PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Finn Balor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Danny White (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Balor's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Monster. Danny White is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Balor
vs
White

172 cm
36
152 lbs
24 - 10 - 1

175 cm
28
151 lbs
15 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 24 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Finn Balor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Danny White!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Jeff Smith and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice body kick there by Balor.
White takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
White has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Balor leaves White with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Balor scores with the left hand. White knows he should have avoided that one.
White shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Balor but Balor pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Balor gets cracked with a nice right hand there by White.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A low kick from Balor misses
and White counters with an inside leg kick.
White jabs Balor right on the nose. Balor blinks but takes it well.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from White.
Balor scoring well with a low kick there.
Balor tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and White is able to avoid easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balor looks for the body kick but White saw that one coming.
Balor will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
And White tries to counter it with a takedown but Balor pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Balor scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
White is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Balor.
Balor misses with a jab to the body

and White counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Balor wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

White seems to be working for a kimura but Balor defends the submission attempt.
Balor is staying active underneath White, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
White moves into full mount! Balor won't be happy about that!
Poor strikes thrown by White there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

White moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Balor has worked his arm free - good work by Balor!
White throwing strikes but Balor manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
This has been an exciting period of action!
White is looking to reverse the position.
Balor misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
White is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
White tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Balor goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now White is on top in guard.
Balor has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
White pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Balor is keeping the position for now.
White advances to half guard.
White tries to pass the half guard into mount. Balor knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
White is looking to take a break and control but Balor is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Balor is in trouble now - White has advanced to mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
White misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Balor is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
White unloading with bombs!
White postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Balor looks a forlorn figure.
Balor holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as White tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
White lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Danny White dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Balor leaves White with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Balor throws a body kick that misses
and White counters with a series of strikes. Balor will be more careful next time no doubt.
Balor wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
White takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
White wants to counter with a clinch but Balor pushes him away.
Balor throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
White steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Balor.
White throws a right and a left that Balor avoids nicely.
Balor misses with a two punch combination.
Finn Balor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Balor throws a head kick but White moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
White blocks a head kick by Balor.
A countering left hand to the body from White misses.
White misses the shot to the body.
White avoids the body shot from Balor.
And White tries to counter it with a takedown but Balor pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Balor swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
White's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and White duly obliges.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Balor.
Balor pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Balor moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
White tries a head kick but it misses.
Balor takes a shot right to the bread basket.
White scores with a body shot.
White keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
White has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
White shoots in for a double leg but Balor sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Balor appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Balor avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
White lands a nice leg kick that just misses Balor's sensitive parts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Balor, right into the meat.
Danny White is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
White uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Balor.
Balor missing with a left hand there. White was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
White blocks a head kick by Balor.
White feints the counter takedown.
Balor is looking to score with low kicks.
White goes for a double leg but Balor avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Balor continues to drive forward.
Balor is looking for a counter combo.
Finn Balor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Danny White.
A looping hook to the body misses from Balor. White does a little dance to reset his feet.
Balor misses with a body shot.
Finn Balor is winning the standup battle so far.
Balor throws a quick inside leg kick.
Balor throws a nice looking combination but White bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
White misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Balor digs a good body shot into White's ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
White fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Balor checks it well.
Balor moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
White wants to clinch
and Balor connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A head kick misses from Balor.
Balor connects with an inside leg kick.
Balor will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Balor moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Balor walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. White checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
White throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Balor misses with a wild body shot.
White has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Balor.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balor throws a chopping leg kick but White manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
White tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Balor was well out of range. Poor timing from White.
White lands with a hook. Balor tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
White throws a half hearted mid kick.
Balor throws a counter high kick but White was just alert enough to avoid it.
White thows a left - swing and a miss!
White blocks a head kick by Balor.
Balor tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Balor fakes high and swings low for a body shot but White manages to avoid it.
White throws a sloppy head kick and Balor moves out of range easily.
White lands with a nice body kick.
White looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Balor is fending him off so far but White persists. Nope, Balor circles away and we're back to standing.
Balor is looking for a counter combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Finn Balor will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

White fails in his attempt to clinch.
Balor looks to land a body kick but White moved away.

White gets a clinch.
Balor tries to work over White's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Balor.
Balor cracks White with a nice body shot.
White throws an elbow but it misses.
Balor misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Balor is fighting off a takedown attempt but White is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Balor to the mat. Balor regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
White stops Balor from standing up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balor looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
White throws a strike but Balor rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Balor postures up in White's guard and throws a big left but White blocks it.
Balor looking to pass the guard.
Balor cracks White with a solid left hand.
White avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
White lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

White postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
White scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
White forces his way into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
White tries to pass the half guard into mount. Balor knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Nice strikes from White there.
White wants to lay and pray for a moment but Balor keeps working.
Balor blocking the ground and pound attempt from White.

White is working for a kimura but Balor is defending it quite comfortably.
Danny White has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
White winds up and cracks Balor with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
White has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Balor is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Balor is looking to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, White cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
The referee warns Balor that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Balor regains half guard.
White seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Balor is refusing to be controlled, as White sits in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Danny White comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think White has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Danny White!
Danny White took to the mic after the fight and begged the organizational hierarchy for a shot at the title.