PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michal Balaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and The Uppertaker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Balaz
vs
Uppertaker

185 cm
25
230 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

193 cm
25
245 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Experienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Michal Balaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, The Uppertaker!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Peter Branson and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A leg kick checked by Uppertaker.
Uppertaker tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Balaz avoids a kick to the body.
Balaz throws the kick towards the body but Uppertaker avoids it.
Uppertaker is looking to clinch but Balaz is avoiding it.

Uppertaker shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Uppertaker missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Balaz on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Balaz tries to get out of the position.
Uppertaker drops an elbow to the side of Balaz's head.
Balaz knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Uppertaker on the ground.
Uppertaker content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Uppertaker has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at The Hut - $50. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Uppertaker scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Uppertaker controlling the pace.
Uppertaker has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Uppertaker is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Uppertaker throwing shots but Balaz is blocking nicely.

Uppertaker seems to be looking for submissions.
Uppertaker takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Uppertaker looks to land a strike but Balaz avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Uppertaker with a flurry of punches that miss.
Uppertaker trying to control the position from guard on top but Balaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Uppertaker throws a big right hand that misses.
Uppertaker postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Uppertaker wants to control from the top but Balaz keeps moving.
Uppertaker throws a big elbow that misses.
Uppertaker wants to control from the top but Balaz keeps moving.
Balaz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Uppertaker.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Uppertaker checks the leg kick nicely there.
A lazy body kick from Balaz

and Uppertaker decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Balaz's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Uppertaker stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Balaz swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Uppertaker postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Uppertaker trying to control the position from guard on top but Balaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Uppertaker throwing strikes from guard but Balaz blocks nicely.
Uppertaker trying to control the position from guard on top but Balaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Uppertaker lands a couple of elbows.
Uppertaker wants to control from the top but Balaz keeps moving.
Uppertaker throws a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Balaz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Uppertaker drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Uppertaker jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Uppertaker missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Uppertaker slips nicely into half guard.
Uppertaker slows the pace down in half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Uppertaker seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Balaz does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

The Uppertaker dominated that 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.

Uppertaker checks a low kick from Balaz.
Uppertaker blocks a leg kick.
Balaz pivots, looking for a leg kick but Uppertaker is out of range and Balaz settles back down.
Uppertaker replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Balaz blocks it well.

Uppertaker throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Balaz tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Uppertaker is in Balaz's guard.
Uppertaker lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Uppertaker prevents Balaz from getting back to his feet.
Uppertaker scoring with some ground and pound.
Uppertaker trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Uppertaker stands and throws Balaz's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Balaz is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Uppertaker is controlling him well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Uppertaker fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Uppertaker working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Uppertaker wants to control but Balaz is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Uppertaker tries for a kimura but Balaz is defending well.
Balaz dodges the ground and pound from Uppertaker.
Uppertaker trying to control the action but Balaz is working from the bottom.
Balaz takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Uppertaker trying to control the position but Balaz is working away.

Uppertaker is trying to get an arm triangle but Balaz is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Balaz gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Uppertaker punishing his opponent with strikes.
Uppertaker looking to control but Balaz is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Uppertaker might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Balaz haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Uppertaker working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Balaz is in a horrible position here. Uppertaker smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

Uppertaker has hold of Balaz's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Balaz manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Uppertaker lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Balaz hang on?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Uppertaker dominating with strikes here.

Uppertaker is working for a guillotine from mount but Balaz frees his head quite easily.
Uppertaker has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Balaz's face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Uppertaker tries to control but Balaz wriggling away.
Uppertaker content just to control the position here.
Uppertaker landing strikes from the mount.

Uppertaker has control of Balaz's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Balaz regains control of the situation pretty easily.

Uppertaker is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Balaz to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Balaz shrugs it off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

The Uppertaker showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Uppertaker blocks a head kick by Balaz.
Uppertaker fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Uppertaker moves out of range as Balaz throws a body kick.
Uppertaker checks a leg kick.
Uppertaker tries a low kick but Balaz avoids it.
Uppertaker is looking to clinch but Balaz is avoiding it.
Balaz gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Uppertaker counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Uppertaker fails with an attempt to clinch.
Balaz throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Uppertaker swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Balaz tried to counter with a leg kick but Uppertaker avoided it.
Uppertaker misses the jab.
Uppertaker tries to close the distance and clinch up but Balaz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Balaz is looking for a counter combo.
Balaz attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Uppertaker moves out of range of the body kick.
Uppertaker swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Uppertaker doesn't manage to clinch there - Balaz circles away.
Uppertaker tries to clinch up but Balaz circles away and keeps his distance.
Balaz half committed to a counter leg kick.
Uppertaker moves out of range as Balaz throws a body kick.
Balaz tries to score with a low kick but Uppertaker moves his leg out of the way.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Decent striking displayed by Uppertaker there.
A leg kick checked by Uppertaker.
Uppertaker wants to clinch.
Balaz tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Balaz misses with a kick to the body.
Uppertaker drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Balaz defends it well.
Balaz is looking to chop away at Uppertaker's legs.

Uppertaker fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Balaz to the ground. Uppertaker is now in Balaz's guard.
Balaz is looking to stand back up but Uppertaker counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Balaz.

The Uppertaker has got the better of the ground game so far.
Uppertaker working over Balaz with some ground and pound. Balaz looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Uppertaker is keen to just control but Balaz is a slippery customer.
Uppertaker missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Uppertaker sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Uppertaker looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Balaz taking some punishment here, with Uppertaker in his half guard.

Uppertaker seems to be looking for submissions.
Balaz pushes Uppertaker off looking to stand but Uppertaker dives back in and keeps control.
Uppertaker seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Balaz does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Balaz keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Uppertaker is trying to control. Balaz wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Uppertaker controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Uppertaker lands with a punch from half guard.
Still in half guard, Uppertaker seems content to control.
Uppertaker missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Uppertaker seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Balaz does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Michal Balaz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Balaz walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Uppertaker checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Uppertaker changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Balaz on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Uppertaker swings for the body but Balaz moves out of range.
Balaz throws a leg kick but Uppertaker checks it.
Uppertaker wants to clinch.

Uppertaker drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The Uppertaker is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Balaz keeping moving, preventing Uppertaker from controlling successfully.

Uppertaker thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Uppertaker has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Uppertaker postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

And that's the end of the fight!
The Uppertaker comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Uppertaker winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Winston Alpacca scores the fight 27:30
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... The Uppertaker!