PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Joshua Blahyi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Harry Balls (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Blahyi comes to the cage accompanied by All Hail Liberia Hail !!!!. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Blahyi
vs
Balls

173 cm
25
163 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Joshua Blahyi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Harry Balls!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Paul Gruel and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balls misses with a jab, cross combination.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Blahyi.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

Blahyi is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Balls has escaped the position, nice work there.
Blahyi is looking to take a break and control but Balls is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Blahyi tries to advance to mount but can't.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balls wants to control but Blahyi postures up.
Balls tries to bench press Blahyi off him but Blahyi keeps the position.
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.
Balls takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Blahyi working away.
Balls sneaks back into half guard.
Blahyi moves nicely into side control.
Balls tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Balls is trying to control Blahyi's posture but Blahyi avoids it.
Blahyi is looking to take a break and control but Balls is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Blahyi is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Balls knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blahyi is working Balls over with some ground and pound from side control.
Balls is trying to get back to half guard.
Balls keeps trying to improve his position.
Blahyi working away.
Blahyi is working Balls over with some ground and pound from side control.
Blahyi looks up at the clock and then as Balls takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Blahyi smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Balls manages to work his way to half guard, despite Blahyi's best efforts.
Balls tries to roll over but Blahyi keeps him under control.
Balls is pressing down on Blahyi's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Blahyi trying to control the position from guard on top but Balls is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Blahyi controlling from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blahyi postures up.

Balls has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Blahyi can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Blahyi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Balls swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Blahyi trying to control the position from guard on top but Balls is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Blahyi pushes down on Balls's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Balls looking for submissions off his back.
Blahyi is trying to control the action in half guard but Balls is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Balls is looking for a sweep. Blahyi is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Blahyi scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Blahyi not doing much here.

Balls with the active half guard here but Blahyi passes nicely into side control.

Blahyi in side control, working for a kimura. He's got hold of an arm and he's torquing it... Balls is tapping! That's the end of the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:45 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Joshua Blahyi!
Joshua Blahyi decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.