PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jami Balkan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richmond Finch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Balkan
vs
Finch

177 cm
24
152 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

176 cm
24
156 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Perkele!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jami Balkan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Richmond Finch!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Fedor Mirinova and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Finch misses the shot to the body.
Finch tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Balkan is able to avoid easily.
Balkan dips to his left and cracks Finch with an uppercut!
Balkan throws the left hand but Finch avoids the punch easily.
Balkan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Finch.
Finch 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.
Balkan cracks Finch with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Finch moves away from the strike by Balkan.
Balkan misses the jab.
Finch looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Balkan looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Balkan loads up on a big right hand but Finch slips the punch.
Balkan throws a wild body kick that Finch sees coming a mile off.
Balkan throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Finch sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Balkan takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Balkan cracks Finch with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Finch misses with a hook. Balkan ducked under it nicely.
Finch moves out of range as Balkan throws a body kick.
Finch throws a right hand that Balkan ducks under and follows up with a left that Balkan also avoids with ease.
A swing and a miss from Finch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balkan feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Finch's calf.
Finch throws a body punch but Balkan moves out of range.
A slow jab from Balkan misses its intended target.
Balkan throws a low kick but Finch moves out of range easily.
Finch ducks under a wild hook from Balkan.
Nice shot lands for Balkan.
Good shot there by Balkan.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Finch. Balkan shrugs it off though.
Balkan avoids the body shot from Finch.
Balkan throws a solid leg kick but Finch takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Balkan.
A punch lands to the side of Finch 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Balkan connects with a leg kick. Finch looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Finch lands with a kick to the ribs.
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!
Finch tries to land a front kick but Balkan steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Finch punishes Balkan's body with a nice straight punch.
Balkan throws a looping overhand right but Finch ducks down to avoid it.
Finch lands a nice looking body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balkan takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Balkan misses with an uppercut. Finch saw that one coming.
Finch digs a good body shot into Balkan's ribs.
Balkan throws a right hand that misses
and Finch counters with a nice uppercut.
Finch thows a left - swing and a miss!
Balkan throws a right hand that Finch ducks under and follows up with a left that Finch also avoids with ease.
Balkan misses with a straight right.
Finch fails to land with a series of punches.
A thudding body kick lands there by Finch!
Finch throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Balkan scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Balkan throws a series of punches but Finch moves out of range.
Finch fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Balkan manages to avoid it.
Finch scores with a body shot.
Balkan throws a right hand that Finch ducks under and follows up with a left that Finch also avoids with ease.
Finch uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Balkan.
Balkan throws a sloppy body shot
and Finch counters with a nice body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finch lunges at Balkan with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Balkan's hand.
Finch lands a body shot.
Finch slips a jab from Balkan.
Balkan rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Finch counters with a left to the body.
Balkan dodges the punch combination from Finch.
Finch tries to bum rush Balkan with a series of wild strikes but Balkan uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Balkan misses with a body shot.
Finch misses with a straight left.
Balkan takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Finch throws a hook to the side of Balkan's head but Balkan sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Finch is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Balkan rather than just go for the knockout.
Finch lands with a nice body kick.
Nice body kick there by Finch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Finch lands a slapping body shot.
Balkan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Finch moves away.
Finch misses with an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Finch. Balkan does a little dance to reset his feet.
Finch feints a jab promting Balkan to slip. Finch then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Balkan slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
A nice inside leg kick there by Balkan. That's going to slow Finch down.
Balkan uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Finch.
Balkan will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Finch paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Balkan avoids the body shot from Finch.
Finch avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Finch 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.
Balkan wants to slow Finch down by chopping away at his legs.
Balkan stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Balkan walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Finch comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Balkan tried to score with a low kick but Finch checks it.
Finch avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Finch lands a two punch combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Finch takes a swing at Balkan's ribcage but misses.

It looks like Jami Balkan has been cut.
Balkan will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Nice defenses there by Balkan.
Balkan throws a hook but Finch avoids it easily.
Balkan misses with a low kick.
Balkan steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Finch. That one must have hurt.
Finch scores with a sloppy right hand. Balkan should have avoided that one.
Finch keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Balkan.
Finch thows a left - swing and a miss!
Balkan throws out a leg kick but Finch moves out of range and Balkan only half commits.
Finch jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Finch cracks Balkan with a right hand to the side of the head.
Balkan throws a leg kick that misses.
Balkan pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Balkan throws a quick inside leg kick.
Balkan throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Balkan throws an off balance right hand
and Finch connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balkan waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Finch.
Finch throws a head kick that misses.
Richmond Finch seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Finch thuds a left hand into Balkan's body.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Balkan, as that shot connected.
Finch throws a jab but it's blocked by Balkan.
Finch misses with a jab to the body
and Balkan counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Finch throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Finch misses with a wild body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Finch. Balkan does a little dance to reset his feet.
Finch blocks a leg kick.
Nice body punch from Finch.
Finch throws a lazy right hand but Balkan sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Balkan blocks a jab.
A nice inside leg kick there by Balkan. That's going to slow Finch down.
Balkan uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Finch has time to react.
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!
Finch misses with a kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finch keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Balkan.
Balkan misses with an uppercut. Finch saw that one coming.
Balkan throws a hook but Finch blocks it.
Finch cracks a nice hook into Balkan's ribs.
Finch bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Finch tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Finch lands with a cross.
A jab lands there for Balkan.
Balkan slips under a jab from Finch.
Balkan pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Balkan connects with a leg kick. Finch looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Balkan misses with a low kick.
Balkan slips a jab from Finch.
Finch throws a right hand that Balkan ducks under and follows up with a left that Balkan also avoids with ease.
Finch lands a jab to the nose.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finch closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Balkan lands the left hand.
Finch takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Balkan uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Finch.
Donk. Balkan catches Finch right on the button with a cross.
Finch stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Finch's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Balkan steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Finch.
Balkan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Balkan on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Finch's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Finch duly obliges.
Balkan throws a leg kick which misses Finch's front leg but catches the back leg as Finch tries to avoid it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Finch throws a series of punches but Balkan moves out of range.
Finch steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Balkan.
Balkan throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Finch.
Balkan dips to his left and cracks Finch with an uppercut!

Finch is rocked!
Balkan swings widly with a right hand
and Finch counters with a nice body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Finch misses with an uppercut.
Balkan darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Finch throws a push kick but Balkan slaps the foot to one side.
Finch throws a body punch but Balkan moves out of range.
Finch lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Balkan circles away quickly and effectively.
Balkan just misses with a punch to the body.
Finch lands a jab.
A right-left combo lands from Finch.
Some bone on bone action there as Finch checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Balkan misses with an uppercut. Finch saw that one coming.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Finch moves out of range of the strikes.
A slapping leg kick lands for Finch.
Balkan throws a leg kick but Finch sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Finch takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Richmond Finch will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Jami Balkan's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Balkan throws a head kick that misses.
Finch throws a right and a left that both miss.
Balkan throws a hook but Finch blocks it.
Finch takes one to the side of the head.
Balkan misses with a leg kick.
A slow jab from Balkan misses its intended target.
Balkan throws a chopping leg kick but Finch manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Finch looks to land a left hand but Balkan moved out of range nicely.
Finch misses with a jab to the body
enabling Balkan to counter with a crisp jab.
That kick from Balkan tenderised Finch's leg. Finch is trying to keep his angry face on.
Balkan throws a head kick but Finch moves out of range.
Finch pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Finch slips under a jab from Balkan.
Balkan throws the kick towards the body but Finch avoids it.
Finch slips a jab from Balkan.
Balkan tries to score with a low kick but Finch moves his leg out of the way.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A clash of legs there as Finch blocks the low kick.
Finch rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Balkan moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Balkan showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Finch.
Finch staying out of range there.
A swing and a miss from Balkan.
Finch swinging wildly here.
Finch checks the leg kick nicely there.
Finch throws a nice inside leg kick.
A slow jab from Balkan misses its intended target.
Finch throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Finch's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Balkan connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Finch scrambles back to his feet.
Balkan shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Finch is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Balkan.
Jami Balkan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finch swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Finch throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Balkan misses with a low kick.
Balkan throws a low kick, looking for Finch's leg but Finch calmly moves out of range.
Finch misses the shot to the body.
Balkan will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
The fighters circle momentarily. Finch darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Balkan lands a lovely overhand right.
Finch has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Balkan lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Finch steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Balkan.
Balkan uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Finch.
Balkan connects with a single shot there.
Finch is still on wobbly legs! Can Balkan finish him?
Finch scoring well with a low kick there.
Balkan gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Finch seems to have recovered his senses.
Balkan throws the left hand but Finch avoids the punch easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Finch.
Balkan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Finch was well out of range. Poor timing from Balkan.
A looping hook to the body misses from Balkan. Finch does a little dance to reset his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A jab from Finch misses.
Balkan does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Balkan throws a poor cross that misses
and Finch counters with a nice body shot.
Finch takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Finch works the jab nicely.
Finch scores with a nice strike.
Balkan avoids the body shot from Finch.
A left lands for Finch.
Balkan takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Balkan throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Finch checks a leg kick.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Finch!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Balkan slips a straight right by Finch.
Richmond Finch is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Balkan lands a leg kick that knocks Finch off balance momentarily.
Balkan misses with a hook to the body
and Finch counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Balkan looks to throw the jab but Finch is out of range.
Balkan throws a push kick but Finch slaps the foot to one side.
Finch moves out of range of the body kick from Balkan.
Finch's jab looks to have found its range, popping Balkan under the eye.
Balkan moves forwards but Finch connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Finch throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Balkan tries to land a front kick but Finch steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Balkan misses with a body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Balkan throws a body kick that misses.
Balkan looks to land a left hand but Finch moved out of range nicely.
Finch checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Finch throws a nice head kick!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jami Balkan.
Well Finch 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Richmond Finch!
Richmond Finch was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.