PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Giovanni Balboa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Milosz Barchandao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Balboa comes to the cage accompanied by Fratelli D'Italia. Giovanni Balboa could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Milosz Barchandao's chin.

Balboa
vs
Barchandao

175 cm
22
184 lbs
12 - 2 - 0

185 cm
23
180 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Giovanni Balboa!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Milosz Barchandao!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, James Glass and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barchandao takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Balboa rushes Barchandao and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Barchandao wants to break free but Balboa has control.
Barchandao is trying to break the clinch but Balboa is controlling him.
Balboa lands a hook that snaps the head of Barchandao backwards.
Balboa prevents Barchandao from breaking the clinch.

Barchandao escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Balboa has taken the fight to the clinch.
Balboa goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Balboa misses with a punch on the inside.
Balboa scores with a nice hook to the head.

Barchandao pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Balboa tries to clinch but fails miserably
enabling Barchandao to counter with a crisp jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Barchandao is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Balboa.
A slow jab from Barchandao misses its intended target.
Balboa wants to clinch up but Barchandao keeps it at a distance.
Barchandao avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barchandao tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Balboa was well out of range. Poor timing from Barchandao.
Giovanni Balboa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Balboa is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Balboa slips under a jab from Barchandao.
Barchandao fails to land the takedown.

Balboa has taken the fight to the clinch.
Balboa fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Balboa throws a punch but it's blocked by Barchandao.
Balboa scores with a shot to the side of Barchandao's head.
Barchandao gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Balboa.
Barchandao is trying to break the clinch but Balboa has him pressed against the cage.
Balboa has Barchandao pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Barchandao manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Barchandao is trying to break the clinch but Balboa is controlling him.
Balboa swings wildly with an uppercut but Barchandao uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balboa works on Barchandao's body with a couple of short punches.
Balboa has Barchandao pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Barchandao manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Giovanni Balboa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A frustrated look appears on Barchandao's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Barchandao wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Balboa prevents Barchandao from breaking the clinch.
Barchandao stops a takedown attempt from Balboa.
Barchandao looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A left hand lands to the body for Balboa.
Balboa has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Barchandao avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Balboa is leaning against Barchandao and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Balboa tries for a takedown but Barchandao manages to get underhooks.
Barchandao has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Balboa misses with a hook from the clinch.
Balboa working aggressively here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balboa doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Balboa has Barchandao pressed against the cage, preventing Barchandao from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Barchandao tries to break free but Balboa pushes him back against the cage.
Balboa throws a head punch that misses.
Balboa misses with the head strike.
Balboa wants to take the fight to the mat but Barchandao manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Balboa is working for takedown but Barchandao is calmly controlling the position for now.

Barchandao breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Balboa closes the distance and pushes Barchandao back into the cage.
Balboa lands with a short shot to the head.
Balboa has Barchandao pressed against the cage, preventing Barchandao from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Balboa struggles to land a body shot inside as Barchandao controls his hands.
Nice body punch from Balboa - that landed with a thud.

Barchandao's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Balboa fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Barchandao fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Balboa sprawls well initially but Barchandao persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Balboa looks like he's trying to stand up.
Balboa is looking to control Barchandao's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Balboa avoid being mounted?
Balboa regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Barchandao.
Balboa utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Balboa is looking to sweep but instead, Barchandao has passed into half guard.
Barchandao is looking to advance position but Balboa won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Giovanni Balboa dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Barchandao waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Balboa.
Balboa tries to clinch there but Barchandao circles away.

Barchandao tries to keep at a distance but Balboa has taken the fight into the clinch.

Balboa pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Balboa looks to land a combination. Barchandao sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Barchandao fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Balboa to the ground. Barchandao is now in Balboa's guard.
Barchandao must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Balboa is looking to stand up but Barchandao isn't so interested in that idea.
Barchandao throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Balboa keeping full guard, as Barchandao tries to pass.

Balboa is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barchandao loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Barchandao scoring with punches to the head and body.
Barchandao wants to control from the top but Balboa keeps moving.
Barchandao working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Barchandao passes Balboa's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Balboa wants to get back to full guard.
Barchandao seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Balboa does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Balboa wants to improve his position but Barchandao is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barchandao throwing shots but Balboa is blocking nicely.

Barchandao stands up out of the half guard.
The fight stays on the outside here - Balboa looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Giovanni Balboa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barchandao dives in and grabs Balboa's left leg, looking for a takedown. Balboa pushes down on Barchandao's head and hops out.
Balboa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Barchandao was well out of range. Poor timing from Balboa.
Giovanni Balboa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Barchandao shoots in for a double leg but Balboa sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Balboa closes the distance but Barchandao moves to the side
and Barchandao cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Balboa slips under a jab from Barchandao.
Balboa uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Barchandao.
Barchandao shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Balboa defends it nicely.
Giovanni Balboa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Milosz Barchandao.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balboa misses with a few strikes there.
Barchandao misses with an uppercut.
Balboa tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nice defenses there by Barchandao.
Balboa tries to clinch but Barchandao is having none of it.
Barchandao takes one to the side of the head.
Balboa throws a series of strikes that have Barchandao backpedaling.
Barchandao avoids a punch combination nicely.
Balboa wants to clinch.
Balboa throws a right hand that Barchandao ducks under and follows up with a left that Barchandao also avoids with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barchandao blocks a jab.
Balboa throws a right and a left that both miss.
Barchandao throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Balboa looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Balboa clinches up with Barchandao and pushes him back against the cage.

Barchandao breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
No joy there for Balboa, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Barchandao fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barchandao shoots in looking for a takedown but Balboa manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Barchandao's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A jab from Balboa misses.
Balboa missing with a left hand there. Barchandao was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Balboa clobbers Barchandao with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
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 Giovanni Balboa will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Balboa just misses with a punch to the body.
Barchandao tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Balboa swivels and escapes.
Balboa tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Barchandao manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Barchandao closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Balboa did well to prevent Barchandao getting side control.
Balboa is controlling Barchandao's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Balboa has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Balboa kicks Barchandao off and gets back to his feet.
Barchandao pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Barchandao dodges the punch combination from Balboa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Balboa tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Barchandao tries for a takedown but Balboa sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Barchandao shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Balboa works his way to full guard. Good work.
Barchandao working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Balboa's head.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Balboa is on top in guard.

Balboa gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barchandao circles away from the clinch attempt
and Barchandao counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Barchandao looks to land a left hand but Balboa moved out of range nicely.
Barchandao just misses with a punch to the body.
Balboa looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Balboa uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Barchandao.
Barchandao is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Balboa.
Balboa punishes Barchandao's body with a nice straight punch.
Balboa tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Barchandao lands a nice shot to the body.

Balboa moves into range and clinches up with Barchandao.
Giovanni Balboa has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balboa tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Barchandao breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Balboa uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Barchandao looks to land a right hand but Balboa moved out of range.
Barchandao takes one on the button.
Barchandao shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Balboa as he avoids it easily.
Giovanni Balboa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Milosz Barchandao.
Balboa stuffs the takedown.
Barchandao fails to land the takedown.
Barchandao takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Barchandao closes this distance looking for a takedown but Balboa circles away.
Barchandao on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Balboa bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

Barchandao is rocked!
Giovanni Balboa is winning the standup battle so far.
Barchandao swats away the attempt to clinch by Balboa.
Barchandao is still on wobbly legs! Can Balboa finish him?
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Balboa closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barchandao wants to get back to striking at distance but Balboa won't allow it.
Balboa pushes Barchandao against the cage. Balboa is working some dirty boxing. Balboa pushes off with a quick right hook! Barchandao goes down! Barchandao tries to stand but stumbles back to his kness! Balboa moves in to finish and the ref steps in to prevent any more damage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:13 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Giovanni Balboa!
Giovanni Balboa retains his welterweight title!
During a confident post fight interview, Giovanni Balboa thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.