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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Brendan Moker (ranked 5721 p4p, 525 weight class) and Ionel Balaban (ranked 7292 p4p, 593 weight class). Ionel Balaban has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?
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| 183 cm
18
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0 |
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186 cm
25
182 lbs
0 - 1 - 0 |
BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily |
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BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Brendan Moker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ionel Balaban!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Topper Green and Steve Erwin.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balaban tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Balaban tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Moker manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Moker throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Balaban wants to clinch.
Moker is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Balaban.
Balaban is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Moker throws a series of punches but Balaban avoids them all with ease.
Balaban doesn't manage to clinch there - Moker circles away.
Moker is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Balaban on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Moker throws a body punch but Balaban moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Moker scores with a hook.
Balaban scores with a jab. Moker acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
It looks like Brendan Moker has been cut.
Balaban tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Moker manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Moker scores with a nice right hand.
Balaban looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Balaban lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Moker circles away quickly and effectively.
Balaban shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Moker as he avoids it easily.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Balaban moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Balaban looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Moker is fending him off so far but Balaban persists. Nope, Moker circles away and we're back to standing.
Moker swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Balaban with a lazy takedown attempt
and Moker counters with a nice uppercut.
Brendan Moker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ionel Balaban.
Balaban on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Balaban is looking to clinch.
Balaban takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Balaban decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half 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!
Balaban working Moker over with strikes.
Balaban performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
It looks like Balaban might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Moker is looking to escape.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balaban is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Balaban is continuing to stall.
Balaban gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Balaban shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Moker as he avoids it easily.
Brendan Moker is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Balaban will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Balaban drops his hands momentarily and Moker takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Balaban connects with a jab.
Moker throws a series of punches but Balaban avoids them all with ease.
Moker defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Balaban.
Moker misses with a hook. Balaban ducked under it nicely.
Balaban shoots in for a takedown but Moker shows good takedown defense.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moker lands with an uppercut that bounces Balaban off the cage and back into range.
Balaban throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Moker.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Moker!
Balaban shoots in but Moker avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Balaban fails with a takedown attempt.
Balaban with a lazy takedown attempt
and Moker cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Moker slips under a jab.
Balaban is looking to clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Balaban.
Moker tries to sprawl but Balaban drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Moker knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Balaban on the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Moker tries to kick Balaban off in order to stand up. Balaban Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Moker is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Balaban works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moker is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Balaban asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Balaban controls the position.
Moker is trying to buck Balaban off.
Moker trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Balaban looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Moker is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Balaban has just dragged him back down to the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Brendan Moker dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Brendan Moker's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
Moker avoids a punch combination nicely.
Moker was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Moker misses with the combination.
Balaban looks for a takedown but Moker sprawls well.
Moker leaves Balaban with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Balaban tries to clinch
and Moker connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Balaban swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Moker counters with a left to the body.
Balaban fails with a takedown attempt.
Brendan Moker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ionel Balaban.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balaban fails with the takedown.
A cross from Balaban lands.
Balaban tries to clinch up but Moker circles away and keeps his distance.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Balaban changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Moker tries to avoid it but Balaban manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Moker to the ground. Moker escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Balaban shoots and misses
and Moker counters with a right hand to the body.
Moker is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Balaban can do to turn this around?
Balaban uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Moker.
Moker sets himself, and Balaban steps forward looking for the clinch! Moker avoids it this time.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Balaban.
Balaban is breathing heavily.
Balaban fails to land with a series of punches.
Balaban is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Brendan Moker is winning the standup battle so far.
Moker thows a left - swing and a miss!
Balaban has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Balaban walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Balaban changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Moker tries to avoid it but Balaban manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Moker to the ground. Moker escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Balaban moves out of range of the strikes.
Moker paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Moker swings widly with a right hand
and Balaban counters with a left and a right that stings Moker.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Moker swings for the body but Balaban moves out of range.
Balaban looks to land a combination but Moker avoids it well.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Moker rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Balaban moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Balaban shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Moker but Moker pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Moker will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Moker throws a shot from downtown. Balaban moves away and avoids it.
Balaban drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Moker swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Balaban fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Moker avoids it really well and circles away.
Balaban misses with a jab, cross combination.
Balaban is looking to clinch.
Balaban fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Balaban wants to clinch up but Moker keeps it at a distance.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Moker.
Balaban gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Balaban with a poor takedown
and Moker counters with a right hand to the body.
Balaban closes the distance and clinches up with Moker, looking for a takedown. Balaban pushes Moker against the cage but Moker circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Moker misses with a right hand
and Balaban counters with a straight right hand.
Balaban buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Balaban misses with a double jab
and Moker counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Balaban tries for a takedown but Moker sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Moker moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Balaban moves in looking to clinch but Moker pushes him off.
Ionel Balaban is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Balaban misses with a jab, cross combination.
Balaban fails with a takedown attempt.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Balaban avoids the body shot from Moker.
Balaban fails with an attempt to clinch.
Balaban fails with an attempt to clinch.
Moker lands a nice shot to the body.
The fighters circling - Moker throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Moker lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Moker stuffs the takedown attempt from Balaban. Balaban gets slowly back to his feet.
Moker misses with a looping left.
Balaban shoots in looking for a takedown but Moker manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Balaban's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Moker missing with a left hand there. Balaban was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Moker smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Balaban slips under a jab.
Balaban drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Moker defends it well.
The fight stays on the outside here - Balaban looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Brendan Moker dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Brendan Moker's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!
Balaban drives through with a takedown into guard.
Balaban won't allow Moker to get back to his feet.
Balaban sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Moker is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Balaban is controlling him.
Balaban advances position into side control!
Moker wants to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Moker on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Balaban content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Moker takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
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.
Moker tries to escape but Balaban is in control.
Balaban scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Moker to see if he's OK.
Moker trying to remain calm as Balaban controls from the top position.
Moker is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Balaban is controlling him well.
Balaban controlling from side mount.
Balaban thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Moker is pushing Balaban's head away, looking to escape. Balaban manages to hold on to the position though.
Balaban scoring with punches and elbows.
Moker is trying to get back to his feet.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balaban takes a little break here. Moker wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Balaban working the ground and pound.
Moker is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
The referee asks Balaban politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Balaban prefers to stall for the moment though.
Moker is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Moker being controlled for a moment.
Balaban working the ground and pound.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moker pushes Balaban away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Balaban gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Balaban moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Balaban is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Moker knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Balaban controlling the position from side mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Moker explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balaban throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Moker's waist but Moker gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Balaban off to one side.
The fighters circling - Moker throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Balaban is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Balaban has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Balaban there as he acknowledges the shot.
Moker throws a one two combo.
Moker tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Balaban was well out of range. Poor timing from Moker.
Balaban shoots in for a takedown but Moker shows good takedown defense.
Balaban looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Balaban takes a jab right on the kisser.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Balaban wants to clinch.
Ionel Balaban has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Balaban throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A left lands for Moker.
Moker keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
And that's the end of the fight!
Ionel Balaban comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Moker has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Topper Green scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 29:28
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brendan Moker!
Our winner, Brendan Moker, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
53% |
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