PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Eloy Bullock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fernando Balestra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Bullock
vs
Balestra

187 cm
18
150 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

165 cm
24
146 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Eloy Bullock!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Fernando Balestra!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Marco Blurström and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bullock looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Balestra is fending him off so far but Bullock persists. Nope, Balestra circles away and we're back to standing.
Bullock fails with a takedown attempt.

Bullock gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Bullock wants to control the position but Balestra says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Bullock knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Balestra on the ground.
Balestra is controlling the pace.
Bullock trying to control from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balestra not doing much here.
Balestra has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The referee warns Bullock that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Balestra jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Bullock manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Balestra moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Bullock is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

Balestra decides to stand up, so the ref orders Bullock to his feet.

Balestra moves into range and clinches up with Bullock.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bullock wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Bullock tries to break the clinch but Balestra is controlling the position.
Balestra is trying to push Bullock away but Bullock has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Balestra successfully pulls guard.
Balestra is pulling down on Bullock's head to control his posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bullock would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Balestra pulls Bullock in to control the position.
Balestra is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balestra is controlling the pace.
Balestra wants to pass the guard but Bullock is defending well.
Bullock is looking to control Balestra's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bullock avoid being mounted?
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bullock is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fernando Balestra dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Balestra looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Bullock doesn't manage to clinch there - Balestra circles away.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Balestra! But no joy.
Fernando Balestra seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Balestra moves into the clinch.

Balestra pulls guard.

Balestra has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Bullock has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

Balestra has hold of one of Bullock's legs. Bullock is fighting the takedown attempt but Balestra gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Balestra pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bullock is keeping the position for now.
Bullock is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Balestra controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Balestra has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Bullock not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balestra advances position into side control!
Balestra content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Balestra scoring with punches from side control.
Balestra landing strikes.
Bullock being controlled for a moment.
Balestra lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Balestra decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Balestra throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Bullock was covering up waiting for the punch and Balestra finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Balestra showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Balestra working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Balestra is looking to work some ground and pound but Bullock has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bullock can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Balestra controls the pace.
Bullock controls Balestra momentarily but Balestra frees himself.
Fernando Balestra has got the better of the ground game so far.
Balestra keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Bullock's head.

Balestra gets to his feet - Bullock follows without any prompting.

Balestra drives through and clinches with Bullock against the cage.
Bullock is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Balestra to keep the fight standing.

Bullock manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Balestra gets to his feet. Bullock looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Balestra throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Bullock tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Balestra is in Bullock's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balestra stands and throws Bullock's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
You can see the frustration on Bullock's face as Balestra controls the position.

Balestra decides to stand up, so the ref orders Bullock to his feet.
Bullock tries to close the distance and clinch up but Balestra swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Balestra shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Balestra showed some decent athleticism there.
Bullock really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Balestra not doing much here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Balestra moves into full mount! Bullock won't be happy about that!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fernando Balestra showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Balestra shoots in and gets a takedown into Bullock's guard.
Balestra sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Bullock's guard.
Bullock wants to control but Balestra is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Balestra moves into full mount! Bullock won't be happy about that!
Balestra controlling the position easily from mount.
Balestra lands with some strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balestra pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balestra in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

Bullock is rocked!
Balestra connects with a bit shot that sees Bullock covering up! More strikes from Balestra and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Balestra is our winner by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:27 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Fernando Balestra!