PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Michael Balerado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Harlin Natto (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.

Balerado
vs
Natto

175 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Michael Balerado!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Harlin Natto!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Natto fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
No luck for Natto with that takedown attempt.

Balerado clinches with his opponent.
Natto fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Michael Balerado has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Harlin Natto.
Natto tries to score a body lock takedown but Balerado shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Balerado breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Balerado instigates a clinch.
Natto fails to pull guard.
Natto goes for a takedown in the clinch but Balerado prevents it.
Natto can't get the takedown.
Natto tries to pull guard but Balerado won't allow it.
Natto fails to pull guard.
Balerado blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Natto fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Natto tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Balerado smiles and moves away.
Natto looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Balerado is fending him off so far but Natto persists. Nope, Balerado circles away and we're back to standing.
Natto looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Natto gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Balerado has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Natto utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Natto keeping moving, preventing Balerado from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Natto has his foot on Balerado's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Balerado works his way back into a safe position though.
Balerado thows a big elbow that misses.
Balerado wants to stand but Natto has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Balerado knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Natto on the ground.
Balerado working some strikes from top position.

Natto has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Balerado can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Natto looking to hit a scissor sweep but Balerado is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balerado working some strikes from top position.
Balerado postures up and lands a big shot to Natto's brow.
Balerado throwing strikes but missing.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Balerado's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Natto is working an open guard so Balerado takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Balerado closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Balerado breaks from the clinch.
Balerado lands a nice shot to the body.
Natto has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Balerado shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Balerado connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Balerado cracks Natto with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balerado connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Balerado with good strikes from the mount here!
Natto is working to get back to half guard.
Balerado is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Natto can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Natto is bucking up trying to escape but Balerado cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Natto tries to hold on but Balerado pushes him away.
Balerado looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Balerado is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Natto is in all sorts of trouble here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Balerado lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Natto hang on?
Balerado fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Balerado punishing his opponent with strikes.
Natto really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Natto gets back to half guard.
Natto trying to control from the bottom.
Natto tries to get to full guard but Balerado has control of the leg.
Balerado is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Natto looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Natto wants to control but Balerado is keeping busy.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Balerado stops Natto from getting back to his feet.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Balerado connects with a nice short shot to Natto's temple.
Balerado lands strikes from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Balerado dominated that round.
That's time! Balerado's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Natto shoots and misses
and Balerado counters with a series of strikes. Natto will be more careful next time no doubt.
Balerado scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Natto doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Balerado counters with a stiff right hand.

Balerado clinches up with Natto and pushes him back against the cage.
Natto goes for a takedown attempt but Balerado pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Michael Balerado has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Harlin Natto.
Nice shot by Balerado.
Balerado lands a nice leg kick that just misses Natto's sensitive parts.

Balerado clinches.
Natto drops down looking for an ankle pick but Balerado pulls his leg out and moves away.

Balerado scores with a takedown into Natto's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Natto working a defensive guard here.

Natto has his foot on Balerado's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Balerado works his way back into a safe position though.
Balerado scoring with some ground and pound.

Natto working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Balerado doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Balerado manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Balerado makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Balerado postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Balerado is in close to Natto's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Natto looking to hit a scissor sweep but Balerado is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Natto keeping moving, preventing Balerado from controlling successfully.
Natto preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Natto working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Balerado doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Balerado manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Balerado is working Natto over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Balerado working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Natto tries to land a sweep but no joy.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Balerado tests Natto's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Balerado scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Balerado moves into the clinch.
Balerado is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Balerado breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Natto doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Balerado counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Balerado.

Balerado escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Balerado closes the distance and clinches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Balerado.

Balerado breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Natto shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Balerado counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Natto looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Natto controls Balerado momentarily but Balerado frees himself.
Balerado working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Balerado working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Natto's head.

Natto has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Balerado can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Balerado working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Natto's head.
Balerado postures up.
Balerado lands a couple of elbows.

Natto has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Balerado can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Balerado dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Natto shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Balerado counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Balerado has Natto up against the cage in a clinch.
Balerado gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Natto.
Balerado stalling the fight.
Natto tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Michael Balerado has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Harlin Natto.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Balerado is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Natto can't fight it off and eventually Balerado manages to take the fight to the floor. Natto looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Balerado distracts Natto with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Natto looking for a guillotine here but Balerado defends easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Natto working for a triangle but Balerado defends it easily.
Balerado postures up in Natto's guard and throws a big left but Natto blocks it.
Natto is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Balerado tries to free his leg and advance position but Natto is retaining full guard.
Balerado content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Natto is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Michael Balerado overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Balerado gets a clinch.

Balerado breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Balerado pushes Natto up against the cage in a clinch.
Natto tries to pull guard but Balerado won't allow it.
Natto jumps guard but Balerado stands there with Natto around his waist. Natto gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Natto fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Natto tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Natto has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Balerado is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Balerado breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Balerado gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Balerado pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Natto gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Balerado counters with a single leg into guard. Natto didn't expect that.
Balerado is working Natto over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Balerado with a flurry of punches that miss.
Natto utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Balerado chips away with some ground and pound.
Balerado postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Balerado stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Natto swivels though and keeps the full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Balerado accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Balerado's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Natto fails with the takedown

and Balerado counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Balerado.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Balerado breaks from the clinch.
Harlin Natto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Balerado closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Natto goes for a takedown in the clinch but Balerado prevents it.
Natto wants to get back to striking at distance but Balerado won't allow it.
Natto fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Balerado pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Natto tries for a takedown but Balerado circles away easily

and Balerado counters with a nice double leg into side control. Natto won't be happy with that.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Natto taking a bit of punishment here - Balerado scoring with strikes.
Natto manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Harlin Natto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Michael Balerado is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Balerado wants to pass to mount but Natto is defending the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Balerado showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Balerado has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Balerado!