PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jo Ballinger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and El Matador (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ballinger comes into the arena with Cheese Scones blaring out of the sound system. Jo Ballinger is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Ballinger
vs
Matador

168 cm
27
156 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

164 cm
26
140 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Dangerous knees
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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jo Ballinger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, El Matador!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Aleksandr Martynov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matador wants to clinch.
Matador shoots in looking for a takedown but Ballinger manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Matador's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Ballinger throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A cross from Ballinger lands.
A combination from Ballinger does no damage.

Matador scores with a takedown into Ballinger's guard.
Matador is working Ballinger over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Ballinger utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Matador is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Ballinger is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matador scoring with punches to the head and body.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matador lands a couple of digs.
Ballinger not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Matador has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Matador avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Matador throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ballinger works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
We've been hearing good reports from Ballinger's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Matador thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Ballinger working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Matador doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Matador manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matador makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Matador works over Ballinger with some ground and pound from guard.

Ballinger is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Ballinger working for a triangle but Matador defends it easily.
Matador scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Matador throws a big right hand that misses.

Ballinger looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matador lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Matador scoring with punches to the head and body.
Matador lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Matador postures up and lands a big shot to Ballinger's brow.
Matador content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Matador avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Matador landing some decent shots from guard.

Ballinger looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Ballinger is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Matador defends well.

Ballinger working for a triangle but Matador defends it easily.
Ballinger is trying to control the position but Matador postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matador is in close to Ballinger's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Matador chips away with some ground and pound.

Ballinger is looking for a triangle but Matador pushes his legs off easily.
Matador with a nice head shot there.
Matador working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Matador postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Matador stands up over Ballinger, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Ballinger is looking for a triangle but Matador pushes his legs off easily.

Matador is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Matador cracks Ballinger with a solid left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matador scoring with some ground and pound.
Matador missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Ballinger working for a triangle but Matador defends it easily.
Matador lands a couple of elbows.

Ballinger is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Matador lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Ballinger has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Matador can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Ballinger looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Matador landing some decent shots from guard.
Matador postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

El Matador dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ballinger closes the distance and clinches.
Ballinger is looking to break free of the clinch but Matador has double underhooks.
Matador is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Ballinger pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Matador is trying to maintain a safe position but Ballinger gets an underhook and turns Matador into the cage.
Ballinger content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Ballinger scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Matador lands an elbow just above Ballinger 's eye.

Ballinger manages to break the clinch.
Ballinger dips to his left and cracks Matador with an uppercut!
Ballinger misses with a kick to the body.
Matador looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ballinger is fending him off so far but Matador persists. Nope, Ballinger circles away and we're back to standing.
Ballinger was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Matador misses with a takedown attempt - Ballinger sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Jo Ballinger has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of El Matador.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ballinger fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Jo Ballinger seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Ballinger knocks Matador to the floor with a head kick! Can he finish him!?
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Matador wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Ballinger tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Ballinger has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ballinger working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Ballinger is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Matador has escaped the position, nice work there.
Matador is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Ballinger tries to score with some ground and pound. Matador controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Matador is trying to buck Ballinger off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Ballinger thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Matador is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Ballinger is controlling him well.
El Matador has got the better of the ground game so far.

Ballinger is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Matador has escaped the position, nice work there.

Ballinger tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Ballinger has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Ballinger is trying to get an arm triangle but Matador is defending well.
Matador wants to get back to his feet but Ballinger drags him back down.

Ballinger thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Matador explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matador dives in for a single leg takedown but Ballinger sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Ballinger is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Matador can do to turn this around?
Ballinger throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Matador goes for a double leg but Ballinger avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Ballinger continues to drive forward.
Matador scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Ballinger misses with a body punch
and Matador counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
El Matador is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Matador shoots in but Ballinger avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ballinger lands an overhand right.
Matador shoots in but no luck this time.
Ballinger punishes Matador's body with a nice straight punch.
Ballinger lands the left hand.
Matador fails to land the takedown.
Matador is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matador fails to land the takedown.
A little feinted left hand from Ballinger on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Ballinger clobbers Matador with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ballinger lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Matador dives in for a single leg takedown but Ballinger sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Matador takes a jab right on the kisser.

Matador is rocked!
It's a brutal combination of punches from Ballinger! Matador is backing up but he can't get away as Ballinger lands with one final shot to the jaw that drops Matador and ends the fight. Great knockout.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:39 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Jo Ballinger!
A relieved looking Jo Ballinger thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.