mat - Balboa dives into Ponna's guard.
Ponna on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Ponna tries to get out of the position.

Ponna manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Ronna Ponna is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Balboa swats away the attempt to clinch by Ponna.

Balboa takes the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Balboa takes an elbow to the forehead.
Balboa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Balboa tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A frustrated look appears on Balboa's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Ponna.
Ponna working aggressively here.
Ponna tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ponna lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Ponna connects with a nasty looking knee right to Balboa's face.
Ponna misses with a knee strike.
Ponna tries a knee to the head but Balboa blocks it.
Balboa takes an elbow to the forehead.
Ponna throws a head punch that misses.
Balboa jumps guard but Ponna stands there with Balboa around his waist. Balboa gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Ponna tries to land knees in the clinch but Balboa avoids the damage to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ponna connects with a knee to the head.

Balboa pulls guard successfully.

Ponna gets to his feet. Balboa looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Balboa avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ponna looks to clinch

and Balboa counters by moving into the clinch.
Balboa is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Ponna to keep the fight standing.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Ponna lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Balboa takes an elbow to the temple.
Balboa takes a knee right on the jaw!
Ponna is pushing Balboa up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Ponna with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ponna comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Ponna lands a nice elbow.

Balboa gets control of Ponna's arms and successfully pulls guard. Balboa will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Ponna stands up from Balboa's guard - Ponna perhaps looking for a knockout.
Ponna moves in looking to clinch but Balboa pushes him off.
Ponna doesn't manage to clinch there - Balboa circles away.
Ponna tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Ponna enables Balboa to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Ponna manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Ponna wants to stand but Balboa is controlling the position.

Ponna has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Balboa off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ponna closes the distance and clinches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ponna throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Balboa blocks it with crossed arms.
Balboa misses with the head strike.
Balboa is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Ponna to keep the fight standing.
Balboa takes an elbow to the temple.
Balboa tries to pull guard but Ponna forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Ponna utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Ponna crunches a lovely knee into Balboa's ribcage.
Ponna lands an elbow that stopped Balboa in his tracks for a moment.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ponna comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Ponna lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Ronna Ponna has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rocky Balboa is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Ponna throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ronna Ponna has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Nice elbow from Ponna.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ronna Ponna showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Balboa 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:29
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Rocky Balboa!
Rocky Balboa thanked the fans post fight for their support.