PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mario Balotelli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Billy Lightning (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Billy Lightning has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Mario Balotelli's chin.

Balotelli
vs
Lightning

189 cm
18
194 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

189 cm
19
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mario Balotelli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Billy Lightning!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Eddie Farnsworth and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Balotelli fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Lightning to the ground. Balotelli is now in Lightning's guard.
Lightning wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Balotelli throwing strikes but missing.
Balotelli wanted to stand there but Lightning had control of the position.
Balotelli missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Balotelli slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Balotelli working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Balotelli controlling the position from side mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balotelli is looking to take a break and control but Lightning is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Lightning wants to control but Balotelli postures up.
Balotelli looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Lightning is avoiding damage well.
Lightning regains half guard there - taking advantage of Balotelli's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Balotelli is trying to control the action in half guard but Lightning is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balotelli throwing shots but Lightning is blocking nicely.
Balotelli missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Balotelli trying to control the pace.
Lightning is in trouble now - Balotelli has advanced to mount!

Lightning somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lightning lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Balotelli at a distance.
Billy Lightning seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No luck for Lightning with that takedown attempt.

Lightning instigates a clinch.
Balotelli has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Lightning avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Lightning stalling in the clinch but Balotelli improves position.
Balotelli tries to pull guard but Lightning holds him up against the cage and eventually Balotelli drops back down to his feet.

Lightning lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Lightning thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Balotelli's head.
Lightning wants to free his trapped foot but Balotelli is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Balotelli is looking to control Lightning's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Balotelli avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lightning is trying to control. Balotelli wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Balotelli wants to improve his position but Lightning is controlling well.
Lightning is pressing down on Balotelli's thigh, looking to free his foot. Balotelli is holding on for now.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Balotelli is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Lightning's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Lightning's back!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lightning is trying to stand back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mario Balotelli will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Lightning shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Mario Balotelli overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Balotelli keeping moving, preventing Lightning from controlling successfully.
Balotelli is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Balotelli is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Lightning stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Balotelli swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Balotelli has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Lightning off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Balotelli throws a head kick that half lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lightning shoots and misses

and Balotelli moves into the clinch.
Lightning can't break the clinch.

Balotelli gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Lightning regains guard.
Lightning is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Lightning is breathing heavily.

Balotelli drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Balotelli jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Balotelli trying to control the position from guard on top but Lightning is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lightning is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balotelli landing with the ground and pound.
Balotelli pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lightning is keeping the position for now.
Balotelli sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Balotelli being controlled here momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Mario Balotelli has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Balotelli shoots in looking for a takedown but Lightning manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Balotelli's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Lightning doesn't manage to clinch there - Balotelli circles away.

Lightning closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Lightning tries to move to mount but Balotelli blocks the move with his legs.
Balotelli struggling a bit here.
Balotelli regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balotelli is looking to improve his position.
Balotelli is trying is best to control the position here.
Lightning trying to control the action but Balotelli is working from the bottom.
Lightning working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Balotelli's thigh. Balotelli counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Lightning postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lightning trying to control but Balotelli is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mario Balotelli will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Balotelli fails with a takedown attempt.
Mario Balotelli is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Lightning drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Balotelli controls Lightning momentarily but Lightning frees himself.
Lightning won't allow Balotelli to sweep him here.

Lightning stands and steps away. Balotelli gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Lightning throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Lightning throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Balotelli tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Lightning is in Balotelli's guard.
Lightning takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lightning stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Balotelli swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Lightning controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lightning postures up.
Lightning slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Lightning wants to pass the guard but Balotelli is keeping the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Lightning tries for a takedown but Balotelli sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Balotelli misses with a few strikes there.
Balotelli has a takedown stuffed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Balotelli as Lightning shoots in.
Lightning throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Balotelli's waist but Balotelli gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Lightning off to one side.
Mario Balotelli has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Billy Lightning.
Balotelli lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.

Balotelli closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Lightning's guard.
Balotelli is looking to work some ground and pound but Lightning has wrist control.
Balotelli sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Balotelli seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Lightning for as long as he can get away with.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Balotelli wants to control from the top but Lightning keeps moving.

We're going to have a standup here because Mario Balotelli wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Balotelli shoots in but no luck this time.
Lightning tries to clinch but Balotelli is having none of it.

Balotelli changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Lightning looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Balotelli wants to stand but Lightning has his arm trapped.
Lightning holding on.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lightning is trying to improve his position.
Lightning is not content to let Balotelli control the position.
Lightning is trying to control Balotelli's posture but Balotelli avoids it.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Mario Balotelli.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Balotelli, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:29
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:28
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Mario Balotelli!
A relieved looking Mario Balotelli thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.