PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Marco Balda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Elliot Olivier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Balda
vs
Olivier

180 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
22
169 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Marco Balda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Elliot Olivier!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, James Glass and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balda throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Olivier counters with a head kick.
Balda throws a lazy head kick

and Olivier counters with a nice double leg into side control. Balda won't be happy with that.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Olivier has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Olivier throws some wild stikes that Balda manages to avoid easily.
Balda is wriggling around trying to escape.
Olivier throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Balda because Olivier loaded up on that one.
Balda is trying to reverse the position but instead Olivier has taken his back - oops!

Olivier looking to break Balda's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Balda remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Olivier will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
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!
Olivier trying to control.

Olivier working for a choke but Balda is defending well.

Balda defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Olivier's arms.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Olivier wants to control but Balda is keeping busy.

Olivier is persistently looking for the submission but Balda is defending it well.
Olivier controlling well, preventing Balda from escaping the position.
Balda trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

Olivier patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balda trying to control the hands but Olivier breaks the grip.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Balda breaks Olivier's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Balda avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Olivier not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Olivier is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
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!

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Olivier is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Balda is aware though and is defending well.
Balda sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Olivier keeping full guard, as Balda tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balda trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Balda passes Olivier's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Olivier has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Balda is working away from the top position though.
Olivier is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Balda's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Balda's back!

Olivier looking for the choke from the back.
Balda staying busy and making it hard for Olivier to control.
Balda controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Balda manages to reverse the position and now he's in Olivier's guard. Nice work there by Balda.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Olivier escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Balda gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Olivier looks gassed!

Olivier looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Balda passes into half guard.
Olivier trying to hold on to Balda's head to control him but Balda postures up.
Balda working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Olivier's thigh. Olivier counters though and makes it back to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Olivier looking for subs off his back but Balda has passed one foot through into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elliot Olivier dominated that round.
That's time! Balda's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Nice cross by Balda.
Olivier fails with a takedown attempt.
Balda throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Balda shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Olivier defends it nicely.

Balda moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balda drops down looking for an ankle pick but Olivier pulls his leg out and moves away.
Olivier tries to score a power double leg takedown but Balda sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Olivier somewhat.
A head kick by Balda misses
and Olivier counters with a nice leg kick.
Balda defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Olivier.
Marco Balda has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Elliot Olivier.
Balda tries to close the distance and clinch but Olivier swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Balda darts in and clinches Olivier up against the cage.
Olivier tries to score a body lock takedown but Balda shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Olivier prevents a takedown attempt there.
Olivier wants a takedown.
Olivier tries to score a body lock takedown but Balda shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Olivier jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Balda walks away with a smile on his face. Olivier gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Olivier shoots in but no luck this time.
Olivier is breathing heavily.

Balda clinches up with Olivier and pushes him back against the cage.
Olivier prevents the takedown attempt.
Balda blocking some punches.
Olivier tries to land knees in the clinch but Balda avoids the damage to the body.
Olivier is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Balda is trying to push Olivier away but Olivier has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Balda tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Olivier smiles and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balda rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Olivier moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
No joy there for Balda, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Balda shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Olivier pinned against the cage. Olivier gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Balda shoots and misses

and Olivier counters by moving into the clinch.

Balda manages to pull guard.
Olivier slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Balda trying to remain calm as Olivier controls from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Olivier tries for a kimura but Balda is defending well.
Olivier wants to lay and pray for a moment but Balda keeps working.
Balda manages to work his way to half guard, despite Olivier's best efforts.
Olivier sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Balda defending well though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Balda wants to control but Olivier passes into side.
Balda looks to move to half guard but instead Olivier has passed into mount! Damn!
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 Marco Balda 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!

Balda with a poor takedown

and Olivier counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Balda keeping moving, preventing Olivier from controlling successfully.
Balda looking to control.
Balda looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Olivier looking to pass the guard.
Balda tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Olivier is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Marco Balda.
Balda throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Olivier's waist but Olivier gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Balda off to one side.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Olivier looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Balda is fending him off so far but Olivier persists. Nope, Balda circles away and we're back to standing.
Olivier stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marco Balda. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Balda throws a lazy head kick
and Olivier counters with a flying knee. Nice.

Olivier clinches up with Balda and pushes him back against the cage.
Olivier is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Balda is defending well.
Olivier tries to pull guard but Balda holds him up against the cage and eventually Olivier drops back down to his feet.
Olivier trying to control the position but instead, Balda has worked for underhooks and has pushed Olivier into the cage.
Balda is trying to force a seperation but Olivier has the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balda is looking for a takedown.
Balda looking to throw knees to the head but Olivier is blocking nicely.
Olivier missing with knees to the body.
Balda blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Olivier tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Balda avoids it.
Olivier misses with a knee to the head.
Balda gets underhooks to prevent Olivier's takedown attempt.
Balda tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Olivier goes for a takedown in the clinch but Balda prevents it.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Balda as Olivier tries to tie him up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Olivier trying to land knees to the body.
Olivier goes for a takedown in the clinch but Balda prevents it.
Balda gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Olivier.
Balda drops down looking for an ankle pick but Olivier pulls his leg out and moves away.
Balda scores with a jab. Olivier acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Marco Balda seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Olivier blocks a low kick nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balda looks to land a body kick but Olivier moved away.
Balda changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Olivier tries to avoid it but Balda manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Olivier to the ground. Olivier escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Olivier wants to clinch but Balda slips to the side

and Balda moves into the clinch.
Olivier is working for takedown but Balda is calmly controlling the position for now.
Balda is pressed up against the cage. Olivier has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Balda down to the mat. Balda avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Balda shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Olivier defends it nicely.
Some wild striking there from Balda.

And that's the end of the fight!
Elliot Olivier comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Olivier 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 28:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29

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