PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Wade Garrett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Holden Ballinger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Garrett comes to the cage accompanied by Chumbawamba - Tubthumping . Holden Ballinger is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Garrett
vs
Ballinger

188 cm
21
218 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

199 cm
31
225 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Wade Garrett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Holden Ballinger!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Reed Andrews and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Garrett moves in looking to clinch but Ballinger pushes him off.
Ballinger tries to bum rush Garrett with a series of wild strikes but Garrett uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Garrett has Ballinger up against the cage in a clinch.
Garrett is leaning against Ballinger and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

Garrett is trying to trip Ballinger. He has hold of a leg but Ballinger is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Garrett persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Ballinger manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Garrett manages to get himself to full guard.

Garrett trying to control the position.
Ballinger slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Garrett knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ballinger on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ballinger postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Garrett looking for a guillotine here but Ballinger defends easily.
Garrett wants to get back to his feet but Ballinger is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Garrett is trying to control the position but Ballinger postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Ballinger advances to half guard.
Garrett might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Garrett tries to get to full guard but Ballinger has control of the leg.
Garrett missing with punches from the bottom.
Ballinger performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Ballinger is working for a submission of some sort.
Ballinger trying to control the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garrett is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Ballinger's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Ballinger's back!
Ballinger is really stuck here.
Garrett trying to control momentarily.
Ballinger is really stuck here.
Ballinger looking very determined here, making life difficult for Garrett.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ballinger tries to break free.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Garrett's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Ballinger looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
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 Wade Garrett will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Ballinger swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ballinger lands with a slapping head kick.
A combination from Ballinger does no damage.

Garrett changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Ballinger looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Garrett tries to advance to mount but Ballinger instead regains half guard.
Garrett not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Ballinger is not content to let Garrett control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garrett thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ballinger's head.
Ballinger is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garrett trying to control from half guard but Ballinger is working away.
Ballinger desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Garrett throwing shots but Ballinger is blocking nicely.

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.
Garrett is looking to stall here but Ballinger recovers full guard.
Garrett wants to control from the top but Ballinger keeps moving.
Ballinger keeping full guard, as Garrett tries to pass.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Ballinger holds on and takes a little breather.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ballinger throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Garrett moves out of range of the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garrett swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ballinger throws out a counter right but Garrett avoids it with no problem.
Holden Ballinger is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ballinger tried to score with a low kick but Garrett checks it.
A solid body kick from Ballinger.

Ballinger gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Garrett to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Ballinger pulls Garrett in to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ballinger is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ballinger is thwarting Garrett's attempts to control the position.
Ballinger keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Garrett won't allow Ballinger to pass to mount.
Ballinger content to control rather than advance.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Holden Ballinger will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Ballinger loads up on a big right hand but Garrett slips the punch.
Garrett takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Wade Garrett is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Garrett misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Garrett closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Wade Garrett overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ballinger is looking for a sweep.
Ballinger stops Garrett from passing to mount.
Garrett is trying to ground and pound but Ballinger uses the momentary lack of control by Garrett to regain half guard.
Garrett is just content to waste time from the top position. Ballinger takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ballinger controlling Garrett's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garrett trying to control the position from guard on top but Ballinger is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Garrett throws a big right hand that misses.
Ballinger pulls Garrett in close to prevent any damage.
Garrett trying to control but Ballinger is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Garrett takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Garrett with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Ballinger to score with a decent uppercut.
Garrett works Ballinger's body with a nice hook.
Ballinger connects with a high kick.
Ballinger misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Garrett tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ballinger was well out of range. Poor timing from Garrett.
Ballinger throws a half hearted mid kick.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Garrett.

Ballinger throws Garrett to one side and escapes!
Ballinger throws a series of punches but Garrett avoids them all with ease.
Garrett moves away from the strike by Ballinger.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garrett ducks under a wild hook from Ballinger.

Garrett closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Garrett lands in his opponent's guard.
Ballinger wants to sweep here but Garrett controlling him for the moment.
Garrett slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Garrett looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garrett wants to control from the top but Ballinger keeps moving.
Garrett throws an elbow that misses. Ballinger uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Garrett's guard. Nice move by Ballinger!

Ballinger won't allow Garrett to sweep him here.
Ballinger sitting in guard here, content to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Holden Ballinger comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ballinger 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Holden Ballinger!
Holden Ballinger decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
Wade Garrett spoke after the fight, saying 'I will be back stronger than ever!'.