PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Harry Ballzonya (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcello Sanchez (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.

Ballzonya
vs
Sanchez

182 cm
35
185 lbs
19 - 20 - 0

183 cm
32
186 lbs
13 - 25 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 19 - 20 - 0, fighting out of New York, Harry Ballzonya!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 25 - 0, fighting out of London, Marcello Sanchez!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Columbo Gatti and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sloppy strikes from Sanchez. Those never looked like landing.

Sanchez scores with a takedown into Ballzonya's guard.
Sanchez postures up in Ballzonya's guard and throws a big left but Ballzonya blocks it.
Sanchez told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Sanchez wants to control from the top but Ballzonya keeps moving.
Sanchez has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sanchez landing with the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanchez seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Sanchez preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ballzonya trying to control the position.
Sanchez looking to pass the guard.
Sanchez postures up and lands a big shot to Ballzonya's brow.
Sanchez stopping the sweep attempt from Ballzonya.
Sanchez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ballzonya wants to stand and escape but Sanchez is having none of it.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Sanchez shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Ballzonya is trying to defend but Sanchez finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sanchez lands strikes from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Sanchez in particular looking to stall.
Sanchez is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Sanchez is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Ballzonya to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.
Sanchez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ballzonya avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sanchez scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Sanchez trying to move into half guard but instead Ballzonya has managed to sweep!

Sanchez looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Ballzonya passes into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sanchez is not content to let Ballzonya control the position.
Sanchez tries to bench press Ballzonya off him but Ballzonya keeps the position.
Ballzonya taking a breather here.
Sanchez tries to buck Ballzonya off but Ballzonya is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Sanchez dodges the ground and pound from Ballzonya.
Ballzonya wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sanchez keeps working.
Sanchez tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ballzonya wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
An elbow from Ballzonya crashes against the mat.
Sanchez tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sanchez tries to lock up and control but Ballzonya gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Ballzonya landing shots from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ballzonya looks to throw the jab but Sanchez is out of range.
Sanchez slips under a jab.
Sanchez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ballzonya is fending him off so far but Sanchez persists. Nope, Ballzonya circles away and we're back to standing.
Sanchez takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Ballzonya fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sanchez tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Ballzonya looks for the body kick but Sanchez saw that one coming.
Sanchez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ballzonya swivels and escapes.
Ballzonya scores with the left hand. Sanchez knows he should have avoided that one.
Ballzonya fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanchez shoots in looking for a takedown but Ballzonya manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sanchez's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Harry Ballzonya has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcello Sanchez.
Sanchez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ballzonya misses with a body kick.
Sanchez stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Ballzonya.
Harry Ballzonya is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ballzonya lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Ballzonya misses with a hook. Sanchez ducked under it nicely.
Sanchez bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ballzonya is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sanchez can do to turn this around?
Ballzonya looks for the body kick but Sanchez saw that one coming.
Sanchez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ballzonya pinned against the cage. Ballzonya gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ballzonya throws an overhand right that lands on Sanchez's shoulder, as Sanchez tries to avoid the shot.
Sanchez fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ballzonya thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Sanchez if he has to take too many more of those.
Sanchez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Sanchez scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Sanchez trying to control the position but Ballzonya is working away.
Sanchez throwing shots but missing, from side control.
The ground and pound from Sanchez seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Ballzonya can't do much from the bottom here.
Sanchez postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Sanchez working away.
Sanchez is looking to take a break and control but Ballzonya is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sanchez creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

Sanchez working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The strikes coming from Sanchez are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Sanchez tries to score with some ground and pound. Ballzonya controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Sanchez fails to land a wild elbow strike.
An elbow from Sanchez crashes against the mat.
Ballzonya avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Sanchez.
Sanchez tries to score with some ground and pound. Ballzonya controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Ballzonya can't do much from the bottom here.
Sanchez throws an elbow but Ballzonya slips to the side and avoids it well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sanchez throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Ballzonya stops Sanchez from passing to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harry Ballzonya dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Sanchez fails to land the takedown.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sanchez.
Ballzonya was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Ballzonya's corner calls for a 1-2. Ballzonya obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Ballzonya throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Sanchez tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Ballzonya defends well and Sanchez ends up having to push Ballzonya into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Harry Ballzonya has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcello Sanchez.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanchez tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ballzonya sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sanchez somewhat.
Ballzonya appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Marcello Sanchez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ballzonya but Ballzonya pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ballzonya swivels and escapes.
Sanchez throws an overhand right that lands on Ballzonya's shoulder, as Ballzonya tries to avoid the shot.

Sanchez throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Ballzonya tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Sanchez is in Ballzonya's guard.
Ballzonya avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ballzonya looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sanchez works over Ballzonya with some ground and pound from guard.
Sanchez wants to control from the top but Ballzonya keeps moving.
Ballzonya is pulling down on Sanchez's head. It's preventing any offense from Sanchez, at least for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez postures up and lands a big shot to Ballzonya's brow.
Sanchez throwing strikes from guard but Ballzonya blocks nicely.
Marcello Sanchez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sanchez controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Sanchez tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Ballzonya defends well and Sanchez ends up having to push Ballzonya into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Sanchez looks to clinch
and Ballzonya counters with a nice uppercut.
Sanchez walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Ballzonya swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Harry Ballzonya is winning the standup battle so far.
Sanchez darts in looking for a takedown but Ballzonya gets double underhooks and turns Sanchez into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Sanchez.
Sanchez looks for a takedown but Ballzonya sprawls well.
Sanchez misses with a takedown attempt - Ballzonya sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Nice takedown defense from Ballzonya. No joy for Sanchez on that attempt.
Sanchez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ballzonya jabs Sanchez right on the nose. Sanchez blinks but takes it well.
Sanchez misses with a takedown attempt - Ballzonya sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Sanchez tries to clinch but Ballzonya moves away
and Ballzonya cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sanchez throws a nice looking combination but Ballzonya bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nice sprawl there from Ballzonya as Sanchez shoots in.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ballzonya goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Sanchez moves away from the strike by Ballzonya.
Sanchez tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Ballzonya displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

It looks like Marcello Sanchez has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sanchez on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Sanchez has a takedown stuffed.
Ballzonya lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Sanchez is rocked!
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
It looked like Ballzonya wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Sanchez moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Sanchez is still on wobbly legs! Can Ballzonya finish him?
Ballzonya closes the distance and lands a brutal uppercut that knocks Sanchez out! We're looking at the replay now - he was out before he hit the floor!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Harry Ballzonya!
Harry Ballzonya made sure to mention his sponsor, Milwaukee's Best 160 (85% laundry) in his post fight interview.