PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mandelion Vermont (ranked 4873 p4p, 4732 weight class) and Dario Balic (ranked 0 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.

Vermont
vs
Balic

176 cm
20
145
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
18
152
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 Los Angeles, Mandelion Vermont!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dario Balic!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Percy O'Donnell and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vermont fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Vermont misses with a takedown attempt - Balic sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Balic only half commits to the counter leg kick.

Balic has Vermont up against the cage in a clinch.
Vermont tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mandelion Vermont. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Balic prevents the takedown attempt.
Balic creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Vermont is looking to take this one to the mat.
Balic misses with a short punch on the inside.
Balic misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balic lands a left hand.
Balic tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Balic makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Vermont wants to break the clinch but can't.
Vermont is trying to pull guard but Balic has him pressed against the cage.
Balic presses Vermont against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balic lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Balic.
Vermont tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Balic scores with a nice hook to the head.
Balic has a couple of punches blocked by Vermont.
Vermont wants a takedown.
Balic lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Still in the clinch, Balic scores with a nice short uppercut.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Balic creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Balic throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Vermonts head.
A head punch on the inside from Balic fails to land.
Balic has a couple of punches blocked by Vermont.
Vermont blocks a body shot from Balic.
Vermont looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A head punch on the inside from Balic fails to land.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Balic lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Balic avoiding damage.
Balic lands a hook that snaps the head of Vermont backwards.

Vermont is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balic misses with a punch on the inside.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Balic takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
A right hook to the body lands for Balic.
Balic lands a left hand that snaps the head of Vermont backwards.
Balic swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A nice left hand lands by Balic.
A short left from Balic.

Balic pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Balic closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Balic working aggressively here.
Balic stalling against the cage.
Vermont throws a punch but it's blocked by Balic.
Vermont is trying to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Balic.
Vermont tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Balic just stands there and leans against the cage.
Balic throws a head punch that misses.
Vermont blocks an uppercut.
Balic keeps control of Vermont as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Balic jumps guard and drags Vermont to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Balic can do anything to dispel that myth.
Vermont throwing strikes from guard but Balic blocks nicely.
Balic is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Vermont is controlling him.
Balic wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Vermont manages to pass to side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balic wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
A shot to the liver by Vermont. Beautiful body shot.

Balic has Vermont up against the cage in a clinch.
Balic misses with the head strike.
A shot in the inside from Balic.
Vermont is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Balic to keep the fight standing.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Balic.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dario Balic dominated that 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.

Balic moves into the clinch.
Balic swings wildly with an uppercut but Vermont uses good head movement to avoid it.
Vermont tries to pull guard but Balic holds him up against the cage and eventually Vermont drops back down to his feet.
Balic swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Balic misses with the head strike.
Balic lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Balic lands with a right to the head.
Balic tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Vermont is looking to break free of the clinch but Balic has double underhooks.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vermont is trying to push Balic away but Balic has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Vermont is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Balic pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Balic misses with a short punch on the inside.
Balic gets through Vermont's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Balic working aggressively here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balic manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Vermont has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Balic is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mandelion Vermont. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Balic lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Vermont backwards.
Balic lands a body shot.
Balic struggles to land a body shot inside as Vermont controls his hands.
Balic lands a shoulder strike.

Vermont pulls guard effortlessly.
Balic must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Balic would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Vermont looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vermont lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vermont sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Vermont is standing up over Balic. Balic looks to escape but Vermont dives into side control.
Balic wants to get back to his feet but Vermont drags him back down.

Vermont looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Balic is pushing Vermont's head away, looking to escape. Vermont manages to hold on to the position though.
Balic has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vermont tries to advance to mount but Balic denies him.
Balic is looking to get back to his feet here but Vermont is keeping cool and he's managed to take Balic's back.
Vermont trying to control.
Vermont somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Balic trying to get back to his feet but Vermont is in full control for now.
Balic covering up well under a series of strikes from Vermont.
Balic is trying to stand back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Dario Balic will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Vermont shoots in for a takedown but Balic shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Balic tries to clinch there but Vermont circles away.
Balic tries to close the distance and clinch but Vermont swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Vermont is looking to counter the offense by Balic and move into the clinch.
Balic walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Vermont checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Dario Balic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Balic gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Balic misses with a hook to the ribs.
Balic tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A head punch on the inside from Balic fails to land.
Balic throws a head punch that misses.
Balic lands a hook that snaps the head of Vermont backwards.
Vermont tries to circle away but Balic has him pinned against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vermont blocks a body shot from Balic.
Balic holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Balic lands a right hand that snaps the head of Vermont backwards.
Balic throws a head punch that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is keeping an eye on Vermont - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Vermont tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Vermont blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Balic has a couple of punches blocked by Vermont.
Vermont blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short right from Balic.
Vermont blocking some punches.
Balic misses with the head strike.
Balic fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Vermont blocks an uppercut.
Balic lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Vermont tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Balic smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mandelion Vermont. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Balic throws a head kick but Vermont moves out of range.

Vermont tries to keep at a distance but Balic has taken the fight into the clinch.
Balic misses with a hook from the clinch.
Dario Balic is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vermont tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Balic just stands there and leans against the cage.
Vermont is trying to pull guard but Balic has him pressed against the cage.
Balic lands a hook that snaps the head of Vermont backwards.
Balic throws a head punch that misses.
Balic fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Vermont tries for a takedown but Balic manages to get underhooks.
Balic lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Dario Balic seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Vermont jumps guard but Balic turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nice body punch from Balic.
Balic misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Balic tries to throw a body punch but Vermont avoids it by throwing Balic back against the cage.
Balic using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Vermont has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Balic tries to throw a body punch but Vermont avoids it by throwing Balic back against the cage.
Balic throws a punch but it's blocked by Vermont.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vermont blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Vermont fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Balic misses with a short punch on the inside.
Vermont drops down looking for an ankle pick but Balic pulls his leg out and moves away.

Balic moves into the clinch.
Balic gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Vermont.
Balic misses with some punches.
Balic misses with a body punch.
Balic using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Vermont has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Balic scores with a nice hook to the head.
A right handed body shot lands from Balic.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vermont tries to pull guard but Balic holds him up against the cage and eventually Vermont drops back down to his feet.
Vermont tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Balic just stands there and leans against the cage.
Balic is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Balic tries to throw a body punch but Vermont avoids it by throwing Balic back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Balic.
Balic avoiding damage.
Balic throws a punch but it's blocked by Vermont.
Balic tries a body shot but Vermont blocks it.
Balic lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Vermont backwards.
Mandelion Vermont has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vermont blocks a punch to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dario Balic comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Balic winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 26:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 25:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dario Balic!