PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between mike swick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and JanPeter Balkenende (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Balkenende is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: another 1 bites the dust. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

swick
vs
Balkenende

150 cm
19
130 lbs
3 - 8 - 0

160 cm
21
140 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, mike swick!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, JanPeter Balkenende!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, William Gold and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
swick is looking to clinch.

Balkenende feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Balkenende trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Balkenende accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
swick could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
swick keeping moving, preventing Balkenende from controlling successfully.
swick avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Balkenende stands up from swick's guard - Balkenende perhaps looking for a knockout.
swick pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Balkenende slips under a jab.
swick misses with a looping left.

Balkenende looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
swick keeping full guard, as Balkenende tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
swick keeping moving, preventing Balkenende from controlling successfully.
Balkenende tries to free his leg and advance position but swick is retaining full guard.

Balkenende drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and swick dives on top into guard.
swick stops Balkenende from standing up.
Balkenende bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in swick's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Balkenende prevents swick from getting back to his feet.
Balkenende loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Balkenende postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Balkenende trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
swick keeping moving, preventing Balkenende from controlling successfully.
Balkenende slips nicely into half guard.
swick is breathing heavily.

Balkenende is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Balkenende is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and swick defends it well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Balkenende thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Balkenende 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.
Balkenende wants to control but swick is keeping him busy.
Balkenende lands with a punch from half guard.
Balkenende throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Balkenende slows the pace down in half guard.
Balkenende lands strikes from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JanPeter Balkenende dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Balkenende scores a takedown into full mount!
Balkenende working the ground and pound effectively.
Balkenende lands a big shot there that rocks swick but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Balkenende with good strikes from the mount here!
Balkenende misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
swick knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Balkenende on the ground.
swick is squirming around, avoiding Balkenende's attempts to control the action.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Balkenende with good strikes from the mount here!

That's one minute gone in the round.
swick is bucking up trying to escape but Balkenende cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Balkenende lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
swick is bucking up trying to escape but Balkenende cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Balkenende postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. swick looks a forlorn figure.

swick defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Balkenende.
Balkenende controlling from the full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balkenende connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Balkenende landing strikes from the mount and swick is in trouble!

Balkenende has control of swick's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and swick regains control of the situation pretty easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Balkenende lands with some strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balkenende lands a nice shot to the head.
Balkenende is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Balkenende putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Balkenende tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Balkenende working swick over with strikes here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Balkenende with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Balkenende working the ground and pound effectively.
Balkenende landing punches.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
swick taking shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JanPeter Balkenende showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

swick slips a jab and a cross from Balkenende.

Balkenende scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Balkenende is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Balkenende is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Balkenende trying to pass the guard but swick defending well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balkenende not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Balkenende looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
swick avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Balkenende.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Balkenende is pressing down on swick's thigh, looking to free his foot. swick is holding on for now.
Well,swick is on his way to losing a decision here. Can he use his experience to pull something off in the closing minutes?
Balkenende content to control rather than advance.
Balkenende working swick over with strikes.

swick is defending against the submission attempts here by Balkenende.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balkenende has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Balkenende is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but swick is surviving well by controlling Balkenende's body position as best he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Balkenende working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
JanPeter Balkenende is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Balkenende jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… swick is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by swick and Balkenende has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
swick is working to avoid the ground and pound but Balkenende connects with a decent elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
JanPeter Balkenende comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Balkenende 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 Paul Tew scores the fight for JanPeter Balkenende!
Judge William Gold scores the fight for JanPeter Balkenende!
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight for JanPeter Balkenende!

JanPeter Balkenende wins by unanimous decision!