PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Thip Top (ranked 3540 p4p, 301 weight class) and Ronnie Balkan (ranked 7395 p4p, 432 weight class). Thip Top has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Top
vs
Balkan

175 cm
18
155 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
154 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Thip Top!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ronnie Balkan!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Sam Margolis and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Top connects with an inside leg kick.
A head kick misses from Top.
Balkan misses with a hook
and Top counters with a good low kick that Balkan was not able to check.
Top throws a nice head kick!

It looks like Ronnie Balkan has been cut.
Balkan throws a body punch but Top moves out of range.
Nice body kick from Top.
Balkan throws a left and a right that both miss
and Top counters with a slapping leg kick.
A slapping body kick lands there for Top.
We've been told by Top's head coaches at Cobra Kai Dojo that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Top pushes Balkan away with a front kick.
Balkan takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Top clinches.
Come on Top - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Top gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Top lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Balkan looks winded!
Top gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That has opened up Ronnie Balkan's cut even more.
Balkan told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.
Balkan tries to circle away but Top has him pinned against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balkan takes an elbow to the temple.
Top lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Balkan is rocked!

The cut above Ronnie Balkan's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Top throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Balkan is trying to push Top away but Top has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Balkan takes an elbow to the temple.
Balkan is still on wobbly legs! Can Top finish him?
Balkan avoids a wild elbow strike from Top.
Balkan leaning his opponent against the cage.
Balkan avoids a wild elbow strike from Top.
Balkan is trying to break the clinch but Top has him pressed against the cage.
Balkan seems to have recovered his senses.
Balkan wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Top has him pressed against the cage.
Top lands an elbow just above Balkan 's eye.

Ronnie Balkan's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Ronnie Balkan's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:42 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Thip Top!
Thip Top spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.