PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Diego Gaspar (ranked 2466 p4p, 131 weight class) and Ambo Balisi (ranked 6425 p4p, 305 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Gaspar
vs
Balisi

169 cm
22
139 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

166 cm
21
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Diego Gaspar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ambo Balisi!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Frank Dennis and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Balisi clinches with his opponent.
A bit of stalling here from Gaspar.
Gaspar prevents a body shot from Balisi.

Gaspar pulls guard successfully.
Gaspar tries to land a sweep but no joy.
My spies in Lock and Roll Gym inform me that Balisi has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

Gaspar had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Balisi defends it easily.
Gaspar wants to sweep but no luck.
Gaspar has a closed guard, preventing Balisi from standing up.
Balisi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gaspar not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gaspar is on top in guard.

Gaspar wants to pass the guard but Balisi is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balisi is looking to stand up but Gaspar isn't so interested in that idea.
Balisi is trying to control the position but Gaspar postures up.
Gaspar passes Balisi's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Gaspar is keen to just control but Balisi is a slippery customer.
Gaspar wants to pass the guard but Balisi is defending well.

Gaspar seems to be looking for submissions.

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.

Gaspar is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Balisi is just riding it out for now. Gaspar eventually gives up the hold.
Balisi pushes Gaspar off looking to stand but Gaspar dives back in and keeps control.

Gaspar looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gaspar is working for a submission of some sort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaspar moves into full mount! Balisi won't be happy about that!

Gaspar goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Balisi is on top in guard.
Balisi wants to control from the top but Gaspar keeps moving.
Balisi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gaspar is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balisi trying to control but Gaspar is working from the bottom.
Balisi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gaspar is keeping the position for now.
Balisi is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Balisi keeps trying to improve his position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Gaspar holds on and takes a little breather.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Balisi avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Gaspar keeping moving, preventing Balisi from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Gaspar dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Gaspar has closed the distance and engaged Balisi in a clinch.

Balisi gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Gaspar slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Diego Gaspar overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gaspar not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Balisi trying to control the position from guard on top but Gaspar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gaspar not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Gaspar is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gaspar working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Balisi doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Balisi manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Balisi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gaspar swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaspar controls Balisi momentarily but Balisi frees himself.

Balisi drops back, looking for a kneebar! Gaspar looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Gaspar looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Gaspar!

You can see the frustration on Balisi's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Gaspar thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Gaspar is looking to take a break and control but Balisi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balisi pushes Gaspar away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Gaspar gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Gaspar trying to control the action but Balisi is working from the bottom.

Gaspar tries for a kimura but Balisi is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaspar trying to control the action but Balisi is working from the bottom.

Gaspar wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Balisi, who protects the arm well.
Balisi tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The referee asks Gaspar politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Gaspar prefers to stall for the moment though.

That's four 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.

Gaspar is trying to get an arm triangle but Balisi is defending well.

Gaspar is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Balisi is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Gaspar tries for a kimura but Balisi is defending well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gaspar wants to lay and pray for a moment but Balisi keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Gaspar dominated that second round.
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. This is the final round!

Gaspar closes the distance and clinches.

Gaspar pulls guard successfully.
Balisi pushes down on Gaspar's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Gaspar is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Balisi's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Balisi's back!

Gaspar looking for the choke from the back.

Gaspar is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Balisi defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Balisi trying to control the hands but Gaspar won't let him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gaspar is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Balisi has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gaspar has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

Balisi is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Balisi trying to get back to his feet but Gaspar is in full control for now.

Gaspar looking for the RNC.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Gaspar has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

Gaspar working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

Gaspar working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Balisi is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Balisi showing good submission defense here.
Balisi is trying to get back to his feet but Gaspar has full control of the position and if anything, Balisi has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Diego Gaspar is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaspar just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.

Gaspar has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Balisi is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Gaspar has got one arm under Balisi's chin. This could be trouble... Balisi trying to control the other hand but Gaspar gets it free and sqeezes tight - just a matter of time now! Yep, Balisi has tapped out! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:54 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Diego Gaspar!