PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jami Balkan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Coco Cobb (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Balkan
vs
Cobb

177 cm
21
152 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

181 cm
20
158 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

CEC Nutrition Q160 & Loans

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jami Balkan!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Coco Cobb!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Sergei Dronov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balkan checks a leg kick.
An inside leg kick from Balkan misses.
Balkan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Balkan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Balkan looks to land a body kick but Cobb moved away.
Cobb finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Jami Balkan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A slapping leg kick lands for Cobb.
Balkan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cobb was well out of range. Poor timing from Balkan.
Balkan throws a leg kick but Cobb sees it coming and moves out of range.
Balkan misses with a head kick.
Cobb wants to clinch.
Cobb throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Balkan connects with a jab.
Cobb looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balkan goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Cobb looks to land a body kick but Balkan moved away.
Cobb will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Balkan fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Cobb buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Cobb throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Cobb avoids the head kick by Balkan.
Cobb throws a low kick but Balkan avoids it.
Balkan tried to score with a low kick but Cobb checks it.
Cobb takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Balkan misses with a low kick as Cobb jumps back.
Cobb pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Cobb gets a clinch.
Balkan pushes Cobb back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balkan doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Cobb tries to land knees in the clinch but Balkan avoids the damage to the body.
Cobb landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Balkan lands with a right to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Balkan managing to block the knees to the body from Cobb.
Balkan is looking to control Cobb's arms but Cobb gets an underhook and turns him. Now Balkan has his back to the cage.
Cobb is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Balkan is defending well for now.
Cobb trying to stall but Balkan improves his position.
A right hand to the body from Balkan.
Balkan on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Cobb has Balkan pressed against the cage, preventing Balkan from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Cobb crunches a lovely knee into Balkan's ribcage.
Balkan working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Cobb tries a knee to the head but Balkan blocks it.
Cobb with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Balkan is working Cobb over against the cage.
Balkan stalling against the cage.
Cobb just leaning against Balkan, taking a breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cobb missing with knees to the body.
Balkan softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Cobb trying to land knees to the body.
Cobb trying to land knees to the body.
Balkan avoiding damage as Cobb throws knees to the body.
Balkan on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Balkan takes a knee to the side of the body.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Balkan blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Balkan blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Cobb landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Balkan lands with a short shot to the head.
Cobb working Balkan over with knees to the body.
Cobb is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cobb prevents a body shot from Balkan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cobb lands a nice knee to the body.
Cobb taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Cobb crunches a lovely knee into Balkan's ribcage.
Balkan is breathing heavily.
Balkan lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Cobb backwards.
Balkan throws a punch but it's blocked by Cobb.
Cobb tries to land a knee to the head but Balkan blocks with his arms.
Cobb scores a nice knee to the body.
Balkan avoiding damage as Cobb throws knees to the body.
Balkan looking to stall.
Cobb unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Cobb stalling in the clinch but Balkan improves position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Balkan lands a shoulder strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Balkan lands a jab to Cobb's midsection.
Cobb tries to move into range but Balkan moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Balkan blocks a leg kick.
Balkan smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Balkan throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Cobb wants to clinch up but Balkan keeps it at a distance.
Balkan avoids a kick to the body.
Balkan wants to slow Cobb down by chopping away at his legs.
A left and a right from Balkan both land. Nice combination.

Cobb has closed the distance and engaged Balkan in a clinch.
Cobb landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Coco Cobb seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cobb unloads a knee to the mid-section. Balkan lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Cobb trying to land knees to the body.
Balkan on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Balkan lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balkan avoiding damage as Cobb throws knees to the body.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Balkan as Cobb tries to tie him up.
Balkan has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Cobb avoiding damage as Balkan throws knees to the body.
Cobb misses with a knee to the head.
Balkan is looking to control Cobb's arms but Cobb gets an underhook and turns him. Now Balkan has his back to the cage.
Cobb trying to land knees to the body.
Cobb avoiding damage as Balkan throws knees to the body.
Cobb stalling in the clinch but Balkan improves position.
Balkan managing to block the knees to the body from Cobb.
Balkan blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Cobb prevents a body shot from Balkan.
Cobb is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Balkan misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Balkan scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balkan lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Balkan misses with a body punch.
Cobb taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Balkan avoiding damage as Cobb throws knees to the body.
Cobb tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Balkan avoids it.
Balkan misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cobb.
Balkan is looking to control Cobb's arms but Cobb gets an underhook and turns him. Now Balkan has his back to the cage.
Balkan on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Cobb crunches a lovely knee into Balkan's ribcage.
Balkan lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Cobb.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Balkan misses with a punch to the body.
Balkan lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Cobb backwards.
Balkan misses with a punch to the body.
Cobb is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Balkan being controlled against the cage.
Cobb tries to land knees in the clinch but Balkan avoids the damage to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cobb blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Balkan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Balkan throws a leg kick but Cobb sees it coming and checks it nicely.

Balkan tries to keep at a distance but Cobb has taken the fight into the clinch.
Balkan being controlled against the cage.
Balkan lands a hook to the side of the head.
Cobb tries to land a knee to the head but Balkan blocks with his arms.
Balkan managing to block the knees to the body from Cobb.
Cobb is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Balkan is defending well for now.
Balkan is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Maybe Balkan would be better served going for some more strikes rather than trying to control so much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cobb misses with a knee strike.
Cobb has Balkan pressed against the cage, preventing Balkan from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Cobb lands a good knee to the midsection. Balkan won't want to take too many of those.
Cobb stalling against the cage.
Balkan has had enough of the clinch but Cobb keeps him there for the moment.
Cobb lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Jami Balkan has been cut.
Cobb throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Balkan blocks it with crossed arms.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Balkan stops a takedown attempt from Cobb.
Balkan lands a body shot in the clinch.
Cobb is trying to stall.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Balkan lands with a right to the head.
Balkan gets through Cobb's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Cobb looking to throw knees to the head but Balkan is blocking nicely.
Balkan wants to break free but Cobb has control.
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 Jami Balkan will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jami Balkan's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

A nice inside leg kick there by Cobb. That's going to slow Balkan down.
Balkan avoids a kick to the body.
Balkan takes a swing at Cobb's ribcage but misses.
Balkan misses with an uppercut.
Balkan takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Balkan loads up on a big right hand but Cobb slips the punch.
Balkan throws a leg kick

and Cobb holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Balkan has had enough of the clinch but Cobb keeps him there for the moment.
Balkan managing to block the knees to the body from Cobb.
Cobb working Balkan over with knees to the body.
Balkan is trying to maintain a safe position but Cobb gets an underhook and turns Balkan into the cage.
Cobb tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Cobb scores a nice knee to the body.

Balkan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A head kick misses from Balkan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Cobb checks a leg kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Cobb.
Balkan misses with a straight right.
Cobb fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Balkan is out of range.
Cobb checks a leg kick nicely.
Balkan misses with a head kick.
Balkan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cobb.
Balkan moves out of range of the leg kick from Cobb.
Jami Balkan is winning the standup battle so far.
Balkan lands with a straight right. Cobb didn't see that one coming.
Cobb fails in his attempt to clinch.
Balkan looks to score with a jab to the body but Cobb is just out of range.
Cobb tries to work over Balkan's front leg with a kick but Balkan checks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balkan clobbers Cobb with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Cobb fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cobb displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Balkan throws out the jab.
Cobb looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Cobb tries to score with a low kick but Balkan moves his leg out of the way.
Balkan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Both fighters circling a little - Balkan finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Balkan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cobb fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Balkan throws a shot to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cobb tries to clinch there but Balkan circles away.
Cobb checks a low kick from Balkan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balkan with a jab.
Cobb tries to clinch up but Balkan circles away and keeps his distance.
Cobb tries to clinch but Balkan is having none of it.
Balkan swats away the attempt to clinch by Cobb.
Cobb thows a body kick. Balkan tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Balkan attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Balkan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Balkan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cobb throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Cobb misses with a low kick.
Balkan moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balkan scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Cobb doesn't seem bothered though.
Cobb misses with a low kick.
Cobb is looking to land body kicks.
Balkan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cobb was well out of range. Poor timing from Balkan.
Cobb staying out of range there.
Balkan moves out of range of the body kick from Cobb.
A slow jab from Balkan misses its intended target.
Balkan tests Cobb's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Balkan steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Cobb. That one must have hurt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cobb tries to close the distance and clinch but Balkan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Balkan throws the left hand but Cobb avoids the punch easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Coco Cobb just about did enough to take it.
The cut man is working on Jami Balkan's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Cobb throws a leg kick that misses.
Balkan fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Cobb throws a low kick but it's checked well by Balkan.
Balkan shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Cobb walks into a stiff left hand from Balkan.
Balkan keeps the fight on the outside.
Balkan scores with a three punch combo!
Cobb takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Balkan stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Balkan fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Cobb on the side of the head.
Cobb tries to move into range but Balkan moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Balkan tries to bum rush Cobb with a series of wild strikes but Cobb uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cobb misses with a straight left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters circling a little - Cobb finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Cobb keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Balkan tried to score with a low kick but Cobb checks it.
Balkan throws a combination. Cobb tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Cobb wants to clinch.
Balkan with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Cobb takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Balkan misses the shot to the body.
Balkan getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balkan looks to land a combination. Cobb sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Balkan throws a nice inside leg kick.
Cobb uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Balkan.
Cobb thuds his shin into the meat of Balkan's side.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Balkan lands with an uppercut that bounces Cobb off the cage and back into range.
Cobb buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Balkan takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Cobb misses with a low kick.
Balkan checks a low kick from Cobb.
Balkan throws a low kick but it's checked well by Cobb.
Cobb misses with a head kick.
Cobb throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cobb throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Cobb thows a body shot but no joy.
Balkan ducks under a wild hook from Cobb.
A bone on bone clash there as Balkan blocks the leg kick.
Balkan lands a head shot.
Balkan cracks Cobb with a good jab.
Cobb's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Balkan connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Cobb scrambles back to his feet.
Balkan avoids a kick to the body.
A solid leg kick lands there for Cobb.
Cobb looks for the body kick but Balkan saw that one coming.
A big right from Balkan misses.
Balkan cracks Cobb with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cobb tries to move into range but Balkan moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Balkan takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Nice straight punches there by Balkan. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Balkan.
Good leg kick by Cobb there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Cobb has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A chopping leg kick lands by Cobb.
Cobb tries to land a front kick but Balkan steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Cobb drives through and clinches with Balkan against the cage.
Balkan lands a hook to the side of the head.

Balkan breaks from the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cobb doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Cobb uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Balkan.
Balkan lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jami Balkan had his way with Coco Cobb in that round.
The cut man is working on Jami Balkan's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Cobb motions for Balkan to come forward. Cobb throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Balkan is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Balkan throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Cobb counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Cobb.
Cobb is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Balkan is defending well for now.
Cobb looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Balkan gets through Cobb's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Balkan leaning against his opponent.
Cobb tries a knee to the head but Balkan blocks it.
Cobb is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Balkan is defending well for now.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Balkan stalling in the clinch but Cobb improves position.
Balkan lands a hook to the side of the head.
Balkan misses with a hook to the ribs.
Balkan stalling in the clinch.

Balkan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balkan throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Cobb throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Balkan counters with an outside leg kick.
Balkan misses with a body shot.
Balkan takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Balkan motions for Cobb to come forward. Balkan throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Cobb blocks the body kick.
Cobb moves to clinch but Balkan breaks away
and Balkan counters with a slapping leg kick.
Balkan throws a sloppy head kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Balkan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Balkan throws a wild body kick that Cobb sees coming a mile off.
Cobb checks a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cobb fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cobb throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Cobb tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cobb takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Cobb drops his hands momentarily and Balkan takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Balkan swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Balkan takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Balkan, as that shot connected.
Balkan misses with a straight left.
Balkan checks a leg kick.
Balkan connects with a right hand. Cobb shakes it off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cobb staying out of range there.
Cobb keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Balkan misses with a kick to the body.
Balkan throws a jab when Cobb was well out of range.
Balkan looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Balkan tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Cobb throws a lazy head kick
and Balkan counters with a straight right hand.
Cobb wants to clinch up but Balkan keeps it at a distance.
Cobb tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Balkan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cobb checks a low kick from Balkan.
Balkan tries to land a leg kick but Cobb saw it coming and moves away.
Balkan attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balkan fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Cobb.

Cobb clinches up against the cage.

Balkan manages to break the clinch.
Cobb scores with a kick to the body.
A solid body kick from Balkan.
Cobb avoids the head kick by Balkan.
Cobb checks a leg kick.
Balkan will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Cobb tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Balkan misses with a low kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Good shot there by Balkan.
Cobb takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Cobb blocks a jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jami Balkan showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Balkan has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 48:48
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 49:48
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Jami Balkan!
Jami Balkan is the new lightweight champion!
During a confident post fight interview, Jami Balkan thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.