PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vernon Wells (ranked 958 p4p, 136 weight class) and Stu Balls (ranked 1464 p4p, 181 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!

Wells
vs
Balls

190 cm
20
200 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

192 cm
20
210 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Great elbows
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vernon Wells!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Stu Balls!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, George Francis and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wells cracks Balls with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Balls looks to throw the jab but Wells is out of range.
Wells loads up on a big right hand but Balls slips the punch.
Balls darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Wells throws a head kick that misses.
Balls throws an off balance right hand
and Wells counters with a straight right hand.
Wells uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Balls.
Jab, jab by Balls - just one landing.
Balls looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Wells throws a head kick that misses.
Balls misses with a right hand
and Wells cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Stu Balls seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Balls blocks a head kick by Wells.
Wells avoids the body shot from Balls.
We've been told by Wells's head coaches at Crassus that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Balls moves out of range of the strikes.
Balls appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Balls cracks Wells with a good jab.
Wells avoids the body shot from Balls.
Wells waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Balls.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balls misses with a lunging right hand
and Wells cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Wells avoids the body shot from Balls.
Balls rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Wells counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Balls throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Wells sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Wells appears to be looking for a big counter.
Balls misses with a wild body shot.
Wells throwing a counter right hand but Balls manages to avoid it.
Balls misses with a right hand
and Wells counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Balls takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Balls waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Wells.
Wells thinks about countering with a head kick.
Balls looks to throw the jab but Wells is out of range.
Wells was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Balls throws a predictable looking body shot
and Wells counters with a nice uppercut.
Balls lands a really nice looking cross but Wells seems unphased.
A jab from Balls misses.
Balls ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Wells wants to clinch
and Balls counters with a stiff right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wells ducks right into an uppercut from Balls.
Wells loads up on a big right hand but Balls slips the punch.
Balls misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Wells counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Balls looks to score with a jab to the body but Wells is just out of range.
Wells falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling Balls to counter with a crisp jab.
Balls misses with an uppercut
and Wells counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Balls fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Balls fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Wells manages to avoid it.
Wells steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Balls.
Wells throws a looping overhand right but Balls ducks down to avoid it.
Balls doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
A big right from Wells misses.
Balls wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Wells takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wells moves out of range as Balls strikes.
Wells is looking to counter punch.
Balls misses with an uppercut
letting Wells counter with a right hand.
Wells tries to clinch but Balls moves out of range.

Wells closes the distance and clinches.
Balls swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Balls avoids a wild elbow strike from Wells.
Balls lands with a short shot to the head.
Wells tries to work over Balls's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Balls stalling in the clinch.
Wells prevents a body shot from Balls.
Wells swings wildly with an uppercut but Balls uses good head movement to avoid it.
Balls stalling.
Wells softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Wells has Balls pushed against the cage.
Balls working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balls blocks the elbow strike.
Wells misses with the head strike.
Wells lands a shoulder strike.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A head punch on the inside from Balls fails to land.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Wells as Balls tries to tie him up.
Wells tries to work over Balls's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Balls pushes Wells back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Wells creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Wells gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Balls takes an elbow to the temple.
Balls misses with a punch to the body.
Balls tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Wells misses with a short punch on the inside.
Balls swings wildly with an uppercut but Wells uses good head movement to avoid it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Wells lands an elbow inside.
Wells misses with an elbow strike.
Balls blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
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 Vernon Wells will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Wells paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Balls throws a hook but Wells avoids it easily.
Wells looks to land a combination but Balls avoids it well.
Wells on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Wells throws a right hand that misses
and Balls connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
An inside leg kick from Wells misses.
Wells closes the distance but Balls moves to the side
and Balls counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Balls uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Wells.
Balls feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Wellss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balls getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Balls swats away the attempt to clinch by Wells.
Wells connects with an inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balls blocks the body kick.
Balls throws a jab when Wells was well out of range.
Balls misses with a lunging right hand
and Wells counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Balls misses with an uppercut. Wells saw that one coming.
Balls connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Wells momentarily.
Balls avoids the head kick by Wells.
Balls jabs Wells to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Balls misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Balls takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Wells slips under a jab.
A big left from Balls misses.
Balls scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Wells doesn't seem bothered though.
Nice body kick from Wells.
Wells scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
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!
Wells throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Balls doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balls throws a right hand that misses
and Wells counters with a nice body kick.
Balls throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Balls dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Balls scores with a nice strike.
Wells misses with a looping right.
Wells throws a lazy head kick
and Balls counters with a stiff right hand.
A cross from Wells lands.
Balls throws a shot to the body.
Balls lands with an uppercut that bounces Wells off the cage and back into range.
Wells ducks under a wild hook from Balls.
Balls uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Wells.
Donk. Balls catches Wells right on the button with a cross.
Wells misses with an uppercut
letting Balls counter with a right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A cross from Balls lands.
Wells lands an overhand right.
Wells steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Balls.
As Balls backs away, Wells returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Balls lands a body shot.
Balls slips under a jab.
Balls thuds his right hand into Wells's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Balls misses with a straight left.
Wells jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Wells has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Balls finds it's way round the side to connect with Wells's head.
Wells lands with a kick to the ribs.
Wells throws a low kick but it's checked well by Balls.
Wells misses the shot to the body.
Wells uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Balls.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balls misses with a straight right.

Wells forces Balls back against the cage and clinches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Wells pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Wells is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Wells looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Wells softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Balls misses with a punch to the body.
Wells blocking some punches.
Balls dodges an elbow strike from Wells.
Wells pushes off an throws an elbow but Balls leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Wells.
Vernon Wells has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Wells's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Wells blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Wells blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Balls blocks the elbow strike.
Wells misses with an elbow over the top.
Balls avoids a wild elbow strike from Wells.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Stu Balls 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.

Balls throws a looping overhand right but Wells ducks down to avoid it.
Wells missing with a left hand there. Balls was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Balls jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Wells takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Nice defenses there by Wells.
Balls just misses with a punch to the body.
Wells throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Wells scores with a head kick.
Balls digs a good body shot into Wells's ribs.
Wells throws a right and a left that both miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wells throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Balls feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Wellss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Balls ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Wells moves away.
Balls misses with a jab to the body
and Wells counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balls throws a body punch but Wells moves out of range.
Balls throws a hook to the side of Wells's head but Wells sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Balls throws a hook but Wells blocks it.
Wells swings widly with a right hand
and Balls counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Balls clobbers Wells with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Balls scores with a hook to the body. Wells takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Wells thows a left - swing and a miss!
Balls throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Balls misses with a lunging right hand
enabling Wells to counter with a crisp jab.
Wells moves into range and connects with a jab.
Balls throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Wells slips a straight right by Balls.
Wells is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wells throws out a leg kick but Balls moves out of range and Wells only half commits.
Balls just misses with a punch to the body.
Balls misses with an uppercut
and Wells counters with a nice uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Balls lands a jab to Wells's midsection.
Balls fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Wells misses with a head kick.
A big left from Balls misses.
Balls throws out a loose jab but Wells uses good head movement to avoid it.
Balls checks a low kick from Wells.
Balls throws out a counter right but Wells avoids it with no problem.
A slow jab from Balls misses its intended target.
Balls swings widly with a right hand
and Wells counters with a three punch combo that has Balls backing up. Balls nods at Wells to acknowledge the strikes.
Wells throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Balls swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Balls misses with a looping left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balls throws a body punch but Wells moves out of range.
Wells wants to land a leg kick but Balls is out of range.
Balls ducks under a wild hook from Wells.
Balls loads up on a big right hand but Wells slips the punch.
Balls throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Wells on the side of the head.
Wells throws a wild body kick that Balls sees coming a mile off.
Wells keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Balls.
Balls throws a right hand that misses
and Wells counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A swing and a miss from Balls.
Stu Balls seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Balls rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Wells counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Balls throws a sloppy body shot
enabling Wells to counter with a crisp jab.
Wells thuds his shin into the meat of Balls's side.
Balls misses the jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wells tries a head kick but it misses.
Balls throws a poor cross that misses
and Wells counters with a good, hard body kick but Balls shrugs it off.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Wells throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Balls scores with a crisp jab that stopped Wells in his tracks.
Balls misses with an uppercut. Wells saw that one coming.
Wells misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Wells throws a lazy right hand but Balls sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Balls looks to land a right hand but Wells moved out of range.
Balls ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Wells moves away.
Wells lands with an overhand left.
Balls misses with an uppercut
and Wells counters with a slapping leg kick.
Balls throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Wells lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Balls circles away quickly and effectively.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Vernon Wells did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A looping hook to the body misses from Balls. Wells does a little dance to reset his feet.
Wells has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Wells looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Balls scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Balls takes one on the chin but seems OK.
A swing and a miss from Balls.
No joy there for Wells, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Wells wants to land a leg kick but Balls is out of range.
Balls looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Balls throws a right hand that misses
enabling Wells to counter with a crisp jab.
Balls misses with a looping right.
It looked like Wells was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Balls.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balls misses with an uppercut
and Wells counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Balls misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Wells counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Balls jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Balls misses with a hook
and Wells counters with a stiff right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wells pulls out of a head kick attempt.
It seemed like Balls was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Wells walks into a stiff left hand from Balls.
Balls waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Wells.
Balls looks to score with a jab to the body but Wells is just out of range.
Balls missing with a left hand there. Wells was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Balls swings widly with a right hand
and Wells counters with a two punch combo.
Wells throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Balls slips under a jab from Wells.
Balls with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Wells takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Balls clobbers Wells with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
A head kick misses from Wells.
Balls throws an off balance right hand
and Wells counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Decent striking displayed by Balls there.
Wells blocks a jab.
Balls throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Balls loads up on a big right hand but Wells slips the punch.
Wells throws a sloppy head kick and Balls moves out of range easily.
Balls listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Balls jabs Wells to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Balls comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Balls misses with an uppercut.
Wells throws a series of punches but Balls moves out of range.
Balls punishes Wells's body with a nice straight punch.
Balls keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wells takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Balls swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Balls has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Wells.
Wells is looking to clinch but Balls is avoiding it.
Balls looks to land a right hand but Wells moved out of range.
Wells seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Wells misses with a straight left.
Balls connects with a jab.
Balls misses with an uppercut. Wells saw that one coming.
Balls jabs Wells right on the nose. Wells blinks but takes it well.
Balls gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Balls fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Balls misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Wells.
Nice shot lands for Balls.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wells bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Wells slips a straight right by Balls.
Wells keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Balls.
Wells staying out of range there.
Wells throws a big counter combination but Balls scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Wells throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
letting Balls counter with a right hand.
Balls scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Balls fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Balls lands with a nice body punch.
Balls misses with a hook.
Wells throws a lazy right hand but Balls sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Balls looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Wells takes a swing at Balls's ribcage but misses.
Balls throws out a counter right but Wells avoids it with no problem.
Balls throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stu Balls dominated that fourth 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!

Balls throws an off balance right hand
and Wells counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Wells is looking to chop away at Balls's legs.
Wells swings away with a body shot that misses
and Balls counters with a straight right hand.
A big right from Wells misses.
Wells throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Balls! But no joy.
Wells swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Balls counters with a nice uppercut.
Balls throws out a loose jab but Wells uses good head movement to avoid it.
Balls fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Wells manages to avoid it.
Balls lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Wells at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wells displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Balls throws out the jab.
Balls looks to land a left hand but Wells moved out of range nicely.
Wells ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Balls moves away.
Balls misses with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wells slips a straight right by Balls.
Balls fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Wells swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Wells misses with a left hand
letting Balls counter with a right hand.
Balls misses with a left hand
and Wells counters with a straight right hand.
Wells tries a head kick but it misses.
Wells on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Balls misses with a straight right.
Balls thuds a left hand into Wells's body.
Wells drops his hands momentarily and Balls takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Balls with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Balls looks to score with a jab to the body but Wells is just out of range.
Wells throwing a counter right hand but Balls manages to avoid it.
Balls fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Wells manages to avoid it.
Wells tried to counter with a leg kick but Balls avoided it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balls lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Wells throws a looping overhand right but Balls ducks down to avoid it.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Balls! But no joy.
Balls swings widly with a right hand
and Wells counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Balls checks a leg kick.
Wells misses with a straight right.
Wells avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Wells fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Balls manages to avoid it.
Balls blocks a head kick by Wells.
Balls lands a really nice looking cross but Wells seems unphased.
Balls lands with an uppercut that bounces Wells off the cage and back into range.
Balls avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Balls misses with an uppercut. Wells saw that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wells uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Balls.
Wells slips under a jab from Balls.
And Wells counters with a quick kick to the body but Balls blocks it.
Balls scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Wells throws a nice outside leg kick.
Balls throws a body shot but no joy.
Wells jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Wells bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Balls avoids the head kick by Wells.
Wells staying out of range there.
It looked like Wells wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Wells takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Wells avoids the body shot from Balls.
Balls throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Wells sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Wells is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Balls just misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wells slips under a jab.
Balls throws a body punch but Wells moves out of range.
Wells slips under a jab from Balls.
Balls misses with an uppercut
and Wells counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Wells cracks Balls with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Wells throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Balls counters with a straight right hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Balls throws a predictable looking body shot
and Wells counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Wells looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Wells takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Wells ducks under a wild hook from Balls.
Wells appears to be looking for a big counter.
Balls misses with a hook
and Wells counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Balls looks to score with a jab to the body but Wells is just out of range.
It looked like Wells was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Balls.
Balls misses with a looping left.
Wells wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stu Balls comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Balls has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 47:48
Judge George Francis scores the fight 47:48
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 47:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stu Balls!
Stu Balls is the new light heavyweight champion!