PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vassago Ballardo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenny Finch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kenny Finch is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Ballardo
vs
Finch

188 cm
20
219 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

188 cm
23
223 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vassago Ballardo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kenny Finch!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Bruno Lombardi and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ballardo connects with an inside leg kick.
Finch shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ballardo but Ballardo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Finch shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Finch steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Ballardo. That one must have hurt.
Finch shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ballardo pinned against the cage. Ballardo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Vassago Ballardo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kenny Finch.
A good leg kick by Ballardo.
Ballardo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Finch gets tackled into the cage by Ballardo. Ballardo maintains the clinch.
Finch misses with a body punch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Ballardo is working Finch over against the cage.
Ballardo pushes Finch back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ballardo throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Finch looks gassed!
Ballardo is struggling to control the position.
Ballardo seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Finch misses with a punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ballardo gets underhooks to prevent Finch's takedown attempt.
Ballardo effectively controlling the action here.
Ballardo cracks Finch with a nice body shot.
Ballardo makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Finch takes a shot to the head.
Ballardo works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Finch letting Ballardo take a breather here.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Ballardo for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Ballardo lands with a short shot to the head.
Ballardo lands a left hand that snaps the head of Finch backwards.
A shot in the inside from Ballardo.
Ballardo tries a body shot but Finch blocks it.
Ballardo lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A body shot lands from Ballardo.
Ballardo is working Finch over against the cage.
Ballardo works on Finch's body with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Ballardo - that landed with a thud.
Ballardo's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Finch misses with a punch to the body.
Ballardo digs a right hand into Finch's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Finch's gas tank.
Ballardo is leaning against Finch and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Ballardo lands a shot to the body.
Ballardo gets through Finch's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A short uppercut from Ballardo.
Ballardo lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Finch.
Ballardo tries to throw a body punch but Finch avoids it by throwing Ballardo back against the cage.
Ballardo lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Ballardo scores with a hook to the body.
Ballardo is leaning against Finch and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Ballardo digs a right hand into Finch's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Finch's gas tank.
Ballardo content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Ballardo lands a shoulder strike.
Ballardo scores with a shot to the side of Finch's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A right hook to the body lands for Ballardo.
Ballardo manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Finch misses with a body punch.
Ballardo lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Finch jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ballardo walks away with a smile on his face. Finch gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Ballardo, right into the meat.

Finch tries to keep at a distance but Ballardo has taken the fight into the clinch.
Ballardo lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Finch or not.
Stalling in the clinch from Ballardo.
Ballardo lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
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!
A right hand to the body from Ballardo.
Ballardo lands a shoulder strike.
Finch wants a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ballardo lands an uppercut.
Ballardo controlling the action here for a moment.
Finch's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A body shot lands from Ballardo.
Ballardo lands a body punch.
A right hook to the body lands for Ballardo.
Ballardo lands a body shot.
Ballardo throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ballardo.
Ballardo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short right from Ballardo.
Ballardo lands a body punch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ballardo lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A right hand to the body from Ballardo.
Ballardo digs a right hand underneath Finch's ribcage. Finch let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Ballardo lands a left hand.
Ballardo lands a body punch in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ballardo closes the distance and pushes Finch back into the cage.
Finch is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Ballardo lands an uppercut.
Ballardo lands with a short shot to the head.
Ballardo scores with a nice hook to the head.
Ballardo lands a left hand.
Finch prevents a body shot from Ballardo.
Ballardo leaning against his opponent.
Finch has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Ballardo after a bit of a struggle.
Finch goes for a takedown in the clinch but Ballardo prevents it.
Vassago Ballardo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kenny Finch.
A right handed body shot lands from Ballardo.
Ballardo lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Finch backwards.
Ballardo softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Finch is breathing heavily.
Ballardo lands a nice shot to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ballardo can't find room to land a body shot as Finch controls the action.
Ballardo lands a body punch.
Vassago Ballardo has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Ballardo lands a shot to the body.
Ballardo tries to work over Finch's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ballardo lands a right hand that snaps the head of Finch backwards.
Finch blocks a body shot from Ballardo.
Ballardo lands a shoulder strike.
Finch drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ballardo gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Ballardo lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Finch.
Ballardo lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Ballardo lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Finch backwards.
Ballardo holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Ballardo lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Finch.
Ballardo is stalling here.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Ballardo creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Ballardo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ballardo working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A right handed body shot lands from Ballardo.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

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!
Ballardo lands with a right to the head.
Ballardo can't find room to land a body shot as Finch controls the action.
Nice body punch from Ballardo - that landed with a thud.
Finch changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ballardo fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Ballardo buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Good leg kick by Ballardo there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Vassago Ballardo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
That kick from Ballardo tenderised Finch's leg. Finch is trying to keep his angry face on.
Ballardo throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Finch.

It looks like Kenny Finch has been cut.

Ballardo closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Ballardo cracks Finch with a nice body shot.
Ballardo presses Finch against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Ballardo lands a hook that snaps the head of Finch backwards.
Ballardo works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Ballardo lands a right hand.
Still in the clinch, Ballardo scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Ballardo creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Ballardo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Finch can do to turn this around?
Ballardo softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Ballardo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ballardo pushes Finch back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A short right from Ballardo on the inside.
Ballardo lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Ballardo presses Finch against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Ballardo tries a body shot but Finch blocks it.
Good body shot from Ballardo.
Ballardo lands with a right to the head.
Ballardo lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Nice body punch from Ballardo.
Ballardo scores with a hook to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ballardo lands a body shot in the clinch.
Ballardo works on Finch's body with a couple of short punches.
Ballardo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Finch's elbow.
Ballardo working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Ballardo stalls.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ballardo pushes Finch back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A right hand to the body from Ballardo.
Ballardo lands a body punch in the clinch.
Ballardo lands a left hand.
Ballardo tries a body shot but Finch blocks it.
The referee is keeping an eye on Ballardo - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
A short left from Ballardo.
Ballardo pushes Finch back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Still in the clinch, Ballardo scores with a nice short uppercut.
Ballardo lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Finch drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ballardo leaning against his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vassago Ballardo dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kenny Finch's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Finch.
Vassago Ballardo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Ballardo gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Ballardo lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Finch or not.
Ballardo misses with a body punch.
Finch is working for takedown but Ballardo is calmly controlling the position for now.
Ballardo gets through Finch's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Good body shot from Ballardo.
Ballardo lands a body shot in the clinch.
Ballardo has Finch pushed against the cage.
Ballardo tries to throw a body punch but Finch avoids it by throwing Ballardo back against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Good body shot from Ballardo.
Finch takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ballardo works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Ballardo scores with a shot to the side of Finch's head.
Ballardo lands an uppercut.
Ballardo struggles to land a body shot inside as Finch controls his hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ballardo misses with a body punch.
Ballardo leaning his opponent against the cage.
Ballardo lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Finch backwards.
Finch drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ballardo gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Vassago Ballardo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kenny Finch.
A right handed body shot lands from Ballardo.
A right hand to the body from Ballardo.
Finch drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Ballardo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A right handed body shot lands from Ballardo.
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!
Ballardo lands a body shot in the clinch.
Ballardo is working Finch over against the cage.
Ballardo lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Ballardo is leaning against Finch and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Ballardo lands a nice shot to the body.
Ballardo lands a right hand that snaps the head of Finch backwards.
Ballardo lands with a short shot to the head.
A left hand lands to the body for Ballardo.
Ballardo's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Good body shot from Ballardo.
Ballardo digs a right hand into Finch's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Finch's gas tank.
Ballardo lands a left hand.
Ballardo lands a body punch.
Finch takes a shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A right handed body shot lands from Ballardo.
Ballardo displaying some good clinch control by pressing Finch up against the cage.
Nice body punch from Ballardo.
Ballardo lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Ballardo lands a body shot.
Ballardo is struggling to control the position.
Ballardo lands an uppercut.
Ballardo is working Finch over against the cage.
Ballardo is leaning against Finch and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Ballardo lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Finch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ballardo lands an uppercut.
Ballardo pushes Finch back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A right hook to the body lands for Ballardo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Finch's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Ballardo works on Finch's body with a couple of short punches.
Ballardo misses with a punch to the body.
Still in the clinch, Ballardo scores with a nice short uppercut.
Ballardo avoiding damage.
A right hand to the body from Ballardo.
Vassago Ballardo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A short right from Ballardo on the inside.
Ballardo lands a right hand that snaps the head of Finch backwards.
Finch looking to stall.
Kenny Finch has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ballardo effectively controlling the action here.
Finch goes for a takedown in the clinch but Ballardo prevents it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vassago Ballardo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ballardo has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:24
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:24
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:24

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vassago Ballardo!
A victorious Vassago Ballardo thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.