PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between David Bylund (ranked 1189 p4p, 167 weight class) and Garegin Balayan (ranked 796 p4p, 114 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.

Bylund
vs
Balayan

177 cm
30
170 lbs
19 - 7 - 0

180 cm
23
176 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Fanatic Inc.

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 19 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, David Bylund!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Garegin Balayan!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Gwen Towbar and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bylund throws a series of punches but Balayan avoids them all with ease.
Balayan pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Balayan wants to land a leg kick but Bylund is out of range.
Bylund looks to score with a jab to the body but Balayan is just out of range.
Balayan scores with a nice body kick.
Bylund lands a jab to Balayan's midsection.
Balayan throws a shot from downtown. Bylund moves away and avoids it.
Balayan slips a jab from Bylund.
Bylund misses with a wild body shot.
Bylund misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Balayan.
David Bylund seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Balayan.
Balayan uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bylund.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balayan throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Bylund has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Balayan.
Bylund moves out of range as Balayan throws a body kick.
Bylund walks into a straight right hand from Balayan.
Balayan throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Balayan throws a body kick that misses
and Bylund counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bylund rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Bylund takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Balayan takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Bylund avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Bylund seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Bylund tries to clinch but Balayan moves out of range.
A nice side step and Balayan releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Bylund scores with a hook.
Bylund throws a series of punches but Balayan moves out of range.
Bylund throws a body shot but no joy.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bylund. Balayan does a little dance to reset his feet.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Balayan.
Bylund fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Balayan on the side of the head.
Balayan throws the left hand but Bylund avoids the punch easily.
Bylund takes a swing at Balayan's ribcage but misses.
Bylund cracks a nice hook into Balayan's ribs.
Decent striking displayed by Bylund there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bylund uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Balayan.
Balayan throws a body kick that misses
and Balayan takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Balayan misses with a body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balayan thows a body kick. Bylund tries to catch it but that hurt him.
A shot to the body from Bylund misses
and Balayan counters with a nice leg kick.
Balayan looks to score with a jab to the body but Bylund is just out of range.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Balayan.
Balayan throws a solid leg kick but Bylund takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Balayan.
Balayan looks to land a right hand but Bylund moved out of range.
Balayan walks into a jab.
Balayan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bylund moves in looking to clinch but Balayan pushes him off.
Bylund with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Good shot there by Bylund.
Balayan's coach down at Gym Beam was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Balayan's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Bylund throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Balayan smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Bylund avoids a kick to the body.
Bylund is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Balayan closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Balayan lands a jab to the nose.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balayan connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Bylund throws the left hand but Balayan avoids the punch easily.
Bylund scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Balayan pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Bylund swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Balayan misses with a low kick.
Bylund misses the shot to the body.
Bylund seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Balayan scores with a push kick.
Balayan drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Balayan lands a really nice looking cross but Bylund seems unphased.
Balayan throws a jab but it's blocked by Bylund.
Bylund moves out of range of the body kick.
Balayan connects with a single shot there.
A big right from Bylund misses.
Bylund lands a nice shot that snaps Balayan's head back.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bylund uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Balayan.
Balayan throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bylund. Balayan does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bylund swings for the body but Balayan moves out of range.
Balayan misses with a left hand
and Bylund counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Balayan takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Balayan misses the body punch
and Bylund counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Bylund lands with a shot to the body.
Balayan throws a lazy right hand but Bylund sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Bylund lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Balayan scores with a jab.
Balayan with a jab.
Balayan misses with an uppercut. Bylund saw that one coming.
Balayan misses the jab.
Bylund defending well as Balayan loads up on a big left hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bylund thuds a left hand into Balayan's body.
Bylund takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Balayan lands a jab to Bylund's midsection.
Bylund ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Balayan moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Garegin Balayan will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Balayan misses with a series of wild punches.
Bylund lands a jab to Balayan's midsection.
Balayan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bylund manages to avoid it.
Bylund tries to clinch there but Balayan circles away.
Garegin Balayan seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Balayan throws a body punch but Bylund moves out of range.
Balayan attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Bylund fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Balayan on the side of the head.
Balayan fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Bylund is out of range.
It looked like Bylund was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Balayan.
Bylund tries to clinch there but Balayan circles away.
Balayan ducks under a wild hook from Bylund.
Balayan flicks out a counter leg kick but Bylund steps away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bylund gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Bylund throws a looping overhand right but Balayan ducks down to avoid it.
Balayan tries to land a front kick but Bylund steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Nice body punch from Balayan.
Balayan misses with a wild body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balayan tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Bylund is able to avoid easily.
Bylund wants to clinch up but Balayan keeps it at a distance.
Bylund jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Bylund throws a poor cross that misses
and Balayan counters with a two punch combo.
Balayan feints a jab promting Bylund to slip. Balayan then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Bylund slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Bylund tests Balayan's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Balayan takes a swing at Bylund's ribcage but misses.
Balayan lands a leg kick that knocks Bylund off balance momentarily.
Bylund gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Balayan.
The fighters circle momentarily. Bylund darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bylund wants to clinch.
A shot to the body from Bylund misses
and Balayan counters with an outside leg kick.

Bylund takes the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A body shot lands from Balayan.
Balayan lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Balayan lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Bylund lands a hook that snaps the head of Balayan backwards.
Bylund misses with a hook to the ribs.
Bylund misses with a short punch on the inside.
Balayan is struggling to control the position.
Come on Balayan - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Bylund takes a shot to the head.
Bylund doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bylund.
Bylund lands with a light punch inside.
Balayan misses with the head strike.
A head punch on the inside from Balayan fails to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bylund lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Bylund can't find room to land a body shot as Balayan controls the action.
Bylund swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Bylund blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Bylund struggles to land a body shot inside as Balayan controls his hands.
Still in the clinch, Bylund scores with a nice short uppercut.
Balayan has a couple of punches blocked by Bylund.
Bylund lands a body punch.
Bylund misses with a punch on the inside.
Balayan blocking some punches.
Bylund misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Bylund lands an uppercut.
David Bylund has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Bylund blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Balayan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bylund walks into a jab.
Balayan works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Balayan scores with a nice body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bylund connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Balayan fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Bylund is out of range.
Balayan swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Bylund swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Balayan avoids the body shot from Bylund.
Good work by Bylund as he checks the leg kick.
A bone on bone clash there as Bylund blocks the leg kick.
Bylund was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Balayan misses with a body shot.
Balayan wants to slow Bylund down by chopping away at his legs.
Bylund tries to counter by clinching up but Balayan breaks away and moves out of range.
Bylund scores with a jab to the body.
Balayan throws a lazy body kick
and Bylund counters with a stiff right hand.

Bylund takes the fight into the clinch.
Balayan leaning his opponent against the cage.
Balayan pushes Bylund back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
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.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Balayan misses with a straight right.
Decent striking displayed by Balayan there.
Bylund takes one to the side of the head.
Bylund looks to land a right hand but Balayan moved out of range.
Balayan throws a big shot that misses.
A left lands for Bylund.
Bylund looks to land a right hand but Balayan moved out of range.
Bylund swings widly with a right hand
and Bylund takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Balayan throws a head kick that misses.
Danga de danga de dang - Bylund scores with a four punch combination!
Bylund wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Bylund misses with a lunging right hand
and Balayan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Balayan slips a jab from Bylund.
Balayan bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Bylund just misses with a punch to the body.
Bylund fails to land with a series of punches.
Balayan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balayan finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Bylund scores with a crisp jab that stopped Balayan in his tracks.
Balayan loads up on a big right hand but Bylund slips the punch.
Balayan pivots, looking for a leg kick but Bylund is out of range and Balayan settles back down.
Bylund throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Balayan counters with a body kick that stops Bylund in his tracks momentarily.
Bylund just misses with a punch to the body.
Bylund swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Balayan counters with an inside leg kick.
Balayan thows a body kick. Bylund tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Balayan circles away from the clinch attempt.
Bylund tries to clinch but Balayan moves out of range.
Bylund lands with a nice body punch.
Bylund checks a low kick from Balayan.
A jab from Balayan misses.
Bylund is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Balayan.
Bylund misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Balayan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balayan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bylund.
Bylund throws a body punch but Balayan moves out of range.
Balayan keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bylund will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Balayan connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Bylund's hands.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bylund looks to land a left hand but Balayan moved out of range nicely.
Bylund jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Balayan misses with a low kick.
Bylund tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Balayan avoids a punch combination nicely.
Bylund misses with a hook. Balayan ducked under it nicely.
Balayan throws an overhand right that lands on Bylund's shoulder, as Bylund tries to avoid the shot.
Balayan looks for the body kick but Bylund saw that one coming.
A looping hook to the body misses from Balayan. Bylund does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bylund throws a big shot that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good work by Bylund as he checks the leg kick.
Bylund thows a left - swing and a miss!
Balayan keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Bylund.
Bylund lands with a good body shot.
Balayan works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Balayan throws a hook to the side of Bylund's head but Bylund sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A big left from Balayan misses.
Bylund scores with a nice right hand.
Balayan moves out of range of the strikes.
A jab from Balayan does it's job there.
Bylund tries to clinch there but Balayan circles away.
Balayan throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Balayan lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Bylund misses with a right hand
and Balayan counters with a nice uppercut.
Balayan keeps the fight on the outside.
Balayan with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Bylund to score with a decent uppercut.
David Bylund has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four 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 pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Both fighters circling a little - Balayan finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Balayan looks to land a body kick but Bylund moved away.
Balayan drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Balayan connects with a solid leg kick.
Balayan steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bylund.
Balayan throws a big shot that misses.
An attempted straight right counter from Bylund misses the target.
Bylund lands a head shot.
Balayan jabs Bylund right on the nose. Bylund blinks but takes it well.
Balayan takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Balayan turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Bylund throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Balayan shapes to counter with a head kick.
Balayan throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Balayan has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Bylund throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Bylund has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Balayan finds it's way round the side to connect with Bylund's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Garegin Balayan.
I've got Balayan winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Garegin Balayan!