PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Joy Rones (ranked 1056 p4p, 161 weight class) and Garegin Balayan (ranked 584 p4p, 87 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Rones
vs
Balayan

180 cm
21
181 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
176 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Fast

King of Clothes

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 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joy Rones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Garegin Balayan!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Frank Dennis and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rones scores with a jab to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Balayan misses the target.
Rones uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Balayan.
Rones looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Balayan is looking to slow Rones down with leg kicks.
Rones swinging wildly here.
Balayan digs a good hook to Rones's body.
Rones on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Balayan lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Balayan connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Rones with a jab.
Balayan throws a leg kick but Rones moved away.
It looked like Rones wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
An inside leg kick lands from Balayan.
Rones on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Rones moves out of range as Balayan throws a body kick.
Rones lands a head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balayan scores with a push kick.
Rones has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Balayan finds it's way round the side to connect with Rones's head.
Balayan lands a head kick!
Balayan misses the jab.
Rones takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Balayan defending well as Rones loads up on a big left hand.
Despite the aggression on Balayan's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Rones misses with a hook
and Balayan counters with a body kick.
Rones blocks a head kick by Balayan.
Balayan throws a series of punches but Rones avoids them all with ease.
Rones was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Rones scores with a nice strike.
The fighters circling - Balayan throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Balayan misses with a hook. Rones ducked under it nicely.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rones uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Balayan.
Rones was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Balayan throws a sloppy head kick and Rones moves out of range easily.
Rones swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Balayan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rones manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balayan connects with a looping right hand.
Rones rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Balayan connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Balayan throws a head kick but Rones moves out of range.
Rones takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Rones on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Balayan is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Rones had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
A swing and a miss from Rones.
Rones bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Balayan chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Balayan keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Balayan scoring well with a low kick there.
A slow jab from Rones misses its intended target.
Balayan throws a sloppy head kick and Rones moves out of range easily.
Balayan takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Balayan misses with the combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balayan tries to land a front kick but Rones steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Balayan has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Balayan throws the kick towards the body but Rones avoids it.
Balayan throws a hook to the side of Rones's head but Rones sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
As Balayan looks to move away, Rones throws a big counter combo but Balayan just gets out of the way.
Balayan scores with a push kick.
Rones misses with a double jab
and Balayan counters with a straight right hand.
Balayan avoids the body shot from Rones.
Rones moves out of range of the body kick from Balayan.
Rones moves away from the strike by Balayan.
Garegin Balayan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A cross from Balayan lands.
Rones throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Balayan loads up on a big right hand but Rones slips the punch.
Rones throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Balayan sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Balayan turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rones throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Balayan sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Balayan tries a quick counter leg kick but Rones is wise to it.
Balayan throws a sloppy head kick
and Rones connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Balayan on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rones on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Balayan. Balayan obviously looking to wear him down.
Rones has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Balayan finds it's way round the side to connect with Rones's head.
Rones connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Rones swings and misses with a shot to the body
letting Balayan counter with a right hand.
Rones cracks Balayan with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Balayan.
Balayan throws a right hand that misses
and Rones counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Balayan throws a predictable looking body shot
and Rones counters with a nice body shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Balayan moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Balayan. Rones shrugs it off though.
Balayan throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Rones stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Balayan 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.

Garegin Balayan dominated that round.
That's time! Rones's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rones keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Balayan dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Rones. That did some damage!
Balayan slips a straight right by Rones.
Rones swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Balayan lands with a thumping leg kick.
A jab from Rones misses.
Rones takes a head kick and keeps coming.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rones. Balayan does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rones is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Balayan throws a hook but Rones avoids it easily.
Balayan keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Garegin Balayan seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balayan on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Balayan buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Rones's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Balayan connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Rones scrambles back to his feet.
Rones moves out of range of the body kick.
Balayan throws a hook but Rones blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balayan takes a jab right on the kisser.
Balayan missing with a left hand there. Rones was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Balayan avoids the body shot from Rones.
Rones misses with a lunging right hand
and Balayan counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Rones moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Rones blocks the body kick.
Rones on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Balayan throws a body kick that misses
and Rones counters with a straight right hand.
Balayan misses with an uppercut.
Rones throwing a counter right hand but Balayan manages to avoid it.
Balayan ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Rones might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Balayan ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Balayan uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rones.
Balayan fakes the leg kick and cracks Rones in the body.
Balayan moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balayan throws a leg kick
and Rones counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Balayan lands a glancing blow to the side of Rones's head.
Rones keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rones is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Balayan.
Balayan throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Rones's head.
A low kick from Balayan is predictable there
and Rones counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A shot to the body from Rones misses
and Balayan counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Balayan throws a body kick that misses.
Rones throws a big counter combination but Balayan scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Balayan moves out of range as Rones strikes.
Balayan is trying to counter with his kicks.
Balayan connects with a right hand. Rones shakes it off.
Rones takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
An inside leg kick from Balayan misses.
Balayan pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rones pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balayan throws a half hearted mid kick.
Rones lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Balayan buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Balayan throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Balayan throws a lazy head kick
and Rones counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Rones misses with a body shot.
Balayan scores with a kick to the midsection.
Balayan shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Rones misses with a lunging right hand
and Balayan counters with a stiff right hand.
A shot to the body from Balayan misses
enabling Rones to counter with a crisp jab.
Balayan connects with a solid leg kick.
Rones throws out a loose jab but Balayan uses good head movement to avoid it.
Balayan moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Balayan throws a push kick but Rones slaps the foot to one side.
Rones will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rones walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Rones throws a poor cross that misses
enabling Balayan to counter with a crisp jab.
Balayan fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Rones misses with a lunging right hand
and Balayan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rones takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Rones on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Rones blocks a head kick by Balayan.
Balayan thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rones throws a body punch but Balayan moves out of range.
Rones steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Balayan. That one must have hurt.
Balayan throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Rones's corner calls for a 1-2. Rones obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Balayan tests Rones's chin there with a solid looking shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Garegin Balayan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Rones's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Balayan attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Balayan throws a leg kick which misses Rones's front leg but catches the back leg as Rones tries to avoid it.
Rones walks into a stiff left hand from Balayan.
Rones looks to land a right hand but Balayan moved out of range.
A countering left hand to the body from Balayan misses.
Balayan is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Balayan uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rones.
Balayan swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rones on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Rones throws a jab but it's blocked by Balayan.
Balayan misses with a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balayan misses with a low kick.
Balayan tries to land a body kick
and Rones counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Balayan throws a lazy body kick
and Rones counters with a nice uppercut.
Balayan changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rones misses with an uppercut.
And Balayan responds with a good body kick, but Rones manages to step out the way in time.
Rones swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rones bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Rones misses with a body shot.
Balayan connects with a body shot that sends Rones's belly button to the back.
Rones takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Balayan keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Balayan lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Rones throws a jab but it's blocked by Balayan.
Balayan feints a counter leg kick.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Balayan.
Rones misses with a hook
and Balayan counters with a thumping low kick.
Rones takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Balayan moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Rones lands a jab to Balayan's midsection.
Joy Rones has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Balayan bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Rones on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Balayan has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Balayan uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rones.
It seemed like Balayan was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Balayan lands a body shot.
Rones swings for the body but Balayan moves out of range.
Balayan wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Balayan - that will leave a mark!
Rones connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Balayan throws out a loose jab but Rones uses good head movement to avoid it.
Balayan swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Balayan misses with a series of wild punches.
Balayan throws a lazy uppercut
enabling Rones to counter with a crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Balayan is rocked!
Rones lunges in with a left hook that violently twists Balayan head around and knocks him out cold! Rones hops onto the cage and yells out at the top of his lungs - Yeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaah! They're showing the replay on the big screens now; that was nasty! I hope one of the photographers got a good shot of it.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:12 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Joy Rones!
A relieved looking Joy Rones thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.