PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sergiu Petrescu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marian Balkon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Petrescu
vs
Balkon

190 cm
28
196 lbs
13 - 5 - 0

184 cm
28
191 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Revolution Clothing
KAISER Nutrition - Q160/$250

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sergiu Petrescu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Marian Balkon!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Joseph Jones and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balkon looks to land a combination but Petrescu avoids it well.
Petrescu ducks right into an uppercut from Balkon.
Balkon tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Petrescu lands a leg kick that knocks Balkon off balance momentarily.
Petrescu swats away the attempt to clinch by Balkon.
Balkon avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nice shot by Petrescu.
Balkon misses with a hook to the body
and Balkon takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Petrescu throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Balkon counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Balkon digs a good hook to Petrescu's body.
Petrescu cracks Balkon with an open hand slap.
Petrescu avoids the head kick by Balkon.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Balkon is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balkon ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
We've been informed that Balkon has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Petrescu tries to bum rush Balkon with a series of wild strikes but Balkon uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Balkon throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Balkon throws a big shot that misses.
Petrescu fires out a quick counter leg kick but Balkon just manages to avoid it.
Petrescu scores with a jab to the head.
Petrescu connects with a nice looking jab.
Petrescu throws a lazy uppercut
and Balkon counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Balkon swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Petrescu is looking to counter punch.
Balkon tries a head kick but it misses.
Petrescu slips a jab and a cross from Balkon.
Balkon closes the distance but Petrescu moves to the side
and Petrescu counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Marian Balkon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Balkon tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from Petrescu is predictable there
letting Balkon counter with a right hand.
Balkon throws an off balance right hand
and Petrescu counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Petrescu pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Balkon connects with a crisp jab.
Balkon avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Balkon misses with a head kick.
Sloppy strikes from Balkon. Those never looked like landing.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Balkon checks a leg kick.
Balkon checks a low kick from Petrescu.
Balkon swings widly with a right hand
enabling Petrescu to counter with a crisp jab.
Balkon tries to clinch there but Petrescu circles away.
Petrescu is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Balkon throws a poor cross that misses
and Petrescu cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Balkon looks to land a right hand but Petrescu moved out of range.
Petrescu appears to be looking for a big counter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice straight punches there by Petrescu. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Petrescu.
Balkon tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The fighters circling - Balkon throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Balkon darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Balkon throws a lazy right hand but Petrescu sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Balkon cracks Petrescu with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Petrescu misses with a low kick.
Petrescu keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Balkon.
Petrescu is looking to counter punch.
Balkon tries a head kick but it misses.
A little feinted left hand from Petrescu on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Petrescu scores with a decent looking hook.
Balkon thuds a left hand into Petrescu's body.
Balkon misses with a lunging right hand
and Petrescu connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Balkon throws a left and a right that both miss
and Petrescu counters with a right hand to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Petrescu throws a jab but it's blocked by Balkon.
Balkon looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Petrescu connects with a looping right hand.
Petrescu misses with a series of wild punches.
A slapping leg kick lands for Petrescu.
Balkon throws a jab when Petrescu was well out of range.
Nice uppercut there from Balkon.
A big right from Balkon misses.
Petrescu throws a low kick but Balkon avoids it.
Balkon tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Balkon jabs Petrescu to the body, keeping him at a distance.

Balkon moves into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Sergiu Petrescu will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Petrescu uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Balkon.
Petrescu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Balkon manages to avoid it.
Petrescu moves out of range as Balkon strikes.
Balkon throws a series of punches but Petrescu moves out of range.
Petrescu keeps the fight on the outside.
Balkon misses with the combination.
Petrescu was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Balkon uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Petrescu.
Petrescu throws a low kick but Balkon avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Petrescu works Balkon's body with a nice hook.
Balkon with a hook.
A cross from Balkon lands.
Petrescu takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Petrescu on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Petrescu.
Petrescu misses with a few strikes there.
Balkon with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Petrescu takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Petrescu throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Balkon throws a body punch but Petrescu moves out of range.
Petrescu tries to land a body kick
and Balkon counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Petrescu keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Balkon.
Balkon throws the left hand but Petrescu avoids the punch easily.
Petrescu looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Balkon misses with an uppercut.
Petrescu tries to counter by clinching up but Balkon breaks away and moves out of range.
Petrescu has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Balkon looks to land a right hand but Petrescu moved out of range.
Balkon lands an overhand right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Petrescu moves into range and clinches up with Balkon.

Petrescu breaks the clinch.
Petrescu throws a looping overhand right but Balkon ducks down to avoid it.
Balkon sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Balkon gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Petrescu.
Petrescu blocks a head kick by Balkon.
Petrescu slips under a jab from Balkon.
Balkon avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Petrescu throws an off balance right hand
and Petrescu takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Balkon throws a jab when Petrescu was well out of range.
Balkon wants to clinch up but Petrescu keeps it at a distance.
Balkon scores with a nice right hand.
Balkon connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balkon scores with a head kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Petrescu.
Petrescu slips under a jab from Balkon.
Balkon misses with a double jab
and Petrescu connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Balkon takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Balkon might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Petrescu swings widly with a right hand
and Balkon counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Marian Balkon seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Petrescu closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Petrescu lands with a thumping leg kick.
Petrescu throws a nice inside leg kick.
Balkon misses with a looping left.
Balkon misses with a head kick.
Petrescu feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Balkons jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Petrescu throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Balkon is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Petrescu with a body shot.
Balkon misses with a lunging right hand
and Petrescu counters with a stiff right hand.
Petrescu throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Balkon sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Balkon checks a low kick from Petrescu.
Balkon misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Petrescu counters with a stiff right hand.
Balkon misses with an uppercut. Petrescu saw that one coming.
Balkon takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Petrescu darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Petrescu ducks under a wild hook from Balkon.
Petrescu throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A head kick misses from Balkon.
Balkon throws a jab but it's blocked by Petrescu.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Marian Balkon will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Petrescu swings for the body but Balkon moves out of range.
Petrescu misses with a hook to the body
letting Balkon counter with a right hand.
Balkon defending well as Petrescu loads up on a big left hand.
The fighters circling - Balkon throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Petrescu throws a lazy head kick
and Balkon counters with a nice uppercut.
Petrescu lands a really nice looking cross but Balkon seems unphased.
Petrescu misses with a straight left.
A big right from Balkon misses.
Balkon looks to land a right hand but Petrescu moved out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Petrescu throws a leg kick that misses.
Petrescu connects with a good right hand that stumbles Balkon. Balkon circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Balkon tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Petrescu counters with a straight right hand.
Balkon thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petrescu keeps the fight on the outside.
Balkon scores with a jab to the jaw.
Balkon pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Balkon scores with a jab.
Petrescu misses with a body shot.
Balkon misses the jab.
Balkon tries to clinch
letting Petrescu counter with a right hand.
Balkon throws the left hand but Petrescu avoids the punch easily.
Petrescu throws out a loose jab but Balkon uses good head movement to avoid it.
A countering left hand to the body from Balkon misses.
Balkon misses with an uppercut. Petrescu saw that one coming.
Petrescu throws a combination that misses
and Balkon counters with a right hand to the body.
Balkon doesn't manage to clinch there - Petrescu circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balkon looks to land a combination. Petrescu sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Good shot there by Balkon.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Petrescu showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Balkon.

Petrescu closes the distance and pushes Balkon back into the cage.
Balkon looking to throw knees to the head but Petrescu is blocking nicely.
Petrescu scores with a nice hook to the head.
Balkon lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Petrescu gets through Balkon's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Petrescu is working Balkon over against the cage.
Petrescu makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Petrescu avoiding damage as Balkon throws knees to the body.
A short left from Petrescu.
Petrescu lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

It looks like Marian Balkon has been cut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balkon working hard to break the clinch.
Petrescu with a knee to the head.

Balkon is rocked!
Balkon looking to throw knees to the head but Petrescu is blocking nicely.
Balkon is still on wobbly legs! Can Petrescu finish him?
Balkon fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Balkon seems to have recovered his senses.
Balkon managing to block the knees to the body from Petrescu.
Balkon misses with a knee to the head.
Balkon using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Petrescu has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Balkon with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Balkon takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Petrescu utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Balkon tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Balkon with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Petrescu misses with a knee strike.
Still in the clinch, Petrescu scores with a nice short uppercut.
Petrescu on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Petrescu lands a body punch.
Balkon landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Petrescu scores with a knee to the head.
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!
Petrescu gets through Balkon's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Balkon softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Petrescu scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Balkon working aggressively here.
Balkon softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Petrescu trying to land knees to the body.
Balkon wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Petrescu has him pressed against the cage.
Sergiu Petrescu has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Balkon misses with some punches.
Balkon managing to block the knees to the body from Petrescu.
Petrescu presses Balkon against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Petrescu tries a knee to the head but Balkon blocks it.
Petrescu blocks an uppercut.
Balkon unloads a knee to the mid-section. Petrescu lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Balkon tries a knee to the head but Petrescu blocks it.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Petrescu obliges.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Sergiu Petrescu.
I think Petrescu has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Sergiu Petrescu!
Sergiu Petrescu bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.