PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lobo Saint Artem (ranked 5104 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wrecking Ball (ranked 5088 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Saint Artem
vs
Ball

170 cm
23
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

167 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lobo Saint Artem!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Wrecking Ball!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Elvis Blanc and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saint Artem keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ball is looking to clinch.
Ball shoots in for a double leg but Saint Artem sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Saint Artem shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ball sprawls well. Ball wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Saint Artem gets slowly back to his feet.
Ball steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Saint Artem.
Saint Artem goes for a double leg but Ball avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Ball continues to drive forward.
Horrible takedown attempt by Ball or perhaps it was just good defense by Saint Artem, which made it look bad.
Lobo Saint Artem has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wrecking Ball.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Saint Artem closes the distance and clinches.
Saint Artem just leaning against Ball, taking a breather.

Saint Artem jumps into guard, dragging Ball to the mat.
Ball stopping the sweep attempt from Saint Artem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saint Artem controlling Ball's posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Saint Artem looking for a guillotine here but Ball defends easily.
Saint Artem pulls Ball in close to his closed guard and prevents Ball from doing any damage or advancing position.
Ball trying to control but Saint Artem is working from the bottom.

That's two 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.

Saint Artem isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Ball stacks Saint Artem 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 Ball!
Ball trying to control the action but Saint Artem is working from the bottom.
Saint Artem manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Saint Artem is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Saint Artem seems to be working for a kimura but Ball defends the submission attempt.
Ball is looking to get back to is feet but Saint Artem passes into side control.
Saint Artem takes a little break here. Ball wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Saint Artem's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

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.

Saint Artem stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Saint Artem displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ball.
Ball dives in for a single leg takedown but Saint Artem sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Saint Artem misses with a wild body shot.
Ball defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Saint Artem.
Horrible takedown attempt by Saint Artem or perhaps it was just good defense by Ball, which made it look bad.
Ball doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Saint Artem counters by moving into the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ball can't find room to land a body shot as Saint Artem controls the action.
Saint Artem goes for a takedown in the clinch but Ball prevents it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lobo Saint Artem dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Saint Artem clinches with his opponent.

Saint Artem decides to pull guard.
Saint Artem preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Saint Artem is on top in guard.

Saint Artem not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Saint Artem gets to his feet - Ball follows without any prompting.
Ball doesn't manage to clinch there - Saint Artem circles away.
Saint Artem wants to slow Ball down by chopping away at his legs.
Saint Artem tries for a takedown but Ball sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Ball shoots in for a double leg but Saint Artem sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Saint Artem throws a sloppy head kick and Ball moves out of range easily.
Ball pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Saint Artem looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ball is fending him off so far but Saint Artem persists. Nope, Ball circles away and we're back to standing.

Saint Artem clinches.

Saint Artem breaks the clinch.
Ball pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ball fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ball shoots in for a double leg but Saint Artem sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Lobo Saint Artem has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wrecking Ball.
Ball shoots in looking for a takedown. Saint Artem tries to sprawl out of it but Ball keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Saint Artem manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ball tries to clinch but Saint Artem moves out of range.
Saint Artem throws a head kick but Ball moves out of range.
Ball shoots in for a double leg but Saint Artem sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ball changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Saint Artem tries to avoid it but Ball manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Saint Artem to the ground. Saint Artem escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ball looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Saint Artem fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ball avoids it really well and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Saint Artem rushes Ball and presses him up against the cage.
Ball tries to break free but Saint Artem pushes him back against the cage.
Saint Artem has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Ball is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Saint Artem manages to break the clinch.
Ball shoots and misses

and Saint Artem counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Saint Artem prevents a takedown attempt there.

Saint Artem breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ball looks to score with a jab to the body but Saint Artem is just out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ball defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Saint Artem.
Saint Artem will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
As Saint Artem backs off Ball throws a huge counter combo but Saint Artem manages to avoid it all.
Ball tries to clinch there but Saint Artem circles away.

Saint Artem darts in and clinches Ball up against the cage.
Ball wants to stall.
Ball is trying to pull guard but Saint Artem has him pressed against the cage.
Saint Artem drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ball tries to throw a body punch but Saint Artem avoids it by throwing Ball back against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Saint Artem's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lobo Saint Artem dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Saint Artem closes the distance and clinches.
Ball on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Ball tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Saint Artem smiles and moves away.
Ball tries to bum rush Saint Artem with a series of wild strikes but Saint Artem uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Saint Artem looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Ball throws the kick towards the body but Saint Artem avoids it.
Saint Artem tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Ball manages to circle out of the way.
Ball tries to close the distance and clinch up but Saint Artem swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ball is looking to clinch.
Saint Artem darts in looking for a takedown but Ball gets double underhooks and turns Saint Artem into the cage.
Nice takedown defense from Saint Artem. No joy for Ball on that attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saint Artem stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Saint Artem wants it to stay on the feet.
Lobo Saint Artem has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wrecking Ball.
Ball moves in looking to clinch but Saint Artem pushes him off.
Ball shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Saint Artem moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ball is pressed up against the cage. Saint Artem has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Ball down to the mat. Ball avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Saint Artem dives in for a single leg takedown but Ball sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Saint Artem shoots in looking for a takedown but Ball manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Saint Artem's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Saint Artem clinches.
Ball jumps guard but Saint Artem stands there with Ball around his waist. Ball gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Ball drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Saint Artem drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Saint Artem is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ball is defending well for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Saint Artem pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ball throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Saint Artem clinches.
Ball tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Ball doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Saint Artem jumps guard and drags Ball to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Saint Artem looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ball is one step ahead there.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Saint Artem is on top in guard.

Saint Artem passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ball parries the strikes from Saint Artem easily there. Saint Artem is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Ball to escape.
Ball is trying to work for a sweep but Saint Artem has mounted him!
Ball really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Saint Artem. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Saint Artem is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Ball to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Ball shrugs it off.
Lobo Saint Artem overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Saint Artem looking to control and managing it successfully.
Poor strikes thrown by Saint Artem there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Saint Artem sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Saint Artem there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Saint Artem tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Saint Artem sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Ball tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ball keeps trying to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lobo Saint Artem showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Saint Artem 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight for Lobo Saint Artem!
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight for Lobo Saint Artem!
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight for Lobo Saint Artem!

Lobo Saint Artem wins by unanimous decision!