PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Monroe Tanner (ranked 5209 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rick Balboa (ranked 25006 p4p, 0 weight class). Rick Balboa has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Monroe Tanner's chin.

Tanner
vs
Balboa

175 cm
19
278 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
20
250 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Monroe Tanner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rick Balboa!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Frank Dennis and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tanner shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Balboa looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Tanner throwing shots but Balboa is blocking nicely.
Tanner throwing shots but Balboa is blocking nicely.
Tanner could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Tanner is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Balboa is looking to control Tanner's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Balboa avoid being mounted?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tanner sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Balboa defending well though.
Tanner tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Tanner lands a nice short elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanner working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Tanner has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Tanner looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Balboa with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Balboa keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Tanner missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Balboa keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Tanner seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Tanner missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ground and pound from Tanner.
Balboa is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Tanner scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanner lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Tanner is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Balboa blocking the ground and pound attempt from Tanner.
Tanner scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Tanner prevents Balboa from improving his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Tanner seems to be working for a kimura but Balboa defends the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanner throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Tanner is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Tanner missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Balboa tries to roll over but Tanner keeps him under control.
Tanner throwing shots but Balboa is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Tanner lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Tanner sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Balboa defending well though.
Tanner is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Balboa trying to hold on to Tanner's head to control him but Tanner postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Tanner lands a nice short elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tanner shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Balboa is trying to defend but Tanner finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Balboa manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Tanner keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Tanner tries to pull guard but Balboa holds him up against the cage and eventually Tanner drops back down to his feet.

Tanner breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tanner will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Tanner shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Balboa manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Tanner keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Balboa is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Tanner takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Balboa taking a breather.
Tanner jumps guard but Balboa stands there with Tanner around his waist. Tanner gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Monroe Tanner. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tanner lands a nice elbow.
Tanner is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Balboa can do to turn this around?

Tanner breaks the clinch.
Tanner shoots in but Balboa avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Balboa misses the shot to the body.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Tanner is defended easily by Balboa.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Tanner with that takedown attempt.
Balboa fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Tanner is looking to counter the offense by Balboa and move into the clinch.

Tanner manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Balboa on his heels. He'll look to pass Balboa's guard now, I'm sure.
Balboa is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Tanner dives into side control.

The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tanner gets to mount! Balboa was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Balboa is trying to escape the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balboa in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Tanner lands a nice shot to the head.
Balboa can't escape the position.
Tanner controlling the pace for now.
Balboa swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balboa wants to hold on but Tanner pushes him away.
Tanner connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Tanner lands a heavy elbow.
Tanner lands with some strikes.
Monroe Tanner overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Balboa working to try and regain half guard.
Tanner punishing his opponent with strikes.

Tanner working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Tanner with the ground and pound from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Monroe Tanner dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Balboa stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Balboa wants it to stay on the feet.
Tanner has a takedown stuffed.

Balboa moves into range and clinches up with Tanner.
Balboa fails to pull guard.
Balboa jumps guard but Tanner stands there with Balboa around his waist. Balboa gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Tanner tries to pull guard but Balboa holds him up against the cage and eventually Tanner drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Monroe Tanner. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tanner jumps guard.
Balboa trying to control the position from guard on top but Tanner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Balboa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Tanner escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Balboa gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Tanner might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Tanner manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Balboa is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Tanner wants to control from the top but Balboa keeps moving.

That's two 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.
Tanner postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Balboa wants to sweep but no luck.

Tanner gets to his feet. Balboa looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Tanner shoots in for a double leg but Balboa sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Tanner rushes Balboa and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Tanner stalling.
Tanner tries to pull guard but Balboa holds him up against the cage and eventually Tanner drops back down to his feet.
Balboa working hard to break the clinch.
Rick Balboa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tanner breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tanner is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Balboa forces Tanner back against the cage and clinches.
Tanner stalling in the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Tanner scores with a nice short uppercut.
Tanner goes for a takedown attempt but Balboa pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Balboa misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Tanner is looking to counter the offense by Balboa and move into the clinch.
A nice combination there by Tanner.
Balboa throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Tanner shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Balboa as he avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Balboa pushes Tanner up against the cage in a clinch.
The referee calls for Balboa to work.
Balboa is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Tanner to keep the fight standing.
Balboa wants a takedown.
Balboa tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Tanner smiles and moves away.

Tanner fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Balboa to the ground. Tanner is now in Balboa'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!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tanner passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Monroe Tanner is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Balboa wants to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Monroe Tanner showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Tanner, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Monroe Tanner!