PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lyle Briggs (ranked 5943 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michae Balle (ranked 2663 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Briggs
vs
Balle

188 cm
25
245 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

193 cm
25
270 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Lyle Briggs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Michae Balle!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Daniel Franklin and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balle throws a hook but Briggs avoids it easily.
Balle throws a big shot that misses.
A little feinted left hand from Briggs on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Balle. Briggs does a little dance to reset his feet.
Balle takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Briggs misses with a combination
and Balle counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Balle lands a nice shot to the body.
Briggs misses with a series of wild punches.
Briggs misses with a hook. Balle ducked under it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Briggs misses with a looping left.
Balle moves out of range of the strikes.
It seemed like Balle was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Balle ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Briggs moves away.
Balle looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Briggs throws a combination that misses
and Balle counters with a stiff right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balle misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Briggs.
Briggs throws a hook but Balle blocks it.
Briggs on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Briggs avoids the body shot from Balle.
Balle looks to score with a jab to the body but Briggs is just out of range.
Briggs avoids the body shot from Balle.
Balle takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Briggs throws a right hand that misses
and Balle counters with a right hand to the body.
Lyle Briggs seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Briggs jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Balle appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Briggs just misses with a punch to the body.
Briggs stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Briggs keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Briggs could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Nice uppercut there from Briggs.
Balle ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Briggs moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Briggs throws a lazy uppercut
and Balle counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A cross from Balle lands.
Briggs is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Balle.
Balle loads up on a big right hand but Briggs slips the punch.
Briggs is looking to counter punch.
Balle lands with a nice body punch.
Balle displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Briggs throws out the jab.
Balle pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Briggs was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Briggs looks to land a right hand but Balle moved out of range.
Briggs throws an overhand right that lands on Balle's shoulder, as Balle tries to avoid the shot.
Balle throws out a counter right but Briggs avoids it with no problem.
Balle uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Briggs.
Briggs throws a hook but Balle avoids it easily.
Balle appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Briggs misses with a hook
and Balle counters with a straight right hand.
Balle bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balle misses with a hook. Briggs ducked under it nicely.
Balle defending well as Briggs loads up on a big left hand.
Balle throws out a counter right but Briggs avoids it with no problem.
Balle misses with a straight right.
Briggs throws a jab but it's blocked by Balle.
Balle is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Briggs.
Briggs throwing a counter right hand but Balle manages to avoid it.
Balle swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
The fighters circling - Briggs throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Briggs throws a looping overhand right but Balle ducks down to avoid it.
Briggs lunges at Balle with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Balle's hand.
Briggs misses with a hook. Balle ducked under it nicely.
Balle let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Balle on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Good standup being displayed there by Briggs as he connects with a hook.
Balle misses the shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Briggs misses with a jab, cross combination.
Balle doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Balle ducks under a wild hook from Briggs.
Briggs keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Briggs is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
A telegraphed right hand from Briggs misses the target.
Balle dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Briggs connects with a good right hand that stumbles Balle. Balle circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Briggs bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Balle's head.
Briggs throws a jab when Balle was well out of range.
Balle let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Briggs misses with a looping right.
Briggs throws a good cross that connects.
Balle tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Briggs was well out of range. Poor timing from Balle.
It looked like Briggs wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Balle walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Briggs lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Lyle Briggs will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Balle throws a jab but it's blocked by Briggs.
Balle displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Briggs throws out the jab.
Balle just misses with a punch to the body.
Briggs swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Balle.
Briggs throws a poor cross that misses
and Balle counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Briggs dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A jab from Briggs misses.
Balle uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Briggs.
Balle ducks under a wild hook from Briggs.
Lyle Briggs is winning the standup battle so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balle ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Briggs moves away.
Briggs appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
A big right from Briggs misses.
Briggs throws a series of punches but Balle moves out of range.
Briggs misses with a lunging right hand
and Balle counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balle moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Balle slips a jab from Briggs.
Balle is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Briggs rather than just go for the knockout.
Briggs swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Briggs lands a jab to the nose.
Briggs misses with a hook
and Balle cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Briggs ducks under a wild hook from Balle.
Briggs was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Briggs throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Balle on the side of the head.
A jab from Briggs misses.
Balle takes a jab right on the kisser.
Briggs ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Jab from Balle.
Briggs uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Balle.
Balle swings for the body but Briggs moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balle keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Briggs.
Briggs slips under a jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Briggs misses with a double jab
and Balle connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Briggs is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Balle.
Briggs throws a shot from downtown. Balle moves away and avoids it.
Briggs swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Briggs takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Briggs takes one to the side of the head.
Balle throws a body shot but no joy.
Balle misses with an uppercut.
Balle throws a nice looking combination but Briggs bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Balle throws a series of punches but Briggs moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Briggs lands with a right hand.
Balle just misses with a punch to the body.
Briggs pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Balle misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Briggs.
Briggs misses with an uppercut. Balle saw that one coming.
Briggs throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A big right from Briggs misses.
A slow jab from Balle misses its intended target.
Balle lands a body shot.
Briggs avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Briggs looks to land a right hand but Balle moved out of range.
Balle appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Balle lands a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balle misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Balle throws a right hand that misses
and Briggs counters with a stiff right hand.
Briggs misses with a wild body shot.
A big right from Balle misses.
Balle moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Donk. Briggs catches Balle right on the button with a cross.
Balle lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Briggs at a distance.
Balle throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Balle avoids the body shot from Briggs.
Balle cracks a nice hook into Briggs's ribs.
Briggs swings for the body but Balle moves out of range.
Briggs looks to throw the jab but Balle is out of range.
Balle swings for the body but Briggs moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Michae Balle will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Balle misses with a wild body shot.
A cross from Briggs lands.
Balle throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
An attempted straight right counter from Briggs misses the target.
Briggs swings widly with a right hand
letting Balle counter with a right hand.
Briggs connects with a single shot there.
A looping hook to the body misses from Balle. Briggs does a little dance to reset his feet.
A jab from Briggs finds it's way through Balle's defenses.
Balle uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Briggs.
Briggs throws a jab when Balle was well out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balle looks to score with a jab to the body but Briggs is just out of range.
Balle ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Balle swings away with a body shot that misses
and Briggs connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Balle misses with a wild combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Briggs throws the left hand but Balle avoids the punch easily.
Briggs looks to throw the jab but Balle is out of range.
Briggs swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Briggs throws a looping overhand right but Balle ducks down to avoid it.
Balle let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Balle throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Briggs's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Briggs duly obliges.
Balle misses with a hook. Briggs ducked under it nicely.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Balle jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A punch combination from Briggs misses.
Briggs is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Balle.
Briggs cracks Balle with a right hand to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Briggs misses with a hook.
Briggs throws a big shot that misses.
Balle let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Balle misses with a body shot.
Briggs throws a big shot that misses.
Briggs keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Balle.
Briggs avoids the body shot from Balle.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Briggs here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Balle moves out of range as Briggs strikes.
Balle takes a body punch but keeps moving.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Briggs looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Balle throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
A big left from Balle misses.
Balle misses with a hook
and Briggs counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balle throws a shot to the body.
Briggs fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Balle takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Briggs misses with a double jab
and Balle counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Briggs thinking.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Balle ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Nice defenses there by Balle.
A decent looking cross lands there for Balle.
Balle lands with a straight right. Briggs didn't see that one coming.
Briggs throws a series of punches but Balle moves out of range.
Balle swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Briggs swings for the body but Balle moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balle lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Briggs throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Balle swinging wildly here.
Briggs looks to land a right hand but Balle moved out of range.
A countering left hand to the body from Balle misses.
Briggs misses the jab.
A nice side step and Balle releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Balle just misses with a punch to the body.
A swing and a miss from Balle.
Balle walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
A big left from Briggs misses.
Briggs blocks a jab.
Balle throws a hook but Briggs avoids it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lyle Briggs showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Briggs 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 Dirk Anderson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lyle Briggs!
Lyle Briggs took to the mic in his post fight interview and said 'I will return home, no matter how many bodies i have to destroy.'.