PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bob Elder (ranked 4502 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pierfrancesco Balli (ranked 3081 p4p, 333 weight class). Pierfrancesco Balli is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Elder
vs
Balli

178 cm
25
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
170 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Self confident

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bob Elder!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Pierfrancesco Balli!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Yves DeLean and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Elder lands with an uppercut that bounces Balli off the cage and back into range.

Balli gets caught napping as Elder dives in and scores a takedown. Balli manages to retain guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Elder controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Balli escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Elder gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Balli isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Elder stacks Balli on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Elder!
Balli gets back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balli is looking for a sweep. Elder is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Balli is controlling Elder's trapped leg to prevent Elder from advancing to side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elder trying to control the action but Balli is working from the bottom.

Elder is looking for a kimura here.

Balli is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Elder pulls his head out easily.
Balli wants to get back to full guard.

Balli looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

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.
Elder is trying to control. Balli wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Balli gets back to full guard.

Balli is looking for a triangle but Elder pushes his legs off easily.

Balli working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Elder doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Elder manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elder trying to stand up but can't free himself from Balli's guard.
Elder trying to control but Balli is working from the bottom.
Balli can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Elder controls the pace.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Balli is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Balli fails with a takedown attempt.

Elder takes the fight into the clinch.

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.
Balli changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Elder fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Balli gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Elder counters with a single leg into guard. Balli didn't expect that.
Bob Elder has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pierfrancesco Balli.

Balli looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Elder has picked Balli up and slammed him! Balli can't keep hold of the triangle and Elder manages to pass to side control!
Balli manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Balli 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.
Elder is trying to control but Balli manages to pass to mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bob Elder dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Elder gets a takedown into half guard.
Balli makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Balli.

Balli is looking for a triangle but Elder pushes his legs off easily.
We've been informed that Balli has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Elder connects with a couple of short punches.
Elder is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Balli can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Balli working for a triangle but Elder defends it easily.
Elder cracks Balli with a solid left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elder controls from within his opponent's guard.

Balli had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Elder defends it easily.

Balli looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Balli escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Elder gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Elder lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Elder scoring with punches to the head and body.

Balli is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Elder is aware though and is defending well.
Elder won't allow Balli to sweep him here.
Elder works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Elder prevents Balli from improving his position.
Elder wants to pass the guard but Balli is defending well.
Balli keeping hold of Elder's head, controlling as best he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elder is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Balli can do anything to dispel that myth.
Balli trying to hold on to Elder's head to control him but Elder postures up.
Elder tries to pass the half guard into mount. Balli knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Balli trying to control here.
Elder wants to free his trapped foot but Balli is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Balli is looking to control Elder's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Balli avoid being mounted?

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Balli feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Elder throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Balli escapes and throws Elder's legs to the side, diving into side control!

Balli is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Elder knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Elder wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
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 Bob Elder will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Balli looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Elder manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Balli manages to get himself to full guard.

Elder preventing the sweep.
Elder postures up.

Balli is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Elder is aware though and is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balli has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Elder has passed into side control.
Elder is looking to take a break and control but Balli is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Balli gets back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, if Elder is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Balli is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Elder pulls his head out easily.
Bob Elder overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Elder seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

Balli looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Elder pushes past his half guard into mount!
Balli is in a horrible position here. Elder smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Elder tries to control but Balli wriggling away.
Pierfrancesco Balli has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Elder with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Balli is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Elder landing punches.
Balli wants to hold on but Elder pushes him away.
Elder landing strikes from the mount and Balli is in trouble!

Elder with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balli is desperately trying to improve his position but Elder has a good base and remains in mount.
Elder trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Balli is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Balli can't escape the position.

That's four 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.
Balli wants to hold on but Elder pushes him away.
Balli is in all sorts of trouble here.
Elder landing strikes from the mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Elder landing shots from mount.

Elder working for a guillotine from mount but Balli is in no mood to give up.
Bob Elder is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Elder tries to control but Balli wriggling away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bob Elder showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Elder has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bob Elder!