PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Claudio Beck (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Ballard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Beck
vs
Ballard

201 cm
18
214 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

195 cm
23
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Claudio Beck!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ben Ballard!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Igor Prikhodko and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ballard is defended easily by Beck.

Ballard moves into the clinch successfully.
Beck wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Ballard changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Beck fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Ballard throws a half hearted mid kick.
Ballard looks for a takedown but Beck sprawls well.
Claudio Beck has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Ballard.

Ballard pushes Beck up against the cage in a clinch.

Beck escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ballard tries for a takedown but Beck sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ballard closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Beck did well to prevent Ballard getting side control.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Beck on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Beck controlling the position for now.
Beck won't allow Ballard to pass to mount.
Beck is looking to control Ballard's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Beck avoid being mounted?
Beck tries to roll over but Ballard keeps him under control.
Ballard wants to pass to mount but Beck is defending the position.

Ballard seems to be looking for submissions.
Ballard missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Beck wants to improve his position but Ballard is controlling well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Beck trying to control here.
Ground and pound from Ballard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ballard controlling the action here.
Ballard trying to control the action but Beck is working from the bottom.
Ballard is thwarting Beck's attempts to control the position.
Beck is in trouble now - Ballard has advanced to mount!
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.
Beck prevents Ballard from taking his back.

Ballard looking for a guillotine from mount but Beck is having none of it.
Ballard lands a nice shot to the head.
Beck wants to control but Ballard is having none of it.
Beck has given up his back here.
Beck looking very determined here, making life difficult for Ballard.
Ballard gets his hands free as Beck looks to control.
Ballard biding his time, looking for the opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ballard has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Beck.

Ballard is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Ballard working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
I would not like to be Beck right now.
Ballard has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
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!
Ballard controlling well, preventing Beck from escaping the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ballard tries to keep control of the position but Beck is staying busy.
Ballard controlling well, preventing Beck from escaping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ballard clinches.

Ballard breaks from the clinch.
Claudio Beck is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Ballard gets a takedown into half guard.
Ballard trying to control the action but Beck is working from the bottom.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Ballard in particular looking to stall.
Beck trying to control but Ballard postures up.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Ballard wants to get back to his feet.
Ben Ballard has got the better of the ground game so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ben Ballard was stalling too much, according to the referee.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Beck is defended easily by Ballard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ballard moves into the clinch successfully.
Beck is trying to break the clinch but Ballard is controlling him.

Beck manages to break the clinch.

Ballard decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Ballard tries to stand but can't do so whilst Beck controls his leg.
Beck taking some punishment here, with Ballard in his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ballard keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Beck trying to control but Ballard postures up.
Ballard controlling the pace.
Ballard seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Beck does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Ballard slips a nice elbow through Beck's hands, connecting with Beck's forehead.
Ballard wants to pass the guard but Beck is defending well.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Beck is not content to let Ballard control the position.
Beck wants to get back to his feet.
Beck is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Beck shoots for a double leg takedown but Ballard sprawls well. He's pushed Beck's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Ballard keeps the fight on the outside.
Ben Ballard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Beck enables Ballard to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Beck manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Ballard controlling from the top position.
Beck working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ballard.
Beck is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Beck is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Ballard looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Ballard stands up over Beck, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Ballard preventing the sweep.
Ballard controls from within his opponent's guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Ballard bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ballard content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Ballard is looking to take a break and control but Beck is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Ballard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Ballard circles away from the clinch attempt

and Ballard counters by clinching up.

Ballard gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Beck regains guard.
Beck wants to stand up but Ballard is controlling him.
Ballard's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ben Ballard was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Ballard throws a half hearted mid kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ballard shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Ballard was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
I wouldn't like to be where Beck is right now.
Ballard wants to control but Beck is keeping him busy.
Beck is looking to reverse the position.
Ballard tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

Ballard tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Ballard has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Beck is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Beck is not content to let Ballard control the position.
Beck is trying to control but Ballard passes into side control!
Ballard trying to control the position but Beck is working away.
You can see the frustration on Beck's face as Ballard controls the position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Beck wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Ballard wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Beck, who protects the arm well.
Ballard takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ballard wants to stand but Beck has his arm trapped.
Beck is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Beck struggling a bit here.
Ballard wants to stand but Beck has his arm trapped.
Ballard controls the position.

Ballard is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Beck has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ballard wants to lay and pray for a moment but Beck keeps working.
Beck is trying to control Ballard's posture but Ballard avoids it.
Beck takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Ballard throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Ballard working away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Beck gets back to half guard.
Claudio Beck has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ben Ballard is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Ballard tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Beck.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Ballard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ballard 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Ballard!