PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Arran Balthazar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gus Spencer (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.

Balthazar
vs
Spencer

181 cm
27
191 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

182 cm
27
192 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Voodoo Nutrition

Highland Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Arran Balthazar!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Gus Spencer!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Wagner Zegers and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Balthazar gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Spencer blocks a body shot from Balthazar.
Spencer tries to stall but Balthazar uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Balthazar struggles to land a body shot inside as Spencer controls his hands.
Balthazar tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Spencer's elbow.
Spencer blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Spencer blocks a body shot from Balthazar.
Balthazar gets through Spencer's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Balthazar can't find room to land a body shot as Spencer controls the action.
Balthazar struggles to land a body shot inside as Spencer controls his hands.
Balthazar misses with a punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Balthazar lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Spencer prevents a body shot from Balthazar.
Spencer just leaning against Balthazar, taking a breather.
Balthazar misses with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short left from Spencer.
Balthazar misses with a body punch.
Balthazar tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Spencer's elbow.
Balthazar misses with an elbow strike.
Balthazar misses with an elbow over the top.
Balthazar misses with a hook from the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Balthazar misses with a short punch on the inside.
Balthazar lands a nice shot to the body.
Balthazar can't find room to land a body shot as Spencer controls the action.
Balthazar looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Balthazar lands with a right to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Spencer.
Balthazar fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Balthazar fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Spencer wants to break free but Balthazar has control.
Balthazar swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Balthazar working aggressively here.
Spencer tries to circle away but Balthazar has him pinned against the cage.
Balthazar misses with some punches.
Spencer tries to break free but Balthazar pushes him back against the cage.
Balthazar tries to throw a body punch but Spencer avoids it by throwing Balthazar back against the cage.
Balthazar goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Spencer just leaning against Balthazar, taking a breather.
Spencer blocks an uppercut.
Balthazar misses with the head strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balthazar misses with a body punch.
Balthazar tries to throw a body punch but Spencer avoids it by throwing Balthazar back against the cage.
Balthazar misses with a hook from the clinch.
Balthazar struggles to land a body shot inside as Spencer controls his hands.
A short uppercut from Balthazar.
Balthazar swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Balthazar swings wildly with an uppercut but Spencer uses good head movement to avoid it.
Stalling in the clinch from Spencer.
Balthazar throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Spencer blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Balthazar has a couple of punches blocked by Spencer.
Balthazar misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spencer tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Balthazar's elbow.
Spencer blocks the elbow strike.
A short uppercut from Balthazar.
Spencer stalling.
Balthazar goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Balthazar misses with an elbow strike.
Balthazar can't find room to land a body shot as Spencer controls the action.
Balthazar is working Spencer over against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Balthazar lands with a light punch inside.
Balthazar misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A bit of stalling here from Spencer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arran Balthazar dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Spencer misses the jab.
Spencer circles away from the clinch attempt.
Balthazar definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Spencer stalks Balthazar and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Balthazar's face. Balthazar staggers backwards, shaken.
Balthazar tries to clinch up but Spencer circles away and keeps his distance.
Spencer wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Spencer lands with a cross.

It looks like Arran Balthazar has been cut.
Sloppy strikes from Balthazar. Those never looked like landing.
Spencer tries to counter by closing the distance.
Spencer swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Balthazar throws a leg kick which misses Spencer's front leg but catches the back leg as Spencer tries to avoid it.
Spencer stuns Balthazar with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Spencer moves out of range of the body kick.
Spencer misses with a hook. Balthazar ducked under it nicely.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Nice defenses there by Balthazar.
Balthazar tries to counter by clinching up but Spencer breaks away and moves out of range.
Balthazar fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balthazar darts in trying to clinch
and Spencer counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Balthazar is looking to clinch.
Spencer looks to throw the jab but Balthazar is out of range.
Balthazar bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Spencer misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Balthazar.
Balthazar feinted there with a counter leg kick.
A nice combination there by Spencer.
Good exchange - Spencer coming out on top.

Balthazar closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Spencer slowing the pace effectively.
Balthazar is leaning against Spencer and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Arran Balthazar has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Balthazar misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Balthazar comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like Gus Spencer has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balthazar swings wildly with an uppercut but Spencer uses good head movement to avoid it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Balthazar swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Balthazar effectively controlling the action here.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Balthazar misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Balthazar gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Balthazar creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Balthazar softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Spencer is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balthazar throws a punch but it's blocked by Spencer.
Balthazar creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Spencer blocks an elbow strike from Balthazar.
Balthazar lands a body shot.
Balthazar lands an elbow that stopped Spencer in his tracks for a moment.
Balthazar misses with some punches.
Spencer prevents a body shot from Balthazar.
Balthazar scores with a shoulder strike.
Balthazar swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Balthazar misses with the head strike.
Spencer is trying to break the clinch but Balthazar has him pressed against the cage.
Balthazar lands a body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balthazar lands with a light punch inside.
Balthazar tries to work over Spencer's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Spencer is trying to maintain a safe position but Balthazar gets an underhook and turns Spencer into the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Spencer.
Balthazar tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Balthazar has a couple of punches blocked by Spencer.
Spencer is trying to break the clinch but Balthazar has him pressed against the cage.
Spencer looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Balthazar can't find room to land a body shot as Spencer controls the action.
Spencer is trying to push Balthazar away but Balthazar has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Balthazar swings wildly with an uppercut but Spencer uses good head movement to avoid it.
Balthazar tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Spencer's elbow.
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 Arran Balthazar will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Spencer misses with an uppercut. Balthazar saw that one coming.
The fight stays on the outside here - Balthazar looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Balthazar clinches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Spencer.
Spencer blocks an uppercut.
Balthazar misses with a punch to the body.
Spencer is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Balthazar throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spencer is struggling to control the position.
Spencer blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balthazar presses Spencer against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Balthazar gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Balthazar creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Balthazar misses with the head strike.
Spencer wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Spencer taking a breather.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Balthazar.
Balthazar gets through Spencer's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Balthazar tries to throw a body punch but Spencer avoids it by throwing Balthazar back against the cage.
Balthazar misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Balthazar misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balthazar doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Balthazar tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Spencer is pushing Balthazar up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Spencer blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Nice elbow from Balthazar.
Spencer blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Spencer is trying to force a seperation but Balthazar has the dominant position.
Balthazar is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Spencer can do to turn this around?
Spencer blocks a body shot from Balthazar.
Balthazar lands a body shot in the clinch.
Balthazar has a couple of punches blocked by Spencer.
Balthazar lands an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balthazar misses with an elbow over the top.
Balthazar can't find room to land a body shot as Spencer controls the action.
Balthazar has Spencer pressed against the cage, preventing Spencer from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Spencer prevents a body shot from Balthazar.
Spencer is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Balthazar misses with some punches.
Spencer just leaning against Balthazar, taking a breather.
Spencer stalling.
Spencer continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Spencer.
Balthazar throws a punch but it's blocked by Spencer.
Balthazar looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Balthazar.
Balthazar tries to work over Spencer's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balthazar swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Balthazar misses with an elbow over the top.
Balthazar misses with a hook to the ribs.
Balthazar tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Balthazar throws a head punch that misses.
Balthazar swings wildly with an uppercut but Spencer uses good head movement to avoid it.
Spencer prevents a body shot from Balthazar.
Spencer looking to stall.
A head punch on the inside from Balthazar fails to land.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A short right from Balthazar on the inside.
Still in the clinch, Spencer scores with a nice short uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arran Balthazar clearly takes that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A big right from Spencer misses.
Good work by Balthazar as he checks the leg kick.
Spencer throws a jab when Balthazar was well out of range.
Balthazar tries to close the distance and clinch up but Spencer swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gus Spencer seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Spencer throws an off balance right hand
and Balthazar counters with a nice kick to the body.
Spencer looks to throw the jab but Balthazar is out of range.
Balthazar is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Spencer.
Spencer thows a left - swing and a miss!
Spencer scores with a sloppy right hand. Balthazar should have avoided that one.
Spencer throws a right and a left that Balthazar avoids nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The crowd cheers as Spencer lands an impressive looking overhand right. Balthazar doesn't seem phased though.
Balthazar tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Balthazar steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Spencer.
The fight stays on the outside here - Balthazar looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Spencer is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balthazar tries to close the distance and clinch but Spencer swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Balthazar tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Spencer counters with a left to the body.
Spencer tries to bum rush Balthazar with a series of wild strikes but Balthazar uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Spencer misses with a left hand

and Balthazar moves into the clinch.
Balthazar pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Balthazar can't find room to land a body shot as Spencer controls the action.
Spencer avoids a wild elbow strike from Balthazar.
Spencer prevents a body shot from Balthazar.
Spencer blocks a body shot from Balthazar.
Balthazar works on Spencer's body with a couple of short punches.
Balthazar pushes Spencer back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Spencer is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee is keeping an eye on Balthazar - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Balthazar lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Spencer or not.
Balthazar scores with a shoulder strike.
Spencer blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Balthazar lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Spencer.
Balthazar lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
A short left from Balthazar.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Balthazar lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Balthazar misses with some punches.
Balthazar lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Balthazar fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balthazar tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Spencer's elbow.
Balthazar comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Balthazar struggles to land a body shot inside as Spencer controls his hands.
Balthazar lands a hook that snaps the head of Spencer backwards.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Balthazar as Spencer tries to tie him up.
A nice left hand lands by Balthazar.
Balthazar tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short body shot lands from Balthazar as the two fighters clinch.
Spencer is trying to break free.
Balthazar lands a shoulder strike.
Balthazar lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Balthazar swings wildly with an uppercut but Spencer uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balthazar lands an uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Balthazar.
Balthazar lands a damaging elbow.
Spencer blocks an elbow strike from Balthazar.
Balthazar misses with the head strike.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nice elbow from Balthazar.
Balthazar presses Spencer against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Balthazar pushes off an throws an elbow but Spencer leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Balthazar tries a body shot but Spencer blocks it.
Spencer is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Balthazar lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arran Balthazar had his way with Gus Spencer in that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Spencer throws a series of punches but Balthazar moves out of range.
Balthazar wants to clinch up but Spencer keeps it at a distance.
Balthazar wants to clinch up but Spencer keeps it at a distance.
Spencer misses with a wild body shot.
The fight stays on the outside here - Balthazar looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The fight stays on the outside here - Balthazar looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Spencer swats away the attempt to clinch by Balthazar.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spencer scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Spencer ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Balthazar moves away.
Balthazar is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Spencer.
Balthazar tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balthazar wants to clinch up but Spencer keeps it at a distance.
Balthazar slips under a jab from Spencer.
Balthazar lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Spencer rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Balthazar counters by clinching up.
Balthazar misses with some punches.
Good body shot from Balthazar.
Spencer prevents a body shot from Balthazar.
Balthazar misses with a body punch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Balthazar just misses with a elbow thrown towards Spencer's brow.
Balthazar lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Balthazar throws a punch but it's blocked by Spencer.
Balthazar tries to throw a body punch but Spencer avoids it by throwing Balthazar back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spencer prevents a body shot from Balthazar.
Balthazar tries to throw a body punch but Spencer avoids it by throwing Balthazar back against the cage.
Spencer prevents a body shot from Balthazar.
Spencer can't break the clinch.
Spencer slows down the pace here.
Good body shot from Balthazar.
Spencer is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Balthazar lands a nice elbow.
Spencer wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Balthazar has him pressed against the cage.
Spencer blocks an uppercut.
Balthazar lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Spencer backwards.
Balthazar lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Spencer backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balthazar tries to work over Spencer's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Balthazar digs a right hand underneath Spencer's ribcage. Spencer let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Spencer wants to get back to striking at distance but Balthazar won't allow it.
Balthazar lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Spencer is trying to break the clinch but Balthazar is controlling him.
Spencer stalling the fight.
Spencer has had enough of the clinch but Balthazar keeps him there for the moment.
A body shot lands from Balthazar.
Balthazar lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Balthazar lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Spencer is rocked!
Balthazar scores with a hook to the body.
Spencer is still on wobbly legs! Can Balthazar finish him?
Balthazar lands an uppercut in the clinch that drops Spencer to his knees! Balthazar keeps firing more shots against his stricken opponent and the referee jumps in to save him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 5, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Arran Balthazar!
Arran Balthazar retains his middleweight title!
After winning the bout, Arran Balthazar thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.