PBP Commentary

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

Balestra
vs
Buraczany

177 cm
27
135 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

150 cm
26
130 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fernando Balestra!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Burak Buraczany!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Seu Braga and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Buraczany looks to land a combination but Balestra avoids it well.
Balestra looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Buraczany throws a left and a right that both miss
and Balestra counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Buraczany will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Buraczany misses with a few strikes there.
Buraczany tries to clinch up
and Balestra counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Buraczany throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Balestra counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Buraczany thinking.
Buraczany should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Buraczany throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Balestra.
Buraczany displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Balestra.
Balestra really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Buraczany throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Buraczany tries to close the distance and clinch up but Balestra swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Buraczany is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Buraczany is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Balestra misses with a takedown attempt - Buraczany sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Buraczany is looking to clinch but Balestra is avoiding it.
Buraczany moves in looking to clinch but Balestra pushes him off.
Buraczany throws a series of punches but Balestra avoids them all with ease.
Burak Buraczany is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Buraczany wants to clinch.
Buraczany misses with a combination
and Balestra counters with an inside leg kick.
Buraczany tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Balestra paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Buraczany tries to clinch but Balestra moves out of range.
Buraczany is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Buraczany tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Balestra dodges the punch combination from Buraczany.
Buraczany lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Balestra circles away quickly and effectively.
Balestra throws a head kick but Buraczany moves out of range.
Sloppy strikes from Buraczany. Those never looked like landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Buraczany is looking to clinch but Balestra is avoiding it.
Balestra keeps the fight on the outside.
Buraczany wants to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Buraczany looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Buraczany tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Buraczany tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Balestra paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Buraczany misses with a two punch combination.
The fight stays on the outside here - Buraczany looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Buraczany tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Buraczany tries to bum rush Balestra with a series of wild strikes but Balestra uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Buraczany wants to clinch.
Buraczany tries to clinch but Balestra is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Buraczany misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Buraczany tries to clinch up.
A combination from Buraczany does no damage.
Buraczany tries to clinch up.
Buraczany fails with an attempt to clinch.
Balestra keeps the fight on the outside.
Buraczany tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Balestra manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Balestra fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fernando Balestra. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Buraczany tries to bum rush Balestra with a series of wild strikes but Balestra uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Buraczany fails in his attempt to clinch.
Buraczany throws a series of punches but Balestra moves out of range.
Buraczany tries to clinch but Balestra moves out of range.
Balestra slips a jab and a cross from Buraczany.
Buraczany tries to clinch up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Buraczany misses with a jab, cross combination.
Some wild striking there from Buraczany.
Buraczany throws a series of punches but Balestra moves out of range.
Buraczany throws a series of punches but Balestra moves out of range.
Buraczany tries to clinch but Balestra moves out of range.
Buraczany doesn't manage to clinch there - Balestra circles away.

Balestra has Buraczany up against the cage in a clinch.
Buraczany is trying to maintain a safe position but Balestra gets an underhook and turns Buraczany into the cage.
Buraczany tries to break the clinch but Balestra is controlling the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Buraczany prevents a takedown attempt there.
Buraczany tries to break the clinch but Balestra is controlling the position.
Balestra jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Buraczany walks away with a smile on his face. Balestra gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Burak Buraczany dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Buraczany misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Buraczany moves in looking to clinch but Balestra pushes him off.
Buraczany is looking to clinch but Balestra is avoiding it.
Buraczany tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Balestra counters with a straight right hand.
Buraczany will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Buraczany is looking to clinch but Balestra is avoiding it.
Buraczany tries to clinch up but Balestra circles away and keeps his distance.
Buraczany is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Buraczany wants to clinch.
Buraczany throws a nice looking combination but Balestra bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Buraczany lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Balestra circles away quickly and effectively.
Balestra slips a jab and a cross from Buraczany.
Buraczany throws a combination that misses
and Balestra counters with a flying knee. Nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Buraczany tries to clinch but Balestra is having none of it.
Buraczany tries to clinch there but Balestra circles away.
Fernando Balestra is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Buraczany wants to clinch.
Buraczany tries to clinch up.
Buraczany rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Balestra moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Buraczany tries to bum rush Balestra with a series of wild strikes but Balestra uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Buraczany tries to clinch but Balestra moves out of range.
Buraczany fails with an attempt to clinch.
Balestra avoids a punch combination nicely.

Balestra pushes Buraczany up against the cage in a clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Buraczany seems frustrated at his inability to get double underhooks.
Buraczany wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Balestra stalling in the clinch.
Buraczany tries to circle away but Balestra has him pinned against the cage.
Buraczany wants to break the clinch but can't.
Buraczany wants to break free but Balestra has control.
Buraczany tries to stall but Balestra uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Burak Buraczany.
Buraczany wants to clinch up but Balestra keeps it at a distance.
Balestra showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Buraczany.
Balestra circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balestra shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Buraczany will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Buraczany misses with a wild combination.
Balestra avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Buraczany fails with an attempt to clinch.
Buraczany tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Buraczany throws a right and a left that Balestra avoids nicely.
Buraczany looks to land a combination but Balestra avoids it well.
Buraczany tries to clinch but Balestra is having none of it.
Balestra circles away from the clinch attempt.
Burak Buraczany seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Balestra swats away the attempt to clinch by Buraczany.
Burak Buraczany seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Buraczany throws a right hand that Balestra ducks under and follows up with a left that Balestra also avoids with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Buraczany throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Buraczany tries to close the distance and clinch but Balestra swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Buraczany misses with a jab, cross combination.
A combination from Buraczany does no damage.
Buraczany wants to clinch.
Balestra avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Buraczany throws a combination that misses
and Balestra counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Buraczany thinking.
Buraczany swinging wildly here.
Buraczany looks to land a combination but Balestra avoids it well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Buraczany swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Balestra counters with a left and a right that stings Buraczany.
Buraczany throws a left and a right that both miss
and Balestra counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Balestra clinches up with Buraczany and pushes him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Burak Buraczany showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Balestra's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Buraczany throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Balestra counters with a right hand to the body.
Buraczany tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Balestra paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Buraczany tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Balestra circles away from the clinch attempt.
Buraczany tries to clinch up but Balestra circles away and keeps his distance.
A punch combination from Buraczany misses.
Buraczany tries to clinch but Balestra moves out of range.
Buraczany swinging wildly here.
Balestra shoots in but Buraczany avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Balestra slips a jab and a cross from Buraczany.
Buraczany tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Balestra manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Buraczany tries to clinch up but Balestra circles away and keeps his distance.
Buraczany fails to land with a series of punches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Buraczany wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Buraczany throws a combination that misses
and Balestra counters with an inside leg kick.
Buraczany throws a right hand that Balestra ducks under and follows up with a left that Balestra also avoids with ease.
Balestra fails with a takedown attempt.
Buraczany throws a right and a left that both miss.
Buraczany falls off balance throwing a combination
and Balestra counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Buraczany thinking.
Buraczany tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Balestra paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Buraczany rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Balestra moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Buraczany tries to clinch up but Balestra circles away and keeps his distance.

Buraczany tries to keep at a distance but Balestra has taken the fight into the clinch.
Buraczany is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fernando Balestra. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Buraczany looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balestra prevents Buraczany from breaking the clinch.
Buraczany wants to break the clinch but can't.
Buraczany tries to circle away but Balestra has him pinned against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Balestra wants to stall.
Balestra has Buraczany pressed against the cage, preventing Buraczany from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Buraczany wants to break free but Balestra has control.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Balestra as Buraczany tries to tie him up.
Balestra tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Buraczany just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Buraczany is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Burak Buraczany.
Buraczany swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Buraczany fails with an attempt to clinch.
Buraczany looks to land a combination but Balestra avoids it well.
Balestra shoots in and drives through. Buraczany sprawls well.
Buraczany doesn't manage to clinch there - Balestra circles away.
Buraczany misses with a two punch combination.
Buraczany wants to clinch up but Balestra keeps it at a distance.
Buraczany misses with a combination
and Buraczany takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Buraczany tries to clinch up
and Balestra counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Buraczany is looking to clinch.
Buraczany fails in his attempt to clinch.
Balestra dodges the punch combination from Buraczany.
Balestra showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Buraczany.
Balestra dodges the punch combination from Buraczany.
A punch combination from Buraczany misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Balestra looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Buraczany tries to clinch up.
Fernando Balestra has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Burak Buraczany is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Buraczany throws a series of punches but Balestra moves out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Burak Buraczany comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Buraczany has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight for Burak Buraczany!
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight for Burak Buraczany!
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight for Burak Buraczany!

Burak Buraczany wins by unanimous decision!