PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dominic Bruschi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ray Balinko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Bruschi
vs
Balinko

183 cm
22
210 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

200 cm
22
200 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Dominic Bruschi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ray Balinko!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Gregory Folan and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bruschi throws a sloppy head kick and Balinko moves out of range easily.
Balinko avoids the head kick by Bruschi.
Balinko looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Bruschi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Balinko tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Bruschi keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Balinko throws and low kick but Bruschi moves out of range easily.
A good leg kick by Bruschi.
Bruschi tries a head kick but it misses.
Bruschi throws a sloppy head kick and Balinko moves out of range easily.
Bruschi throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Balinko's head.
Bruschi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bruschi doesn't manage to clinch there - Balinko circles away.
Balinko takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Balinko is looking to clinch but Bruschi is avoiding it.
Bruschi connects with a high kick.
Bruschi tries a head kick but it misses.
Bruschi throws a leg kick but Balinko sees it coming and checks it nicely.

Bruschi clinches.

Bruschi breaks from the clinch.
Bruschi misses with a head kick.

Bruschi gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Bruschi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Balinko is one step ahead there.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Bruschi holds on and takes a little breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bruschi is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Balinko is controlling him.
Bruschi is trying to keep Balinko in close.

Bruschi throws his legs up looking for a submission but Balinko uses it to pass to side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Balinko working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Balinko in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

Balinko stands up and beckons Bruschi to his feet.
Bruschi throws a head kick but Balinko moves out of range.
Bruschi moves in looking to clinch but Balinko pushes him off.
Bruschi misses with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bruschi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Balinko avoids the head kick by Bruschi.
Balinko doesn't manage to clinch there - Bruschi circles away.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Balinko.
Balinko tries to clinch but Bruschi moves out of range.
Balinko tries to clinch up but Bruschi circles away and keeps his distance.
Bruschi misses with a head kick.
Balinko takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Bruschi throws a head kick but Balinko moves out of range.
Balinko closes the distance and clinches up with Bruschi, looking for a takedown. Balinko pushes Bruschi against the cage but Bruschi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Bruschi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bruschi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Bruschi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Dominic Bruschi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Bruschi fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Balinko sprawls well initially but Bruschi persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Balinko is pressing down on Bruschi's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Bruschi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Balinko swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Balinko working for a triangle but Bruschi defends it easily.
Bruschi throwing strikes but missing.
Balinko has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balinko looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bruschi is one step ahead there.
Balinko trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Balinko looks gassed!
Balinko tries to strike from the bottom.
Bruschi tries to free his leg and advance position but Balinko is retaining full guard.
Balinko trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Bruschi throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Balinko tries for a takedown but Bruschi sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Dominic Bruschi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ray Balinko.
Bruschi throws a sloppy head kick and Balinko moves out of range easily.
Balinko tries to land a front kick but Bruschi steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Bruschi feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Balinko's calf.
Bruschi moves out of range of the leg kick from Balinko.
Bruschi throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Bruschi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Balinko tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bruschi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Bruschi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bruschi lands a head kick!
Bruschi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bruschi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Bruschi moves into the clinch successfully.
Bruschi lands an elbow that stopped Balinko in his tracks for a moment.
Bruschi blocking some punches.

Bruschi breaks from the clinch.
Bruschi connects with a high kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Bruschi.
Balinko thows a leg kick but Bruschi checks it
and Bruschi counters with a big head kick but Balinko shrugs it off.
Balinko tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Bruschi throws a head kick but Balinko moves out of range.
Bruschi tries a head kick but it misses.
Balinko misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Bruschi tries a head kick but it misses.
Bruschi throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Balinko's waist but Balinko gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bruschi off to one side.
Bruschi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bruschi blocks the body kick.
Bruschi misses with a leg kick.
Bruschi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Bruschi misses with a head kick.
Bruschi checks the leg kick.
Balinko blocks a head kick by Bruschi.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dominic Bruschi dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Balinko checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Balinko throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Balinko fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Bruschi bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.

Balinko bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Bruschi throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Balinko scores with punches from side control.
Bruschi taking punishment in the form of punches.
Bruschi is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Balinko creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Balinko lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Balinko lands some shots froms side control.
Bruschi might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Balinko tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Bruschi tries to improve position but can't.
Bruschi can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Balinko stands up.
Dominic Bruschi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Balinko lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Balinko avoids the head kick by Bruschi.
Balinko tries to clinch there but Bruschi circles away.
Balinko looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bruschi is fending him off so far but Balinko persists. Nope, Bruschi circles away and we're back to standing.

Bruschi fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Balinko, pushing him back against the cage.
Balinko tries to break the clinch but Bruschi is controlling the position.

Bruschi breaks the clinch.
Bruschi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A head kick misses from Bruschi.
Balinko throws a right hand that Bruschi ducks under and follows up with a left that Bruschi also avoids with ease.
Balinko is breathing heavily.
Bruschi throws a sloppy head kick and Balinko moves out of range easily.
Bruschi throws a sloppy head kick and Balinko moves out of range easily.
Bruschi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bruschi throws a front kick aimed at Balinko's knee but Balinko avoids it well.
Bruschi moves out of range of the leg kick from Balinko.
Bruschi misses with a head kick.
Bruschi wants to clinch but Balinko slips to the side
and Balinko counters with a nice body kick.
Nice body kick from Bruschi.
Balinko tries to clinch there but Bruschi circles away.
A thudding body kick lands there by Bruschi!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bruschi throws a sloppy head kick and Balinko moves out of range easily.
Bruschi lands a head kick. Balinko smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Balinko clinches up against the cage.
Bruschi stops a takedown attempt from Balinko.
Dominic Bruschi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ray Balinko.
Bruschi wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Bruschi landing knees to the head.
Balinko tries to pull guard but Bruschi won't allow it.
Bruschi tries to break the clinch but Balinko is controlling the position.
Balinko misses with a punch to the body.

Bruschi has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Balinko clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Balinko is trying to break free.
Balinko is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Bruschi controlling the positon.
Balinko wants to get back to his feet.

Balinko manages to escape to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Balinko forces Bruschi back against the cage and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good body shot from Balinko.
Bruschi is trying to break free.
A bit of stalling here from Balinko.
Bruschi wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Bruschi wants to break free but Balinko has control.
Balinko misses with the head strike.
Bruschi wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Balinko is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Bruschi is keeping busy.
Bruschi avoiding damage as Balinko throws knees to the body.

Balinko pulls guard.

Balinko pushes Bruschi off and gets back to his feet.
Balinko swinging wilding here.
Balinko throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Balinko fails with the takedown.

Balinko changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Bruschi looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Bruschi takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Balinko trying to control the action but Bruschi is working from the bottom.

Balinko stands up and beckons Bruschi to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bruschi misses with a head kick.
Bruschi lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Balinko walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Bruschi checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Bruschi throws a lazy head kick

and Balinko counters with a nice double leg into side control. Bruschi won't be happy with that.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Balinko has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Balinko gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A short body shot lands from Balinko as the two fighters clinch.
Bruschi has had enough of the clinch but Balinko keeps him there for the moment.

Bruschi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bruschi throws a head kick but Balinko moves out of range.
Balinko tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bruschi swivels and escapes.
Bruschi checks a leg kick.
Bruschi throws a lazy head kick

and Balinko counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Bruschi!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Balinko cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Bruschi in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bruschi is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Bruschi tries to lock up and control but Balinko gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Balinko landing punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Balinko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Bruschi misses with a body kick.
Bruschi throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Balinko.
Bruschi misses with a head kick.
Balinko misses with a two punch combination.
Bruschi tries a head kick but it misses.
A head kick misses from Bruschi.
Nice body kick from Balinko.
Balinko is looking to land body kicks.
Bruschi tries to clinch up but Balinko circles away and keeps his distance.

Bruschi has taken the fight to the clinch.

Bruschi breaks from the clinch.

Balinko shoots in and bounces Bruschi off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Bruschi keeping full guard, as Balinko tries to pass.
Balinko wants to control from the top but Bruschi keeps moving.
Bruschi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Balinko on the ground.

Bruschi looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Balinko passes into side control.
Bruschi is not content to let Balinko control the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bruschi dodges the ground and pound from Balinko.
Balinko connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Bruschi some visible discomfort.
Balinko tries to move to mount but Bruschi blocks the move with his legs.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bruschi is trying to improve his position.
Bruschi on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Bruschi tries to get out of the position.

Balinko stands up and beckons Bruschi to his feet.
Bruschi misses with a head kick.
Bruschi throws a head kick that misses.
Bruschi avoids a kick to the body.
Bruschi throws a head kick that misses.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Balinko.
Balinko misses with a double jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Bruschi swats away the attempt to clinch by Balinko.
A head kick misses from Bruschi.

Bruschi takes the fight into the clinch.
Balinko tries for a takedown but Bruschi manages to get underhooks.
Bruschi with a knee to the head.

Bruschi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Balinko tries to score with a low kick but Bruschi moves his leg out of the way.
Balinko thows a body kick. Bruschi tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Bruschi tries a head kick but it misses.
Bruschi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Balinko is looking to clinch but Bruschi is avoiding it.
Bruschi throws a sloppy head kick and Balinko moves out of range easily.
Bruschi throws a head kick but Balinko moves out of range.
Bruschi throws a head kick that misses.
Bruschi throws a head kick that misses.
Balinko takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Bruschi throws a sloppy head kick
and Balinko counters with a low kick, right behind Bruschi 's knee.
Bruschi feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Balinko's calf.
Bruschi scores with a push kick.
Balinko has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Bruschi.
Bruschi cracks the inside of Balinko's front leg.
Balinko stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Bruschi.
Balinko stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Bruschi.
Bruschi throws a head kick but Balinko moves out of range.
A head kick from Bruschi lands but Balinko takes it in his stride.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bruschi clinches but Balinko breaks the clinch

and Balinko counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Bruschi!

Balinko is working for a guillotine from mount but Bruschi frees his head quite easily.
BOOM! Balinko connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Balinko postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Bruschi looks a forlorn figure.
Balinko tries to control but Bruschi wriggling away.
Bruschi tries to reverse the position but Balinko maintains control.
Balinko landing punches.
Balinko lands with some strikes.
Bruschi can't escape the position.
Balinko connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Balinko prevents Bruschi from getting the reversal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balinko lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Balinko lands a heavy elbow.
Bruschi is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Balinko pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Poor strikes thrown by Balinko there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Balinko lands a nice shot to the head.

Bruschi is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Balinko cracks Bruschi with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Oh Bruschi is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Bruschi is trying to stand up.
Balinko lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

Balinko is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Bruschi has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Bruschi!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bruschi connects with a couple of short punches.
Bruschi seems to have got his legs back now.

Balinko pushes Bruschi off and scrambles back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ray Balinko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Balinko 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Peck scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ray Balinko!