PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Auld Bawls (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Dio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bawls comes to the cage accompanied by AC/DC - Big Balls. John Dio has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Auld Bawls's chin.

Bawls
vs
Dio

225 cm
29
265 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

190 cm
24
245 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Auld Bawls!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, John Dio!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Damien Edna and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bawls throws a series of punches but Dio moves out of range.
Dio is looking for the big counter here.
Bawls darts in looking for a takedown but Dio gets double underhooks and turns Bawls into the cage.
Dio lands with a hook. Bawls tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Bawls lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Bawls has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Bawls will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Bawls avoids a punch combination nicely.
Bawls throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Dio is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Bawls tries to bum rush Dio with a series of wild strikes but Dio uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Dio throws a right and a left that both miss.
Dio lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bawls circles away quickly and effectively.
Bawls misses with a series of wild punches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Bawls clinches up against the cage.
Dio prevents the takedown attempt.

Bawls breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bawls tries to bum rush Dio with a series of wild strikes but Dio uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bawls gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Bawls managing to control the position.
Dio is working Bawls over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Dio is pushing down on Bawls's leg trying to pass to half guard. Bawls is fighting to maintain full guard but Dio has managed to sneak the leg through.
Dio seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Bawls does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Dio is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Bawls!
Dio scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Bawls?
Dio trying to control but Bawls is having none of it.
Dio controlling the pace for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bawls bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Bawls has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Dio wants to sweep here but Bawls controlling him for the moment.
Dio controlling the position.
Dio tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bawls trying to control but Dio is working from the bottom.
Dio has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dio seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Bawls will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Dio keeping moving, preventing Bawls from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bawls preventing the sweep.
Bawls missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Dio controlling the position.
Bawls sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Dio's guard.
Dio is staying active underneath Bawls, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Dio is controlling Bawls's trapped leg to prevent Bawls from advancing to side control.
Bawls is trying to control. Dio wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Bawls controlling the pace.
Bawls missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Bawls is keen to just control but Dio is a slippery customer.
Dio keeping hold of Bawls's head, controlling as best he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Bawls is trying hard to land a takedown here. Dio sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Dio is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Auld Bawls. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bawls goes for a double leg but Dio avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Dio continues to drive forward.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Dio! But no joy.
Bawls really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Dio moves into the clinch.
Dio is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Bawls tries for a takedown. No joy.
Bawls wants a takedown.
Dio tries to work over Bawls's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Bawls pulls guard effortlessly.
Dio controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Bawls looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Dio puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Dio stalling.
Bawls tries to get to full guard but Dio has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but John Dio will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Bawls misses with the combination.

Bawls looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Dio!
Dio sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Dio keeping control of the position.
Bawls missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Dio has his hands clasped together around Bawls's back. He's all about the action.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bawls throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Dio wants to improve his position but Bawls is controlling well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bawls trying to mount his opponent but Dio defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Dio manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Bawls wants to control from the top but Dio keeps moving.
Dio is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Bawls prevents Dio from getting back to his feet.
Bawls tries to free his leg and advance position but Dio is retaining full guard.
Dio wants to sweep but no luck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dio is pulling down on Bawls's head. It's preventing any offense from Bawls, at least for the moment.
Bawls looking to pass the guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Bawls wants to control from the top but Dio keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Bawls throws a right and a left that Dio avoids nicely.
A punch combination from Bawls misses.
Bawls throws a right and a left that both miss.
Dio looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Bawls misses with a jab, cross combination.
Dio dodges the punch combination from Bawls.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Dio darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Dio is working for a submission of some sort.
Bawls is pressing down on Dio's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dio throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Dio wants to control from the top but Bawls keeps moving.
Bawls is looking to stand up but Dio isn't so interested in that idea.
Bawls tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Dio trying to control the position from guard on top but Bawls is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dio lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Dio stopping the sweep attempt from Bawls.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Bawls holds on and takes a little breather.
Dio throws a big elbow that misses.
Bawls controls Dio momentarily but Dio frees himself.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Bawls is on top in guard.

Bawls throws a big elbow that misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dio is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Bawls is controlling him.
Dio keeping moving, preventing Bawls from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Auld Bawls dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Bawls looks for a takedown but Dio sprawls well.
Bawls fails with a takedown attempt.
Bawls showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Dio.
Dio tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bawls paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Dio fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Bawls shoots in looking for a takedown. Dio tries to sprawl out of it but Bawls keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Dio manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Auld Bawls. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dio blocks a head kick by Bawls.
Bawls fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dio throws a jab when Bawls was well out of range.
Auld Bawls is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bawls takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dio takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Dio wants to clinch.
Bawls cracks a nice hook into Dio's ribs.
Auld Bawls seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dio misses with a jab, cross combination.

Bawls closes the distance and clinches.
Dio is trying to break free.
A hook to the body from Dio.

Dio turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Bawls takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dio cracks Bawls with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Bawls stops Dio from passing to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dio works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Dio creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Dio lands a decent elbow from side control.
Bawls tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Dio presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Bawls sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
John Dio has got the better of the ground game so far.
Dio is taking a breather. Bawls says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Dio wants to work for an arm triangle but Bawls is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dio content to control rather than advance.
Dio working over Bawls with some ground and pound. Bawls looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Dio passes to full mount!
Dio trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Dio lands a big shot there that rocks Bawls but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Dio controlling the position easily from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Dio comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Dio 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 Erwin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... John Dio!
Auld Bawls spoke after the fight, saying 'What happened? '.