PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jack Balls (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mario Eikmeyer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Jack Balls has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Balls
vs
Eikmeyer

170 cm
25
225 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

190 cm
18
252 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jack Balls!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mario Eikmeyer!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Sam Margolis and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Balls gets a clinch.
Eikmeyer has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Balls after a bit of a struggle.
Balls really is a fat lump.
Balls wants to break the clinch but can't.
Balls gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Eikmeyer.
Balls is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Balls gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Eikmeyer.
Jack Balls has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mario Eikmeyer.
Eikmeyer is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Eikmeyer lands a takedown into guard.
Eikmeyer stopping the sweep attempt from Balls.
Balls has momentary wrist control but Eikmeyer slips an elbow through the middle.
Eikmeyer engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Eikmeyer throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balls bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Eikmeyer's guard.
Balls might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Balls tries to stand but Eikmeyer is controlling from the bottom.
Eikmeyer wants to sweep here but Balls controlling him for the moment.
Eikmeyer doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Balls is looking to stand up but Eikmeyer won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balls is breathing heavily.
Eikmeyer wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Balls stands up out of Eikmeyer's guard for a moment - Eikmeyer manages to land a nice upkick.
Balls won't allow Eikmeyer to sweep him here.
Balls is looking to stand up but Eikmeyer won't let him.
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!
Eikmeyer seems keen to control Balls's posture.
Eikmeyer looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balls wanted to stand there but Eikmeyer had control of the position.
Balls preventing the sweep.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Eikmeyer shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Balls but Balls pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Eikmeyer.
Balls throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Eikmeyer looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Eikmeyer will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Eikmeyer fails with the takedown

and Balls counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balls wants to stand but Eikmeyer has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
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!
Eikmeyer bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Balls's guard.

Balls is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Eikmeyer passes Balls's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Balls wants to get back to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Eikmeyer lands strikes from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jack Balls will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Eikmeyer shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Balls sprawls well. Balls wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Eikmeyer gets slowly back to his feet.
Eikmeyer with a poor takedown

and Balls counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Balls.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Eikmeyer can do anything to dispel that myth.
Eikmeyer with a couple of shots from the bottom there - nothing Balls can't handle though.
Balls would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Eikmeyer looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Eikmeyer is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Balls is controlling him.

Eikmeyer has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Balls can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Balls would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Balls gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Jack Balls is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice body kick from Balls.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Balls.

Balls rushes Eikmeyer and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Balls escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Eikmeyer tries for a takedown but Balls circles away easily

and Balls counters with a single leg into guard. Eikmeyer didn't expect that.
Jack Balls has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mario Eikmeyer.
Balls wants to stand but Eikmeyer is controlling his posture from full guard.
Eikmeyer trying to control the position.

Balls stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Eikmeyer shoots in but no luck this time.
Eikmeyer shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Balls counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Eikmeyer has Balls pressed against the cage, preventing Balls from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Balls looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Balls prevents the takedown attempt.
Balls wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Eikmeyer is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Balls gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Eikmeyer drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Balls gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Balls is looking to break free of the clinch but Eikmeyer has double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eikmeyer goes for a takedown in the clinch but Balls prevents it.

Balls breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Eikmeyer gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Balls counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Balls wants to stand but Eikmeyer has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Eikmeyer is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Balls's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Balls's back!

Eikmeyer is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Balls has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

Eikmeyer is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Balls knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Balls for a finish.
Balls covering up well and avoiding damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Eikmeyer keeps control of the position as Balls tries to break free.
Eikmeyer is trying to stick to Balls's back but Balls is turning into Eikmeyer. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Eikmeyer's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Balls.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Eikmeyer looking to hit a scissor sweep but Balls is one step ahead there.
Balls would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Jack Balls overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Balls dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Balls keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Balls throws a head kick that half lands.

Eikmeyer drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Eikmeyer throwing strikes from guard but Balls blocks nicely.
Balls trying to control the position.
Eikmeyer has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Balls is proving hard to escape from.
Eikmeyer with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eikmeyer throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Balls works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Balls working for a triangle but Eikmeyer defends it easily.
Balls utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Balls avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Eikmeyer trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Eikmeyer slips nicely into half guard.
Balls is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balls pushes Eikmeyer off looking to stand but Eikmeyer dives back in and keeps control.
Eikmeyer working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Eikmeyer is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Balls defends it well.
Balls trying to control here.

Eikmeyer is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Balls is just riding it out for now. Eikmeyer eventually gives up the hold.

Eikmeyer trying to work for an americana but Balls has managed to regain full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Eikmeyer has gone for a leg lock! Balls slips out almost immediately though and dives into Eikmeyer's guard.
Balls wants to stand but Eikmeyer is controlling his posture from full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Eikmeyer looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Eikmeyer looking to control.

Eikmeyer throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balls wants to get up but he can't break Eikmeyer's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Eikmeyer looking for a guillotine here but Balls defends easily.
Balls trying to stand up but can't free himself from Eikmeyer's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Balls trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mario Eikmeyer comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Balls has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 James Atkins scores the fight for Jack Balls!
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight for Jack Balls!
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight for Jack Balls!

Jack Balls wins by unanimous decision!
A pretty intense looking Jack Balls took the opportunity post-fight to ask for a shot at the title.