PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Waylon Cline (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matthew Ball (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Cline
vs
Ball

162 cm
24
193 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

197 cm
23
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Waylon Cline!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Matthew Ball!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Taro Takaoka and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cline closes the distance and clinches.

Ball breaks from the clinch.
Ball tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ball tries for a takedown but Cline circles away easily
and Cline cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Cline blocks a head kick by Ball.

Ball instigates a clinch.
Ball is leaning against Cline and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Ball looking to stall.
Cline has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Ball after a bit of a struggle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ball breaks the clinch.
Cline avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cline drops down looking for a counter takedown but Ball sprawls and moves away.

Cline moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ball pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cline throws a head kick but Ball moves out of range.

Ball drops Cline with a beautiful combination! Cline stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Ball is looking for the KO!

It looks like Waylon Cline has been cut.

Ball has managed to clinch.

Ball breaks from the clinch.
Cline shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ball defends it nicely.
As Cline backs off Ball throws a huge counter combo but Cline manages to avoid it all.
Cline tries for a takedown but Ball sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Waylon Cline. That's going to take a lot out of him.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ball throws a sloppy head kick and Cline moves out of range easily.
Cline misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Matthew Ball seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ball takes the fight into the clinch.
Cline wants to get back to striking at distance but Ball won't allow it.
Ball prevents the takedown attempt.
Cline is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Cline could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Cline is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Cline escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Ball rushes Cline and presses him up against the cage.

Ball breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Ball gets a clinch.
Cline wants a takedown but no success here.
Ball is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Cline gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Ball is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Cline to keep the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ball breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ball throws a sloppy head kick

and Cline moves into the clinch.
Cline tries to break the clinch but Ball is controlling the position.
Cline has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ball avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Cline is breathing heavily.
The referee is keeping an eye on Ball - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Cline controlling the action here for a moment.

Ball jumps into guard, dragging Cline to the mat.

Ball has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cline can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ball is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Cline throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ball is working an open guard so Cline takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Cline tries to keep at a distance but Ball has taken the fight into the clinch.
Cline trying to control the position but instead, Ball has worked for underhooks and has pushed Cline into the cage.
Ball is trying to stall.

Ball ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Ball no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Ball not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Ball uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

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

Matthew Ball dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Waylon Cline's cut.
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.

Ball shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Ball stands up out of the half guard.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cline.
Cline moves out of range of the body kick from Ball.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ball fails to land the takedown.
Cline shoots in looking for a takedown but Ball manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cline's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A head kick from Cline lands but Ball takes it in his stride.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ball forces Cline back against the cage and clinches.
Cline wants to stall.
Cline wants to get back to striking at distance but Ball won't allow it.
Cline letting Ball take a breather here.
Cline changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ball fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Waylon Cline. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ball changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cline tries to avoid it but Ball manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cline to the ground. Cline escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Cline moves into the clinch successfully.
Ball manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Ball lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Cline backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ball creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Ball breaks the clinch.

Ball closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Cline to the mat! Cline manages to get full guard.

Cline is working an open guard so Ball takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Ball misses with a takedown attempt

and Cline counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Ball!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Cline stands up and beckons Ball to his feet.
Ball has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cline connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Ball's hands.
Matthew Ball seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Cline closes the distance and clinches.

Ball pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Cline gets caught flat footed, as Ball shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ball wants to stand and escape but instead Cline has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Ball is trying to control the position but Cline postures up.

Cline decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Ball, up you get!
Cline has a takedown stuffed.
No luck for Cline with that takedown attempt.

Cline has managed to clinch.
Matthew Ball seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Ball pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ball blocks a low kick nicely.
Ball tries to counter with a clinch but Cline shakes him off and moves away.

Ball gets a clinch.
Ball has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Cline is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Cline looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Cline wants a takedown but no success here.

Cline manages to pull guard.

Ball gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Ball shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Cline's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ball distracts Cline with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ball with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Ball gets to his feet - Cline follows without any prompting.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Matthew Ball will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Waylon Cline's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Ball decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Cline has one foot on Ball's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Matthew Ball is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ball lands with an uppercut that bounces Cline off the cage and back into range.
Ball scores with a head kick.
Ball lands a nice leg kick that just misses Cline's sensitive parts.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ball throws a head kick that half lands.

Cline is rocked!

Cline shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Ball has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Cline is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Oh Cline is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Ball tries to land a knee to the head but Cline blocks with his arms.
Ball scores with a nice hook to the head.

Ball decides to pull guard.
Cline wants to stand and escape but instead Ball has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Cline is working an open guard so Ball takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Ball has managed to clinch.
Cline gets underhooks to prevent Ball's takedown attempt.
Ball prevents the takedown attempt.
Ball tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Cline just stands there and leans against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ball is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Ball misses with a punch to the body.
Cline has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cline is trying to push Ball away but Ball has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Cline swings wildly with an uppercut but Ball uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cline seems to have got his legs back now.
A frustrated look appears on Cline's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Cline breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ball throws a sloppy head kick and Cline moves out of range easily.
Ball fails with a takedown attempt.
Waylon Cline has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matthew Ball.
Ball misses with a few strikes there.

Ball moves into the clinch.
Cline drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cline can't break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cline wants to get back to striking at distance but Ball won't allow it.
Cline tries to circle away but Ball has him pinned against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ball.

Ball breaks from the clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ball is defended easily by Cline.

Cline has closed the distance and engaged Ball in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cline wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Ball is pressed up against the cage. Cline has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Ball down to the mat. Ball avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Ball scores with a head kick. Cline tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

Ball gets a clinch.
Cline wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Cline looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Ball will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Cline up against the cage.
Cline is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Cline is looking to break free of the clinch but Ball has double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ball's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Ball manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Cline on his heels. He'll look to pass Cline's guard now, I'm sure.
Cline wants to get back to his feet but Ball is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Cline controls Ball momentarily but Ball frees himself.
Ball makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Ball stands up and waves to Cline to follow him.
Cline avoids the head kick by Ball.
Waylon Cline has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Matthew Ball is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matthew Ball comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ball 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matthew Ball!
Matthew Ball decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.