PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Aze Gori (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fernando Balestra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gori
vs
Balestra

180 cm
22
155 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

177 cm
25
135 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Aze Gori!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fernando Balestra!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Leandro Rodrigues and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gori moves out of range of the body kick.

Gori shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Balestra manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Gori throws a big right hand that misses.
Gori throws an elbow that misses. Balestra uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gori's guard. Nice move by Balestra!
Balestra won't allow Gori to sweep him here.
Gori is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Gori thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Balestra's head.
Gori is pressing down on Balestra's thigh, looking to free his foot. Balestra is holding on for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Balestra is trying is best to control the position here.
Gori knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Balestra on the ground.
Balestra wants to control but Gori is keeping busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gori wants to stand up but Balestra has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Gori with the ground and pound but Balestra uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Gori pushes down on Balestra's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Balestra is trying to maintain the position but Gori is very close to passing his half guard.

Gori looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Gori throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balestra tries to get to full guard but Gori has control of the leg.
Balestra slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Gori trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gori is working hard here to advance position.
Balestra trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Gori with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Gori preventing the sweep.
Gori forces his way into half guard.

Gori is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Balestra is just riding it out for now. Gori eventually gives up the hold.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Balestra wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gori is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Balestra is trying to maintain the position but Gori is very close to passing his half guard.
Gori is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Balestra!
The referee warns Balestra that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Balestra taking shots to the head.

Balestra is rocked!
A big strike lands for Gori! That's really hurt Balestra and he's turned his back - Gori keeps firing away and the ref dives in to stop the fight! Gori jumps to his feet to celebrate the victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Aze Gori!
Aze Gori decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.