PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Giovanni Balboa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pawel Konopacki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Balboa comes to the cage accompanied by Fratelli D'Italia. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Balboa
vs
Konopacki

175 cm
23
184 lbs
13 - 2 - 0

179 cm
23
171 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

//buriedALIVE// Fight Gear

Beefwear (New Gis, $15)

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 13 - 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 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Pawel Konopacki!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, James Glass and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Konopacki throws a nice inside leg kick.
A swing and a miss from Balboa.
Balboa looks to land a left hand but Konopacki moved out of range nicely.
Konopacki misses with an attempted mid kick.
Balboa swings widly with a right hand
enabling Konopacki to counter with a crisp jab.
Giovanni Balboa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Balboa swinging wildly here.
Balboa slips a jab from Konopacki.
Konopacki connects with an inside leg kick.
Konopacki moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Konopacki shoots in looking for a takedown but Balboa manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Konopacki's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Balboa lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Balboa swings widly with a right hand
and Konopacki connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Balboa is looking to clinch but Konopacki is avoiding it.
Konopacki lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa moves in looking to clinch but Konopacki pushes him off.
The fighters circling - Konopacki throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Konopacki keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Balboa.
Konopacki scores with a nice right hand.
Konopacki lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Konopacki blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Balboa tries to throw a body punch but Konopacki avoids it by throwing Balboa back against the cage.
Balboa tries to stall but Konopacki uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Konopacki trying to control the position but instead, Balboa has worked for underhooks and has pushed Konopacki into the cage.
Balboa lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Konopacki blocks an uppercut.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Konopacki.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Konopacki.
Balboa lands a left hand that snaps the head of Konopacki backwards.
Konopacki scores with a shoulder strike.
Balboa blocking some punches.
A nice right hand lands inside from Konopacki.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Konopacki misses with a punch on the inside.
Konopacki blocks a body shot from Balboa.
Konopacki lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Konopacki scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Konopacki struggles to land a body shot inside as Balboa controls his hands.
Konopacki scores with a shoulder strike.
Konopacki swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Konopacki tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Balboa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Balboa tries to throw a body punch but Konopacki avoids it by throwing Balboa back against the cage.
Balboa working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Konopacki.
A head punch on the inside from Balboa fails to land.
Balboa taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balboa fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Balboa blocks an uppercut.
Balboa swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Konopacki works on Balboa's body with a couple of short punches.
A head punch on the inside from Balboa fails to land.
Konopacki tries for a takedown but Balboa manages to get underhooks.
Konopacki pushes Balboa back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Konopacki creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Konopacki misses with a hook from the clinch.
Konopacki swings wildly with an uppercut but Balboa uses good head movement to avoid it.
Balboa blocking some punches.
Balboa is working for takedown but Konopacki is calmly controlling the position for now.
Konopacki throws a head punch that misses.
Balboa is trying to break free.
Balboa dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Konopacki digs a right hand into Balboa's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Balboa's gas tank.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Konopacki digs a right hand into Balboa's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Balboa's gas tank.
Konopacki is trying to maintain a safe position but Balboa gets an underhook and turns Konopacki into the cage.
Balboa tries for a takedown. No joy.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Balboa's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Konopacki has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Balboa avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Giovanni Balboa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pawel Konopacki.
Konopacki lands a left hand that snaps the head of Balboa backwards.
Konopacki lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Konopacki has a couple of punches blocked by Balboa.
Balboa's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A short right from Konopacki.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Balboa lands with a left to the head.
Konopacki scores with a nice hook to the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Konopacki tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Konopacki scores with a shoulder strike.
Konopacki throws a head punch that misses.
Konopacki lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pawel Konopacki dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Konopacki avoids a punch combination nicely.
Konopacki connects with a nice looking jab.
Giovanni Balboa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Balboa throws a series of punches but Konopacki moves out of range.
Konopacki lands a jab to the head.
Konopacki blocks a jab.
Balboa tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Konopacki manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Konopacki misses with a hook. Balboa ducked under it nicely.
Balboa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Balboa misses with a looping right.
Konopacki avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Balboa misses with a body punch
and Konopacki counters with a nice uppercut.
Balboa misses with a hook
and Konopacki counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Balboa looks to land a right hand but Konopacki moved out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa tries to clinch

and Konopacki counters with a single leg into guard. Balboa didn't expect that.
Balboa wants to stand up but Konopacki is controlling him.
Konopacki preventing the sweep.
Konopacki is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Konopacki with a flurry of punches that miss.
Konopacki wants to control from the top but Balboa keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Konopacki chips away with some ground and pound.
Konopacki postures up in Balboa's guard and throws a big left but Balboa blocks it.
Konopacki throws a big elbow that misses.
Konopacki tries to free his leg and advance position but Balboa is retaining full guard.
Konopacki must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Konopacki is looking to work some ground and pound but Balboa has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Konopacki working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Konopacki not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Konopacki lands a couple of digs.
Konopacki throws a big elbow that misses.
Konopacki pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Balboa is keeping the position for now.
Balboa can't keep his opponent in guard - Konopacki advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Konopacki trying to control the action but Balboa is working from the bottom.

Balboa has one foot on Konopacki's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Balboa looks to land a left hand but Konopacki moved out of range nicely.
Konopacki throws a leg kick which misses Balboa's front leg but catches the back leg as Balboa tries to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Konopacki.
Balboa swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Konopacki stuns Balboa with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Konopacki feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Balboas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Balboa keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Konopacki.
That kick from Konopacki tenderised Balboa's leg. Balboa is trying to keep his angry face on.
Konopacki is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Balboa.
Balboa on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Balboa is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Balboa cracks Konopacki with an open hand slap.
Konopacki cracks Balboa with a good jab.
Balboa just misses with a punch to the body.
Konopacki slips a jab and a cross from Balboa.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balboa tries to clinch up but Konopacki circles away and keeps his distance.

Balboa gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Konopacki with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Konopacki pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Balboa is keeping the position for now.
Konopacki prevents Balboa from getting back to his feet.
Konopacki lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Konopacki missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Konopacki looking to sit in guard and control but Balboa gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Konopacki trying to control the position here.
Konopacki looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pawel Konopacki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Balboa connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Pawel Konopacki seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Balboa tries to close the distance and clinch but Konopacki swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Konopacki throws a right hand that misses
and Balboa makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Balboa just misses with a punch to the body.
Konopacki lands a nice shot to the body.

Balboa moves into range and clinches up with Konopacki.
A short right from Konopacki.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Konopacki creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Balboa throws a head punch that misses.
Balboa has a couple of punches blocked by Konopacki.

Konopacki breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Balboa moves out of range of the body kick.
Balboa takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Konopacki takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa takes one on the button.
Balboa is looking to clinch but Konopacki is avoiding it.
Giovanni Balboa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Konopacki clobbers Balboa with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Konopacki circles away from the clinch attempt
and Konopacki counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Balboa doesn't manage to clinch there - Konopacki circles away.
Balboa throws a series of punches but Konopacki avoids them all with ease.
Konopacki connects with a nice looking jab.
A lazy left from Balboa finds it's target.
Balboa fails with an attempt to clinch.
Balboa looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Konopacki fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Balboa closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Konopacki.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Balboa's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Konopacki fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Konopacki tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Balboa just stands there and leans against the cage.
Konopacki lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Konopacki scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Konopacki swings wildly with an uppercut but Balboa uses good head movement to avoid it.
Balboa throws a punch but it's blocked by Konopacki.
Konopacki is looking to control Balboa's arms but Balboa gets an underhook and turns him. Now Konopacki has his back to the cage.
Balboa digs a right hand underneath Konopacki's ribcage. Konopacki let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Konopacki tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Konopacki misses with a hook from the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Balboa.
Balboa goes for a takedown in the clinch but Konopacki prevents it.
Konopacki taking a breather.
Balboa is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Konopacki pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Balboa blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Konopacki breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Konopacki displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Balboa throws out the jab.
Balboa getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Balboa throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Konopacki takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Konopacki scores with a spinning back kick!
Balboa takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Konopacki misses with a body shot.
Balboa throws the left hand but Konopacki avoids the punch easily.

Balboa tries to sprawl but Konopacki drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Konopacki wants to pass the guard but Balboa is defending well.
Konopacki passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Balboa!
Balboa is squirming around, avoiding Konopacki's attempts to control the action.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Balboa is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Balboa is working to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Giovanni Balboa did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Balboa swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Balboa closes the distance and clinches.
Konopacki blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Balboa blocks an uppercut.
A bit of stalling here from Konopacki.
Konopacki blocking some punches.
Konopacki lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Balboa jumps guard but Konopacki turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Konopacki lands a nice uppercut.
Konopacki tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Balboa smiles and moves away.
Balboa darts in trying to clinch
and Konopacki cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Balboa tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Konopacki counters with a good, hard body kick but Balboa shrugs it off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa misses with a jab to the body

and Konopacki counters with a nice double leg into side control. Balboa won't be happy with that.
Konopacki connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Balboa some visible discomfort.
Balboa dodges the ground and pound from Konopacki.
Balboa struggling a bit here.
Konopacki landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Konopacki moves into full mount!
Konopacki can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Balboa is looking to escape.
Balboa gets back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Konopacki wants to free his trapped foot but Balboa is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Konopacki keeps trying to improve his position.
Balboa keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

Konopacki is working for a kimura but Balboa is defending it quite comfortably.
Konopacki is trying to control. Balboa wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Balboa makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Balboa looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A decent looking cross lands there for Konopacki.
Balboa throws a hook to the side of Konopacki's head but Konopacki sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Balboa wants to clinch up but Konopacki keeps it at a distance.
Balboa misses with an uppercut.
Konopacki changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Balboa tries to avoid it but Konopacki manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Balboa to the ground. Balboa escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Konopacki throws the left hand but Balboa avoids the punch easily.
Konopacki circles away from the clinch attempt.
Konopacki scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balboa darts in trying to clinch

and Konopacki counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Konopacki trying to control the position from guard on top but Balboa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Konopacki sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Balboa keeping moving, preventing Konopacki from controlling successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Konopacki engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Pawel Konopacki wasn't active enough on the ground.
Balboa throws out a loose jab but Konopacki uses good head movement to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pawel Konopacki dominated that fourth round.
That's time! Balboa's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Konopacki shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Balboa pinned against the cage. Balboa gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Balboa tries to clinch up but Konopacki circles away and keeps his distance.
Balboa throws an off balance right hand
and Konopacki counters with a nice body kick.
Balboa just misses with a punch to the body.
Konopacki throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Balboa sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Balboa wants to clinch.
Konopacki cracks the inside of Balboa's front leg.
Balboa moves to clinch but Konopacki breaks away
and Konopacki counters with a stiff right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Konopacki.
Konopacki cracks Balboa with a right hand to the side of the head.
Konopacki tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Balboa was well out of range. Poor timing from Konopacki.
Balboa is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Balboa tries to clinch but Konopacki is having none of it.
Balboa moves out of range of the leg kick from Konopacki.
Balboa takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Balboa moves in looking to clinch but Konopacki pushes him off.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Konopacki.
Konopacki in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Balboa is trying to control Konopacki's posture but Konopacki avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Konopacki misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Konopacki tries to advance to mount but Balboa denies him.
Balboa is looking to regain half guard here but Konopacki keeps moving and retains side control.
Konopacki wants to lay and pray for a moment but Balboa keeps working.
Giovanni Balboa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Konopacki in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
You can see the frustration on Balboa's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Konopacki wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Balboa, who protects the arm well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balboa is not content to let Konopacki control the position.
Konopacki might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Balboa haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Konopacki taking a breather here.
Balboa takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Pawel Konopacki is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balboa is not content to let Konopacki control the position.
Konopacki is trying to move to mount but Balboa reverses beautifully and ends up in Konopacki's guard.
Konopacki wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Balboa preventing the sweep.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Konopacki seems keen to control Balboa's posture.
Konopacki preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Pawel Konopacki.
Konopacki listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pawel Konopacki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Konopacki 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 46:49
Judge James Glass scores the fight 46:50
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pawel Konopacki! Pawel Konopacki retains his welterweight title!