PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Giorgio Girardi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Christopher Balisi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Girardi
vs
Balisi

174 cm
20
155 lbs
3 - 1 - 1

186 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Giorgio Girardi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Christopher Balisi!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Colin Fray and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balisi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Balisi throws a one two combo.
Balisi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Balisi falls off balance throwing a combination
and Girardi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Girardi throws a series of punches but Balisi avoids them all with ease.
Balisi misses with a double jab.
Balisi falls off balance throwing a combination

and Girardi counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Balisi!
We've been hearing that Girardi has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Girardi tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Girardi has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Girardi grinds an elbow into Balisi's temple.
Balisi can't do much from the bottom here.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Girardi tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Girardi thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Balisi's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Girardi is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Balisi has escaped the position, nice work there.
Balisi wants to control but Girardi postures up.

Girardi is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Balisi is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Girardi creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Balisi wants to get back to his feet.

Girardi is trying to get an arm triangle but Balisi is defending well.
Balisi manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Girardi might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balisi wants to stand up but Girardi is controlling the position.

Girardi is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Balisi pulls his head out easily.
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!

Girardi is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Balisi pulls his head out easily.

Girardi looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Girardi looking for submissions off his back.

Girardi is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Balisi pulls his head out easily.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Girardi looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Girardi trying to control from the bottom.

Balisi decides to stand up.
Girardi fails to land the takedown.
Girardi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Balisi swinging wildly here.
Balisi lands a leg kick that knocks Girardi off balance momentarily.
Girardi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balisi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
The fight stays on the outside here - Balisi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Balisi scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Girardi throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Balisi stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

Girardi scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Balisi is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Balisi looks winded!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Girardi is working for a kimura but Balisi is defending it quite comfortably.
Balisi taking some punishment here, with Girardi in his half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Girardi is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Balisi sees it coming and defends easily.

Girardi is looking for a kimura but Balisi is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Girardi to get the leverage.
Balisi is trying to stand.

Girardi is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Balisi has managed to free his arm - good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Balisi misses with a double jab

and Girardi counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Balisi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Girardi throws a big right hand that misses.

Girardi thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Girardi is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Girardi trying to control but Balisi is working from the bottom.
Balisi trying to control the position here.
Girardi lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Balisi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Girardi is one step ahead there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Balisi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Girardi is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Girardi landing some decent shots from guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Girardi drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Girardi jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Balisi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Girardi lands a couple of digs.

Girardi thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Balisi wants to stand up but Girardi is controlling him.
Balisi is breathing heavily.
Girardi is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Girardi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Balisi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Girardi is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Girardi scoring with some ground and pound.
Balisi wants to sweep but no luck.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Balisi is looking to stand up but Girardi isn't so interested in that idea.
Balisi being controlled here, momentarily.
Girardi trying to control the position from guard on top but Balisi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Girardi scoring with some ground and pound.
Girardi prevents Balisi from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Girardi controlling from the top position.
Girardi wants to control from the top but Balisi keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Giorgio Girardi wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Girardi lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

Balisi is rocked!
Balisi throws a left and a right that both miss

and Girardi counters by clinching up.
Balisi is still on wobbly legs! Can Girardi finish him?

Balisi breaks the clinch.
Balisi seems to have recovered his senses.
Balisi misses with a wild combination.
Balisi swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Girardi counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Girardi has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Girardi drops back looking for a leg! Balisi is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Balisi manages to kick Girardi off! Girardi jumps back into Balisi's guard.

Girardi drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Girardi jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Girardi content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Balisi keeping moving, preventing Girardi from controlling successfully.
Girardi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Balisi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Girardi scoring with some ground and pound.
Balisi wants to sweep but no luck.
Balisi controls Girardi momentarily but Girardi frees himself.

Girardi drops back looking for a submission - "I'm sorry sir, but I'm gunna break your leg" says Girardi as he cranks on the unfortunate limb! Balisi screams and taps out before any major damage is done! Don't mess with Girardi! Nice submission victory there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:35 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Giorgio Girardi!
Giorgio Girardi took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Rising Stars Apparel of Evil Empire (10% laundry) for their support in the buildup to the fight.