PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vassago Ballardo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Plo Koon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Plo Koon has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Vassago Ballardo's chin.

Ballardo
vs
Koon

188 cm
27
219 lbs
11 - 10 - 0

193 cm
25
211 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vassago Ballardo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Plo Koon!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koon throws a looping overhand right but Ballardo ducks down to avoid it.
Ballardo has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Ballardo takes a jab right on the kisser.
Horrible takedown by Koon or perhaps it was just good defense by Ballardo which made him look bad.
Koon fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Ballardo.
Ballardo works the jab nicely.
Ballardo connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Koon momentarily.
Koon thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ballardo tries to clinch there but Koon circles away.
Koon throws a head kick but Ballardo moves out of range.

Koon shoots in and gets a takedown into Ballardo's guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Koon is looking to work some ground and pound but Ballardo has wrist control.
Koon looking to pass the guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Koon postures up.
Ballardo has control of Koon's left arm, preventing Koon from doing any damage.
Ballardo controls Koon momentarily but Koon frees himself.

We're going to have a standup here because Vassago Ballardo wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Koon looks to land a body kick but Ballardo moved away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ballardo moves away from the strike by Koon.
Ballardo scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Koon throws a leg kick but Ballardo sees it coming and moves out of range.
A chopping leg kick lands by Ballardo.
Ballardo uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Koon.
Ballardo dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Ballardo doesn't manage to clinch there - Koon circles away.
Koon wants to clinch up but Ballardo keeps it at a distance.
Koon on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Koon lands with a thumping leg kick.
Ballardo misses with a looping left.
Ballardo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Koon.
Koon blocks a jab.
Ballardo attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Koon scores with a leg kick.
Ballardo throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Koon throws a sloppy head kick and Ballardo moves out of range easily.
Ballardo throws a sloppy head kick and Koon moves out of range easily.
Koon uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ballardo.
Ballardo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A nice leg kick lands there from Koon.
Ballardo throws a front kick aimed at Koon's knee but Koon avoids it well.
Ballardo on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Koon throws a hook to the side of Ballardo's head but Ballardo sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Koon has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Koon throws a push kick but Ballardo slaps the foot to one side.
Ballardo stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Koon steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ballardo.
Koon buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Ballardo throws a body punch but Koon moves out of range.
Koon misses with a hook.
Ballardo misses with a straight left.
Koon throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ballardo avoids the head kick by Koon.
Ballardo tries to clinch up but Koon circles away and keeps his distance.
Ballardo throws a sloppy head kick and Koon moves out of range easily.
Ballardo misses with the combination.
Ballardo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Koon circles away quickly and effectively.

Ballardo gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ballardo tries to throw a body punch but Koon avoids it by throwing Ballardo back against the cage.
Ballardo misses with a short punch on the inside.
Koon working aggressively here.
Ballardo throws a punch but it's blocked by Koon.
Koon pushes Ballardo back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Koon tries to throw a body punch but Ballardo avoids it by throwing Koon back against the cage.
Koon misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ballardo swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ballardo misses with some punches.
Koon struggles to land a body shot inside as Ballardo controls his hands.
Still in the clinch, Ballardo scores with a nice short uppercut.
Koon misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Koon fails to land.
Ballardo misses with a hook from the clinch.
Koon blocks an elbow strike from Ballardo.
Ballardo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
With the fighters up against the cage, Ballardo throws an elbow but misses.
Ballardo misses with an elbow strike.
Ballardo blocks a body shot from Koon.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Koon blocks an uppercut.
Ballardo lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Koon backwards.
Koon cracks Ballardo with a nice body shot.
Koon lands an uppercut.
Ballardo lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Koon.
Ballardo is breathing heavily.
Koon misses with a hook to the ribs.
Koon lands a nice uppercut.
Ballardo misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ballardo lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Koon throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Ballardos head.
Ballardo swings wildly with an uppercut but Koon uses good head movement to avoid it.
Koon scores with a shot to the side of Ballardo's head.

It looks like Vassago Ballardo has been cut.
Ballardo throws an elbow but it's blocked.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Plo Koon will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Vassago Ballardo's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ballardo lands with a right hand.
Koon shoots in but Ballardo avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Koon thows a body shot but no joy.

Koon drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Koon prevents Ballardo from escaping the position.
Ballardo defending against the ground and pound.
Koon has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Koon looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Ballardo is avoiding damage well.
Ballardo tries to buck Koon off but Koon is having none of it.
Ballardo can't do much from the bottom here.
Ballardo is looking for a sweep.
Koon wants to control but Ballardo is keeping him busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ballardo isn't going anywhere.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koon is looking to take a break and control but Ballardo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Koon misses with the ground and pound.
Ballardo can't do much from the bottom here.
Koon trying to control the position but Ballardo is working away.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Ballardo pushes Koon up against the cage in a clinch.
Ballardo looking to slow down the pace here.
Ballardo working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Koon goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ballardo pushes Koon back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Ballardo makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Koon misses with the head strike.
A right handed body shot lands from Ballardo.
Koon is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koon blocks a body shot from Ballardo.
Ballardo lands an uppercut.
Koon misses with a punch on the inside.
Ballardo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ballardo lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Koon tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ballardo's elbow.
Koon prevents a body shot from Ballardo.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Ballardo.
Koon tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ballardo scores with a nice hook to the head.
A short body shot lands from Ballardo as the two fighters clinch.
Ballardo lands a left hand that snaps the head of Koon backwards.
Ballardo lands an elbow that stopped Koon in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Plo Koon has been cut.
Ballardo lands a left hand.
Ballardo lands a shot to the body.
Ballardo gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Ballardo lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Come on Ballardo - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Nice body punch from Ballardo.
Ballardo lands a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ballardo leaning his opponent against the cage.
Ballardo is leaning against Koon and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Ballardo lands a shot to the body.
Ballardo is leaning against Koon and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Ballardo lands an elbow inside.
Koon tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Ballardo throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Koons head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A short right from Ballardo on the inside.

Koon is rocked!
Ballardo lands a body punch.
Koon is still on wobbly legs! Can Ballardo finish him?
Ballardo lands an elbow inside that Koon shrugs off.
Ballardo pushes Koon against the cage. Ballardo is working some dirty boxing. Ballardo pushes off with a quick right hook! Koon goes down! Koon tries to stand but stumbles back to his kness! Ballardo moves in to finish and the ref steps in to prevent any more damage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:47 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Vassago Ballardo!
Vassago Ballardo decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.