PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ferenz Balas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sergio Lopez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Balas
vs
Lopez

176 cm
20
177 lbs
4 - 0 - 1

178 cm
20
176 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

INTENSITY RIO'S BEST!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 1, fighting out of New York, Ferenz Balas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sergio Lopez!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Eddie Farnsworth and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lopez rushes Balas and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Balas pressing his opponent against the cage.

Balas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Balas works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Lopez tries to clinch but Balas moves out of range.
Lopez is looking to clinch but Balas is avoiding it.
Balas jabs at Lopez's body.
Lopez throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Ferenz Balas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lopez ducks under a wild hook from Balas.
Lopez appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Lopez has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.

Balas gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Balas taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balas stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Balas gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Balas will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Lopez up against the cage.
Lopez letting Balas take a breather here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balas is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Ferenz Balas.
Lopez gets cracked there but stands up to it.
A slow jab from Balas misses its intended target.
Balas connects with a single shot there.
Balas throws a shot from downtown. Lopez moves away and avoids it.
A slapping leg kick lands for Lopez.
Balas scores with a three punch combo!

It looks like Sergio Lopez has been cut.
Balas throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Lopez sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Balas pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Balas tries to clinch up but Lopez circles away and keeps his distance.

Lopez drives through and clinches with Balas against the cage.
Balas blocking some punches.
Balas is trying to maintain a safe position but Lopez gets an underhook and turns Balas into the cage.
Balas blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balas digs a right hand into Lopez's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Lopez's gas tank.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A quick uppercut on the inside from Balas.
Balas stalling against the cage.
Lopez lands a knee to the body.
Lopez's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Balas.
Balas is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
A nice left hand lands by Balas.
Lopez looking to stall.
Balas stalling in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balas is struggling to control the position.
Lopez lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Balas throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Lopez blocks it with crossed arms.
Lopez misses with a punch on the inside.
Balas is trying to push Lopez away but Lopez has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Balas avoiding damage as Lopez throws knees to the body.
A bit of stalling here from Balas.
Balas controlling the action here for a moment.
Balas is stalling here.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Ferenz Balas.
Lopez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A slow jab from Balas misses its intended target.
Balas looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lopez. Balas does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lopez doesn't manage to clinch there - Balas circles away.
Balas connects with a jab.
Balas moves in looking to clinch but Lopez pushes him off.
Balas looks to land a left hand but Lopez moved out of range nicely.
Lopez misses with a leg kick
and Balas counters with a left to the body.
Lopez takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Lopez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Balas digs a good hook to Lopez's body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A combination from Lopez does no damage.
It looked like Balas wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Balas connects with a single shot there.
Lopez uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Balas.
Lopez uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Balas.
Lopez displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Balas throws out the jab.
Lopez displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Balas throws out the jab.
Balas checks the leg kick nicely there.
Lopez is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Balas.

Lopez is rocked!
Lopez drops his hands momentarily. Balas doesn't need a second invitation, landing a shot to the temple. Lopez staggers and falls to the mat and the ref dives in to save him from any more punishment. Lopez doesn't seem happy with the stoppage but he was done.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Ferenz Balas!