PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Matt Chabala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jo Ballinger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ballinger is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Cheese Scones. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Chabala
vs
Ballinger

169 cm
36
168 lbs
27 - 17 - 2

168 cm
28
156 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 27 - 17 - 2, fighting out of New York, Matt Chabala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jo Ballinger!
The judges for this bout are , Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ballinger avoids the body shot from Chabala.
Ballinger connects with a body shot that sends Chabala's belly button to the back.
Ballinger throws a head kick that Chabala semi-blocks.
Both fighters circling a little - Chabala finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Chabala fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Ballinger takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Jo Ballinger seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Chabala avoids a kick to the body.
Good exchange - Chabala coming out on top.
Chabala lands a front kick.
Ballinger fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Chabala lands a leg kick that knocks Ballinger off balance momentarily.
Ballinger throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Chabala counters with a takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
You can see the frustration on Ballinger's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Ballinger tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ballinger is trying to control Chabala's posture but Chabala avoids it.
Ballinger on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Chabala lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Ballinger down.
Chabala tries to move into full mount but can't pass Ballinger's legs.
Chabala looks up at the clock and then as Ballinger takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Chabala smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Ballinger is trying to control Chabala's posture but Chabala avoids it.
Ballinger is looking to regain half guard here but Chabala keeps moving and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ballinger taking punishment in the form of punches.
Chabala working away.

Chabala tries for a kimura but Ballinger is defending well.
Ballinger felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

Chabala wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Ballinger, who protects the arm well.
Ballinger tries to buck Chabala off but Chabala is having none of it.
Chabala is putting a hurting on Ballinger here, landing some big shots from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ballinger gets back to half guard.
Ballinger trying to control from the bottom.
Ballinger wants to improve his position but Chabala is controlling well.

Ballinger is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Chabala pulls his head out easily.
Chabala wants to control but Ballinger is keeping him busy.
Ballinger is trying to control but can't.
Ballinger slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Ballinger lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Chabala looking for a guillotine here but Ballinger defends easily.
Ballinger is looking to work some ground and pound but Chabala has wrist control.

Ballinger drops back, looking for a kneebar! Chabala looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Chabala looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Chabala!

Ballinger is trying to get back to half guard.
Ballinger manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ballinger is trying hard to land a takedown here. Chabala sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Ballinger throws a shot from downtown. Chabala moves away and avoids it.
Ballinger misses with a right hand
and Chabala counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Ballinger on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Ballinger needs to keep his hands up - Chabala had a free shot at his head there.
Chabala scores with the left hand. Ballinger knows he should have avoided that one.
Chabala bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ballinger scores with a nice body kick.
Ballinger connects with a jab.
Nice jab there from Chabala.
Chabala cracks a nice hook into Ballinger's ribs.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Chabala's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Chabala duly obliges.
Ballinger throws a jab when Chabala was well out of range.
Chabala avoids the head kick by Ballinger.
Chabala feinted with a counter takedown.
Ballinger throws a hook but Chabala blocks it.
Ballinger throws a lazy right hand but Chabala sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Chabala attempts a counter takedown but Ballinger avoids it well and moves away.
A solid leg kick lands there for Chabala.
Chabala steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ballinger.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ballinger throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Chabala, right into the meat.
Matt Chabala is winning the standup battle so far.
Ballinger bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Chabala's head backwards.
Ballinger fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Chabala manages to avoid it.
Ballinger misses with a hook. Chabala ducked under it nicely.
Ballinger fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Chabala manages to avoid it.
Ballinger throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Chabala sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Chabala feinted with a counter takedown.
Chabala turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Chabala takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Chabala throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Ballinger on the side of the head.
Chabala moves out of range as Ballinger strikes.
Ballinger scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Ballinger walks into a jab.
Nice body kick from Chabala.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Chabala steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ballinger.
Chabala with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chabala lands a head shot.
Ballinger scores with a nice right hand.
A solid leg kick lands there for Chabala.

Chabala closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Ballinger's guard.

Ballinger pushes a forearm under Chabala's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Chabala is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:33 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Jo Ballinger!
Our winner, Jo Ballinger, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.