PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rocky Balboa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marius Budawalski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Balboa
vs
Budawalski

179 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rocky Balboa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Marius Budawalski!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Jorge Garcia and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Budawalski connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Balboa uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Budawalski.
Budawalski misses with a lunging right hand

and Balboa counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Balboa.
Balboa controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Balboa has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Balboa got a little sloppy there for a moment and Budawalski has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Balboa has managed to get both his arms back between Budawalski's legs - danger averted.
Balboa is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balboa postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Budawalski is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Balboa stands up from Budawalski's guard - Balboa perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Budawalski lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Budawalski looks to throw the jab but Balboa is out of range.
Balboa avoids the body shot from Budawalski.
Budawalski misses with an uppercut

and Balboa moves into the clinch.
Budawalski tries to circle away but Balboa has him pinned against the cage.

Balboa manages to pull guard.
Budawalski is looking to work some ground and pound but Balboa has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Balboa pushes Budawalski off and scrambles back to his feet.
Budawalski swinging wildly here.
A jab from Budawalski misses.
Balboa takes one on the button.
Balboa has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Budawalski finds it's way round the side to connect with Balboa's head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Budawalski throws a body punch but Balboa moves out of range.
Budawalski clobbers Balboa with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Balboa could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Budawalski misses with a double jab.
Budawalski tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Balboa manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Budawalski misses the jab.
Budawalski misses with a lunging right hand

and Balboa moves into the clinch.

Balboa pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Balboa avoids the body shot from Budawalski.
Budawalski lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Balboa circles away quickly and effectively.
Budawalski throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Balboa holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Balboa stalling in the clinch.

Balboa pulls guard successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Budawalski postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Balboa is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Budawalski, into his guard.

Budawalski throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Budawalski is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Balboa defends well.

Budawalski is looking for a triangle but Balboa pushes his legs off easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Marius Budawalski will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Balboa ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Budawalski throws a big shot that misses.
Budawalski misses with a hook

and Balboa counters with a shoot takedown. Budawalski fights it but they end up in guard.

Balboa thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Balboa throws a big elbow that misses.
Balboa's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Balboa has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Budawalski is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Balboa is aware though and is defending well.

Budawalski escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Balboa gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Balboa avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Budawalski is looking to stand up but Balboa isn't so interested in that idea.

Budawalski working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Balboa doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Balboa manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Balboa controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Budawalski has his foot on Balboa's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Balboa works his way back into a safe position though.

Budawalski is looking for a triangle here but Balboa uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Budawalski is trying to improve his position.
Balboa working the ground and pound but Budawalski is defending the strikes.
Budawalski is trying to get back to his feet.
Budawalski is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Budawalski can't do much from the bottom here.
Budawalski manages to get back to half guard.

Budawalski is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Balboa pulls his head out easily.

Balboa decides to return to a standing position.
Budawalski tries for a takedown but Balboa circles away easily

and Balboa counters with a nice double leg into side control. Budawalski won't be happy with that.
Budawalski is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Balboa has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Balboa taking a breather here.
Budawalski wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An elbow from Balboa crashes against the mat.
Budawalski manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Budawalski is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Budawalski seems to be looking for submissions.
Balboa knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Budawalski on the ground.
Balboa wants to get back to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Budawalski trying to mount his opponent but Balboa defends it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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!

Budawalski is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Balboa is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Marius Budawalski!