PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Barry Balls (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Hemingway (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hemingway has chosen Respect as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Balls
vs
Hemingway

203 cm
23
275 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

195 cm
29
265 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Barry Balls!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, James Hemingway!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hemingway loads up on a big right hand but Balls slips the punch.
Hemingway fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Balls misses with an uppercut.
Balls throws a nice looking combination but Hemingway bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Balls scores with a nice head shot.

It looks like James Hemingway has been cut.
A telegraphed right hand from Balls misses the target.
Balls lands a glancing blow to the side of Hemingway's head.
Hemingway avoids the body shot from Balls.
Hemingway takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Balls lands a jab to the nose.
Hemingway cracks Balls with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hemingway fails with the takedown.

Balls shoots in and bounces Hemingway off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Balls stands and steps away. Hemingway gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balls throws a jab when Hemingway was well out of range.
Balls waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hemingway.
Balls swings widly with a right hand

and Hemingway counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Hemingway.

Hemingway has Balls pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Hemingway pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Balls tumbling to the mat - Hemingway dives into Balls's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hemingway accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hemingway postures up in Balls's guard and throws a big left but Balls blocks it.
Hemingway postures up in Balls's guard and throws a big left but Balls blocks it.
Hemingway wants to control from the top but Balls keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balls is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Hemingway wants to pass the guard but Balls is keeping the position.
Hemingway is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Hemingway throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Balls works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hemingway throwing strikes but missing.
Hemingway throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Balls works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hemingway is looking to work some ground and pound but Balls has wrist control.
Hemingway missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hemingway missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hemingway missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Balls keeping moving, preventing Hemingway from controlling successfully.
Hemingway's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Hemingway slips nicely into half guard.
Balls has hold of Hemingway's hands but Hemingway slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hemingway thows a huge punch but Balls dodges it nicely.
Hemingway missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Balls regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Hemingway.
Hemingway throws an elbow that misses. Balls uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hemingway's guard. Nice move by Balls!
Hemingway looking for a sweep. Not yet Hemingway, not yet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hemingway is trying to control the position but Balls postures up.
Hemingway is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Hemingway dominated that round.
The cut man is working on James Hemingway's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hemingway closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Hemingway lands in his opponent's guard.
Hemingway wants to control from the top but Balls keeps moving.
Hemingway throws a big elbow that misses.
Hemingway stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Balls swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hemingway postures up.
Hemingway throwing strikes from guard but Balls blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hemingway throws an elbow that misses. Balls uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hemingway's guard. Nice move by Balls!
Balls stops Hemingway from standing up.
Hemingway manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Hemingway trying to control but Balls is having none of it.
Balls really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hemingway throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Hemingway misses with a head shot.
Hemingway wants to control the pace but Balls is squirming around nicely.
Hemingway lands a couple of good shots and Balls has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Hemingway.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Balls avoids the strikes from Hemingway.
Hemingway missing with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hemingway misses with punches from the back.
Hemingway trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Balls covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Hemingway trying to control momentarily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hemingway is landing with strikes from the back.
Can Balls hold on?! Hemingway is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Hemingway is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Hemingway gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Hemingway gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Hemingway apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Barry Balls seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
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!

Hemingway bobbing and weaving well here. And he's unloaded with a massive right hand that drops Balls! He dives into his guard looking to finish!

Balls is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hemingway missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Oh Balls is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Hemingway has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hemingway postures up, still in guard. A huge hammer fist lands that bounces Balls's head off the mat! Balls is out! He's out! Hemingway jumps to his feet and celebrates with his corner!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:24 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). James Hemingway!
In his post fight interview, James Hemingway started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.