PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between chris kethkan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Uber Balance (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.

kethkan
vs
Balance

178 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
23
205 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, chris kethkan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Uber Balance!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
kethkan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Balance paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Balance avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
kethkan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The fight stays on the outside here - kethkan looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
kethkan connects with a solid leg kick.
kethkan fails with an attempt to clinch.
kethkan shoots in for a takedown but Balance shows good takedown defense.
kethkan tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Balance swivels and escapes.
kethkan blocks a head kick by Balance.
Good leg kick by Balance there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
kethkan fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for chris kethkan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
kethkan looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Balance comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Balance throws a head kick that half lands.

It looks like chris kethkan has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Balance has managed to clinch.
kethkan could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
kethkan tries to pull guard but Balance won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Balance escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A good leg kick by Balance.
kethkan is breathing heavily.

Balance moves into the clinch successfully.

Balance breaks the clinch.
kethkan fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Balance scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. kethkan doesn't seem bothered though.

Balance clinches.
kethkan letting Balance take a breather here.
Balance landing knees to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Balance unloads a knee to the mid-section. kethkan lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Balance gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Balance is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Balance is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, kethkan has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balance looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Balance moves into full mount! kethkan won't be happy about that!
Balance content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
kethkan tries to hold on but Balance postures up.
Balance controlling the pace for now.
I looks like Balance might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Balance avoids the attempt from kethkan to control.
Balance sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
kethkan keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Balance jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… kethkan is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by kethkan and Balance has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Uber Balance dominated that round.
The cut man is working on chris kethkan's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Balance stuffs the takedown attempt from kethkan. kethkan gets slowly back to his feet.
Nice jab there from Balance.
kethkan fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Balance tries to clinch up.
kethkan tries to clinch up
and Balance counters with a low kick, right behind kethkan 's knee.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
kethkan with a lazy takedown attempt

and Balance moves into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for chris kethkan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
kethkan has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Balance avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The is referee keeping an eye on Balance - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Balance breaks from the clinch.
kethkan tries to clinch but Balance moves away

and Balance holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Balance breaks from the clinch.
kethkan doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Balance connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for kethkan. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.

Balance forces kethkan back against the cage and clinches.

Balance breaks from the clinch.

Balance feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Balance trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

kethkan pushes Balance off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Balance tries to close the distance and clinch but kethkan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
chris kethkan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balance is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Balance misses the shot to the body.
kethkan misses with a takedown

and Balance counters by moving into the clinch.

Balance has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed kethkan clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Balance not allowing kethkan to control his hands.
Balance is hanging on to kethkan's back as he tries to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
kethkan just looking to survive in the bad position.
kethkan is trying to break free.
kethkan trying to get back to his feet but Balance is in full control for now.
kethkan tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Balance wants to control the pace but kethkan is squirming around nicely.
kethkan is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Balance takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
kethkan tries to control the position but Balance now has his back.

kethkan preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Balance.
Balance throws strikes from the back but kethkan rolls nicely and manages to end up in full guard. Nice work by kethkan.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Uber Balance showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on chris kethkan's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

kethkan throws a head kick but Balance moves out of range.
Balance tries to bum rush kethkan with a series of wild strikes but kethkan uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A low kick from Balance is predictable there
and kethkan counters with a one-two to the body.
kethkan fails with a takedown attempt.
Balance does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
kethkan tries to clinch up but Balance circles away and keeps his distance.
kethkan avoids the head kick by Balance.
Balance misses with a straight left.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Balance forces kethkan back against the cage and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
kethkan is trying to drag Balance to the mat but Balance just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Balance trying to land knees to the body.
Balance works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

Balance breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Balance ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
kethkan falls off balance throwing a combination

and Balance counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
kethkan tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for chris kethkan. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Balance escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Balance keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from kethkan.
kethkan takes a head kick and keeps coming.
kethkan lands a head kick. Balance smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Balance clinches with his opponent.
kethkan effectively controlling the action here.
kethkan is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Balance manages to break the clinch.
kethkan fails with the takedown

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

Balance breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Balance circles away from the clinch attempt
and Balance counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
kethkan fails with the takedown

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balance lands a shot to the body.
kethkan has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Balance avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Balance pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
kethkan shoots and misses
and Balance counters with a right hand to the body.
Balance misses with a hook.
kethkan tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Balance counters with a body kick.
kethkan takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Balance has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
kethkan avoids the head kick by Balance.
Balance avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A head kick by kethkan misses

and Balance counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Balance manages to break the clinch.
kethkan jabs Balance right on the nose. Balance blinks but takes it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Balance doesn't manage to clinch there - kethkan circles away.
kethkan shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Balance counters by moving into the clinch.

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

kethkan drives through with a takedown into guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Balance holds on and takes a little breather.
kethkan wants to control from the top but Balance keeps moving.
chris kethkan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Uber Balance is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
kethkan lands a couple of digs.

And that's the end of the fight!
Uber Balance comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Balance has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Uber Balance!