PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Reynolds (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arkady Balagan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Reynolds
vs
Balagan

177 cm
29
191 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

182 cm
20
195 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Very strong

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, James Reynolds!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Arkady Balagan!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Balagan closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Reynolds is trying to improve his position.
Balagan creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Reynolds sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
You can see the frustration on Reynolds's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Balagan working the strikes but Reynolds uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Balagan lands strikes from half guard.
Balagan throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Reynolds to regain full guard.
Reynolds avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Reynolds keeping moving, preventing Balagan from controlling successfully.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Balagan working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Balagan lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balagan postures up in Reynolds's guard and throws a big left but Reynolds blocks it.
Balagan throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Reynolds works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Balagan won't allow Reynolds to sweep him here.
Balagan must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Balagan throws a big right hand that misses.
Balagan postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Balagan postures up in Reynolds's guard and throws a big left but Reynolds blocks it.
Balagan scoring with punches to the head and body.
Balagan throwing strikes but missing.
Balagan loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Balagan in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Balagan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balagan throws an elbow that misses. Reynolds uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Balagan's guard. Nice move by Reynolds!
Reynolds stopping the sweep attempt from Balagan.
Balagan wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Balagan lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Reynolds!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Balagan unloading with bombs!
Balagan scores with a couple of good head shots there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balagan in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Balagan putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Balagan lands a couple of good shots and Reynolds has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Balagan connects with a big shot to the side of Reynolds's head.

Reynolds preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Balagan.
Balagan softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Balagan is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Reynolds. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Reynolds manages to reverse the position and now he's in Balagan's guard. Nice work there by Reynolds.
Balagan looking for a sweep. Not yet Balagan, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reynolds trying to control but Balagan is working from the bottom.
Balagan looking for a sweep. Not yet Balagan, not yet.
Reynolds wants to control from the top but Balagan keeps moving.
Balagan is controlling Reynolds's posture.
Reynolds throwing strikes from guard but Balagan blocks nicely.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Reynolds is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Balagan is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Balagan has escaped and now he's on top!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Balagan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arkady Balagan dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Reynolds tries to clinch up.

Balagan closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Reynolds did well to prevent Balagan getting side control.

Reynolds actively working from the bottom here.
Balagan seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Reynolds does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Balagan looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Reynolds on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Balagan drops an elbow to the side of Reynolds's head.
Balagan is trying to control the action in half guard but Reynolds is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Balagan winds up and cracks Reynolds with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Balagan throws a strike but Reynolds avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

Reynolds is looking for a triangle but Balagan pushes his legs off easily.
Balagan preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balagan wants to control from the top but Reynolds keeps moving.
Balagan advances position into side control!
Balagan working the ground and pound.
Balagan scoring with punches and elbows.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Balagan lands a few punches from side control.
Balagan landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Balagan working the body and head with strikes.

Reynolds is rocked!
Balagan gets to mount! Reynolds was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Oh Reynolds is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Balagan softens up his opponent with a couple of shots there and then CRACK! One massive shot lands there and Reynolds is out cold! Balagan jumps to his feet and celebrates on the cage with the fans, who are, quite frankly, going absolutely mental!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Arkady Balagan!
Arkady Balagan decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.