PBP Commentary

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

Ballardo
vs
Lucas

188 cm
20
219 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

187 cm
31
212 lbs
26 - 10 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Good kicks
Heavy handed

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 2 - 1 - 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 26 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Travis Lucas!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Anthony Taglia and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lucas throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lucas chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Ballardo can pounce on him.
A bone on bone clash there as Lucas blocks the leg kick.

Ballardo gets caught napping as Lucas dives in and scores a takedown. Ballardo manages to retain guard.
Lucas pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ballardo is keeping the position for now.
Lucas being controlled here momentarily.

We're going to have a standup here because Vassago Ballardo wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Ballardo slaps away a takedown attempt from Lucas, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Ballardo throws a leg kick
and Lucas counters with a flying knee. Nice.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lucas swats away the attempt to clinch by Ballardo.

Ballardo instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ballardo can't find room to land a body shot as Lucas controls the action.
Lucas blocks a body shot from Ballardo.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Ballardo lands with a short shot to the head.
Ballardo tries a body shot but Lucas blocks it.
Ballardo is leaning against Lucas and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Ballardo throws a punch but it's blocked by Lucas.
Ballardo throws a punch but it's blocked by Lucas.
Lucas looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Ballardo tries to throw a body punch but Lucas avoids it by throwing Ballardo back against the cage.
A short right from Ballardo on the inside.
Ballardo lands a shoulder strike.
Ballardo misses with a punch to the body.
Lucas looking to slow down the pace here.
Ballardo tries to work over Lucas's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short body shot lands from Ballardo as the two fighters clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A right handed body shot lands from Ballardo.
Lucas looks gassed!
Lucas takes a shot to the head.
Ballardo holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Ballardo works on Lucas's body with a couple of short punches.
The referee is keeping an eye on Ballardo - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Ballardo managing to block the knees to the body from Lucas.
Ballardo leaning against his opponent.
Ballardo struggles to land a body shot inside as Lucas controls his hands.
Lucas letting Ballardo take a breather here.
Ballardo tries to work over Lucas's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Lucas prevents a body shot from Ballardo.
Lucas blocks a body shot from Ballardo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ballardo working aggressively here.
Ballardo tries to throw a body punch but Lucas avoids it by throwing Ballardo back against the cage.
Lucas takes a shot to the head.
Lucas trying to control the position but instead, Ballardo has worked for underhooks and has pushed Lucas into the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Ballardo.
Ballardo tries a body shot but Lucas blocks it.
Lucas letting Ballardo take a breather here.
Lucas misses with the head strike.
Ballardo scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Ballardo managing to block the knees to the body from Lucas.
Ballardo throws a punch but it's blocked by Lucas.
Ballardo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lucas's elbow.
A nice left hand lands by Ballardo.
Ballardo tries a body shot but Lucas blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lucas tries to circle away but Ballardo has him pinned against the cage.
Lucas misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ballardo.
Lucas takes a shot to the head.
Ballardo is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Ballardo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A body shot lands from Ballardo.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ballardo digs a right hand into Lucas's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Lucas's gas tank.
Ballardo cracks Lucas with a nice body shot.
Ballardo lands with a right to the head.
Ballardo tries to work over Lucas's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Lucas wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ballardo is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Lucas is keeping busy.
Lucas blocks a body shot from Ballardo.
Lucas missing with knees to the body.
Ballardo lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Lucas or not.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vassago Ballardo dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ballardo jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Lucas avoids the head kick by Ballardo.
Lucas checks a leg kick.
Lucas misses with a looping left.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Ballardo.
Ballardo tries to clinch up.
Ballardo dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Lucas. That did some damage!
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Ballardo will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Ballardo lands a leg kick that knocks Lucas off balance momentarily.

Ballardo closes the distance and clinches.
Nice body punch from Ballardo.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Lucas fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Lucas is breathing heavily.
Ballardo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Ballardo.
Ballardo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lucas's elbow.
Vassago Ballardo has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Ballardo misses with a punch to the body.
Ballardo lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Lucas tries a body shot but Ballardo blocks it.
Ballardo dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Ballardo lands a body punch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ballardo.
Ballardo tries a body shot but Lucas blocks it.
Ballardo tries to throw a body punch but Lucas avoids it by throwing Ballardo back against the cage.
Ballardo presses Lucas against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Ballardo misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ballardo gets through Lucas's defenses to land a nice punch 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 lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Lucas or not.
Ballardo lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ballardo pushes Lucas back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ballardo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lucas's elbow.
Ballardo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lucas can do to turn this around?
Lucas's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Lucas blocks a body shot from Ballardo.
Lucas wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Ballardo content to slow the pace in the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Ballardo.
Ballardo tries to throw a body punch but Lucas avoids it by throwing Ballardo back against the cage.
Ballardo pushes Lucas back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A short right from Lucas on the inside.
Ballardo taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ballardo lands a right hand.
Lucas misses with an elbow over the top.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Ballardo creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Lucas doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ballardo tries to work over Lucas's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ballardo stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Ballardo lands with a left to the head.
Lucas tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Ballardo working aggressively here.
Ballardo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Lucas.
Ballardo can't find room to land a body shot as Lucas controls the action.
Ballardo softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Ballardo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ballardo lands a shoulder strike.
Ballardo misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ballardo tries to work over Lucas's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lucas blocks a body shot from Ballardo.
Ballardo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lucas's elbow.
Ballardo being controlled against the cage.
Ballardo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Ballardo.
Ballardo misses with some punches.
Lucas blocks a body shot from Ballardo.
A right hand to the body from Ballardo.

Lucas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Lucas, right into the meat.
Ballardo with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Ballardo lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Lucas has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Lucas and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Vassago Ballardo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lucas throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vassago Ballardo dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Ballardo with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Ballardo scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Ballardo tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Lucas counters with a low kick, right behind Ballardo 's knee.
A telegraphed right hand from Lucas misses the target.
Ballardo tries to score with a low kick but Lucas moves his leg out of the way.
Lucas keeps the fight on the outside.
Jab by Ballardo.

Ballardo moves into the clinch.
Ballardo content to slow the pace in the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Ballardo creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Ballardo lands a shoulder strike.
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!
Ballardo makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lucas tries a knee to the head but Ballardo blocks it.
Lucas swings wildly with an uppercut but Ballardo uses good head movement to avoid it.
A bit of stalling here from Ballardo.
Lucas prevents a body shot from Ballardo.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Ballardo softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Ballardo lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Ballardo misses with a body punch.
Lucas tries to work over Ballardo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ballardo struggles to land a body shot inside as Lucas controls his hands.
Ballardo slowing the pace effectively.
Travis Lucas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ballardo digs a right hand into Lucas's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Lucas's gas tank.
Lucas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ballardo scores with a shot to the side of Lucas's head.
Lucas being controlled against the cage.
Ballardo blocks an uppercut.
Ballardo lands on the inside with an uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Lucas prevents a body shot from Ballardo.
Lucas swings wildly with an uppercut but Ballardo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lucas misses with a body punch.
Ballardo tries to throw a body punch but Lucas avoids it by throwing Ballardo back against the cage.
Ballardo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ballardo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Ballardo misses with a body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ballardo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lucas's elbow.
Lucas blocks a body shot from Ballardo.
Ballardo lands a nice uppercut.
Lucas lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Lucas breaks from the clinch.
Lucas throws a sloppy head kick and Ballardo moves out of range easily.
Ballardo tries to clinch there but Lucas circles away.
Ballardo chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Lucas is looking to score with low kicks.
Good leg kick by Ballardo there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Lucas throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A nice leg kick lands there from Ballardo.
Lucas swats away the attempt to clinch by Ballardo.
Lucas blocks a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ballardo avoids the head kick by Lucas.
Lucas swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Ballardo is looking to clinch.
Crunch! Ballardo slams his shin into Lucas's torso.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A nice inside leg kick there by Ballardo. That's going to slow Lucas down.
Lucas misses with a looping right.
Vassago Ballardo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ballardo fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Lucas.

Lucas tries to keep at a distance but Ballardo has taken the fight into the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Lucas.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ballardo taking a breather.
Ballardo misses with the head strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vassago Ballardo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ballardo, 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 30:27
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vassago Ballardo!
A very excited looking Vassago Ballardo made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.