PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Finn Balor (ranked 4503 p4p, 351 weight class) and Baeddan MacAuliffe (ranked 4671 p4p, 363 weight class). Balor comes into the arena with Monster blaring out of the sound system. MacAuliffe has chosen Notorious by Duran Duran as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. 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.

Balor
vs
MacAuliffe

172 cm
45
152 lbs
37 - 21 - 1

175 cm
30
159 lbs
10 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
KO power

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 37 - 21 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Finn Balor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Baeddan MacAuliffe!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Roosa Järviläinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Balor enables MacAuliffe to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Balor manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
MacAuliffe trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Balor throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Balor controlling MacAuliffe's posture.
MacAuliffe stopping the sweep attempt from Balor.

Balor working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because MacAuliffe has passed into half guard!
Balor wants to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
MacAuliffe missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
MacAuliffe lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
MacAuliffe is thwarting Balor's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacAuliffe tries to pass the half guard into mount. Balor knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Balor looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
MacAuliffe scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Balor wants to control but MacAuliffe is keeping busy.

MacAuliffe is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Balor is looking for a sweep. MacAuliffe is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Balor is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of MacAuliffe's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take MacAuliffe's back!
Balor trying to control.
Balor is trying to stick to MacAuliffe's back but MacAuliffe is turning into Balor. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Balor's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by MacAuliffe.
MacAuliffe being controlled here momentarily.
MacAuliffe lands a couple of digs.
MacAuliffe advances to half guard.
Balor is trying to maintain the position but MacAuliffe is very close to passing his half guard.
Balor is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balor is looking for a sweep. MacAuliffe is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
MacAuliffe winds up and cracks Balor with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
MacAuliffe sitting and controlling from the half guard.
MacAuliffe not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

MacAuliffe 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.
MacAuliffe wants to take a breather but Balor is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

MacAuliffe is looking for a kimura here.
MacAuliffe lands strikes from half guard.
Balor wants to get back to full guard.

MacAuliffe is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Balor is looking to improve his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Balor gets back to full guard.
Balor wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Baeddan MacAuliffe dominated that 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.

Balor works the jab nicely.
Balor turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
MacAuliffe tries to bum rush Balor with a series of wild strikes but Balor uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Balor misses with a looping left.
Baeddan MacAuliffe is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
MacAuliffe throws a head kick but Balor moves out of range.
An attempted straight right counter from Balor misses the target.
MacAuliffe shoots in for a double leg but Balor sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
MacAuliffe throws a series of punches but Balor moves out of range.
Balor was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
MacAuliffe has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Balor defends well against a solid takedown attempt from MacAuliffe.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Balor.

Balor drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

MacAuliffe has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Balor can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

MacAuliffe is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Balor trying to control but MacAuliffe is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balor has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Balor accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
MacAuliffe has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
MacAuliffe trying to keep a closed guard but Balor is proving a slippery customer.
Balor trying to control but MacAuliffe is working from the bottom.
Balor works over MacAuliffe with some ground and pound from guard.
Balor works over MacAuliffe with some ground and pound from guard.
Balor working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of MacAuliffe's head.

MacAuliffe has his foot on Balor's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Balor works his way back into a safe position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
MacAuliffe working a defensive guard here.
Balor's corner is telling him to maintain position.

MacAuliffe has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Balor can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

MacAuliffe escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Balor gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Balor pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. MacAuliffe is keeping the position for now.
MacAuliffe looking for a sweep. Not yet MacAuliffe, not yet.
Balor lands a couple of digs.
Balor is looking to work some ground and pound but MacAuliffe has wrist control.
Balor tries to free his leg and advance position but MacAuliffe is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

MacAuliffe throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
MacAuliffe looking for a sweep. Not yet MacAuliffe, not yet.
Balor looking to pass the guard.
Balor scoring with some ground and pound.
Balor wants to control from the top but MacAuliffe keeps moving.
Balor is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
MacAuliffe keeping moving, preventing Balor from controlling successfully.
MacAuliffe lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Balor had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. MacAuliffe defends it easily.
MacAuliffe postures up.
MacAuliffe connects with a couple of short punches.
Balor utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Balor seems keen to control MacAuliffe's posture.
MacAuliffe lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
MacAuliffe with a nice head shot there.
Balor avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
MacAuliffe is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
MacAuliffe is working Balor over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Balor is rocked!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Finn Balor will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

MacAuliffe shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Balor is trying to defend but MacAuliffe finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Oh Balor is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Balor looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

MacAuliffe is looking for a kimura but Balor is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for MacAuliffe to get the leverage.
Balor seems to have got his legs back now.
Balor tries to roll over but MacAuliffe keeps him under control.
Balor slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Balor working a defensive guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Balor is on top in guard.

MacAuliffe not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacAuliffe tries to land a sweep but no joy.

MacAuliffe had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Balor defends it easily.
Balor throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

MacAuliffe has his foot on Balor's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Balor works his way back into a safe position though.
MacAuliffe keeping moving, preventing Balor from controlling successfully.

MacAuliffe is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Balor with a nice head shot there.
MacAuliffe is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balor is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Balor trying to control the position from guard on top but MacAuliffe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Balor missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
MacAuliffe utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
MacAuliffe is pulling down on Balor's head to control his posture.
MacAuliffe keeping moving, preventing Balor from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Balor tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
MacAuliffe takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
MacAuliffe avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Good standup being displayed there by Balor as he connects with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balor is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by MacAuliffe.
MacAuliffe tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Balor avoids the head kick by MacAuliffe.
A good leg kick by Balor.
A chopping leg kick lands by Balor.
MacAuliffe throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
MacAuliffe fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Balor avoids it really well and circles away.
MacAuliffe swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Balor misses with a body shot.
MacAuliffe tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Balor scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Balor throws a jab when MacAuliffe was well out of range.
Balor is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by MacAuliffe.
MacAuliffe swings for the body but Balor moves out of range.

Balor shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in MacAuliffe's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
MacAuliffe bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Balor's guard.

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!
MacAuliffe working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Balor looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
MacAuliffe working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Balor's head.
Balor has momentary wrist control but MacAuliffe slips an elbow through the middle.
MacAuliffe working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Balor has MacAuliffe pulled in close to control his posture.
Balor looking for a sweep. Not yet Balor, not yet.
Balor working a defensive guard here.
MacAuliffe looking to sit in guard and control but Balor gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Finn Balor.
I think Balor has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Finn Balor!
An out of breath Finn Balor thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.