PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight kickboxing rules bout between Danny Omeruo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Finn Balor (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.

Omeruo
vs
Balor

192 cm
20
176 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

190 cm
19
180 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Dangerous knees
Experienced

Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Danny Omeruo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Finn Balor!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Ryoma Takatsuka and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Omeruo wants to clinch up but Balor keeps it at a distance.
Omeruo throws out a leg kick but Balor moves out of range and Omeruo only half commits.
Omeruo walks into a left hand.
Balor misses the shot to the body.
Omeruo feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Omeruo wants to slow Balor down by chopping away at his legs.
Balor looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Balor lands the left hand.
Omeruo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A head kick by Omeruo misses
and Balor counters with a right hand to the body.
Omeruo scores with a head kick.
Omeruo misses with a low kick as Balor jumps back.
Balor lands a nice hook to Omeruo's body. Omeruo takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Good standup being displayed there by Balor as he connects with a hook.
Omeruo has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Lucky Liam's MMA Academy in the buildup to the fight.
Balor scores with a crisp jab that stopped Omeruo in his tracks.
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!
Omeruo swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
enabling Balor to counter with a crisp jab.
Nice straight punches there by Balor. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Balor.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Balor checks a leg kick.
Omeruo bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Balor changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
A head kick misses from Omeruo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balor throws a body punch but Omeruo moves out of range.
Balor lands a right hook to the body.
Balor throws a looping overhand right but Omeruo ducks down to avoid it.
Nice defenses there by Omeruo.
Omeruo appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Balor misses with a body shot.
An attempted straight right counter from Omeruo misses the target.
Balor takes a swing at Omeruo's ribcage but misses.
Omeruo throws a body punch but Balor moves out of range.
Omeruo throws a head kick that misses.
Omeruo is looking to slow Balor down with leg kicks.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Balor lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Omeruo backwards.

Balor escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Balor swings for the body but Omeruo moves out of range.
Omeruo is looking to counter with head kicks.
Omeruo really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Balor lands a slapping body shot.
A punch combination from Balor misses.
Danny Omeruo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Balor checks a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Omeruo throws the kick towards the body but Balor avoids it.
Balor is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Omeruo rather than just go for the knockout.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Balor lands with a hook. Omeruo tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Omeruo throws a leg kick that is checked
and Balor cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Balor misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Omeruo.
Balor sizes up Omeruo with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Balor lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Omeruo at a distance.
Omeruo misses with a low kick as Balor jumps back.
Omeruo tries a low kick but Balor avoids it.
Omeruo attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Balor lands with a shot to the body.
Balor connects with a good right hand that stumbles Omeruo. Omeruo circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Omeruo tries to score with a low kick but Balor moves his leg out of the way.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Omeruo doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Balor checks a leg kick.
Balor lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Balor throws a hook but Omeruo blocks it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Balor. Omeruo does a little dance to reset his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Finn Balor dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nice cross by Balor.
Balor checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Balor swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Balor just misses with a punch to the body.
Balor getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Omeruo tries to clinch
and Balor counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Omeruo swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Omeruo walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Balor checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Balor fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Omeruo on the side of the head.
Omeruo misses with a body kick.
Balor has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Omeruo lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Balor has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Balor and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Omeruo takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Omeruo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Balor is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Omeruo with a body shot.
Omeruo goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Balor takes a swing at Omeruo's ribcage but misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Omeruo buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Balor scores with a body shot.
Balor fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Omeruo looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Omeruo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balor throws a body shot but no joy.
Balor uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Omeruo has time to react.
Balor fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Omeruo manages to avoid it.
Balor scores with a body shot.
Balor wants to slow Omeruo down by chopping away at his legs.
Omeruo misses with a leg kick.
Some bone on bone action there as Balor checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Omeruo plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Balor connects with a right hand. Omeruo shakes it off.
Balor lands with a hook. Omeruo tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Omeruo takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Balor avoids the head kick by Omeruo.
Balor throws a body punch but Omeruo moves out of range.
A leg kick checked by Balor.
Omeruo is looking to slow Balor down with leg kicks.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Balor thuds his right hand into Omeruo's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Omeruo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Balor fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Omeruo on the side of the head.
A jab from Balor misses.
Balor's corner calls for a 1-2. Balor obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Balor lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Balor connects with the punch.
Omeruo attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Balor misses with a straight right.
Balor misses the shot to the body.
Balor blocks a head kick by Omeruo.
Balor blocks a low kick nicely.
Omeruo tried to score with a low kick but Balor checks it.
Omeruo wants to slow Balor down by chopping away at his legs.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Balor scores with a jab to the jaw.
Balor blocks a head kick by Omeruo.
Balor throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Omeruo on the side of the head.
Omeruo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Finn Balor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Omeruo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Balor lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Omeruo at a distance.
Balor scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Balor throws an overhand right that lands on Omeruo's shoulder, as Omeruo tries to avoid the shot.
Balor looks to score with a jab to the body but Omeruo is just out of range.
Omeruo walks into a stiff left hand from Balor.
Balor throws a looping overhand right but Omeruo ducks down to avoid it.
Balor lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Balor fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Omeruo looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Balor stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Omeruo.
Balor keeps the fight on the outside.
Omeruo throws a chopping leg kick but Balor manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
A nice side step and Balor releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Balor with a jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Omeruo lands a front kick.
Balor cracks a nice hook into Omeruo's ribs.
Omeruo darts in trying to clinch
and Balor counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balor lands with a cross.
Omeruo avoids the body shot from Balor.
Balor avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Omeruo tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Balor manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Balor checks a leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Balor. Omeruo does a little dance to reset his feet.
A clash of legs there as Balor blocks the low kick.
Balor connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Omeruo momentarily.
Balor keeps the fight on the outside.
Omeruo looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Balor throws a leg kick but Omeruo moved away.
Omeruo takes one to the side of the head.
Finn Balor seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Omeruo tries to land a body kick
and Balor counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Balor misses with a looping right.
Omeruo throws a counter high kick but Balor was just alert enough to avoid it.
Balor swings for the body but Omeruo moves out of range.
A low kick from Omeruo misses
and Balor counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Omeruo misses with an attempted mid kick.
Danny Omeruo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Finn Balor is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balor tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Omeruo was well out of range. Poor timing from Balor.
Omeruo avoids the body shot from Balor.
Omeruo with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Omeruo misses with a low kick.
As Omeruo backs off Balor throws a huge counter combo but Omeruo manages to avoid it all.
Omeruo throws a low kick but Balor moves out of range easily.
Omeruo takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Omeruo pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Omeruo throws a sloppy head kick and Balor moves out of range easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Omeruo walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Balor fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Balor slips a straight right by Omeruo.
Balor scores with a jab to the body.
Balor tests Omeruo's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Balor on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Omeruo. Omeruo obviously looking to wear him down.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Omeruo comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Finn Balor comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Balor has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Finn Balor!