PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Biggie Shackleton (ranked 4861 p4p, 5180 weight class) and Nikos Balafas (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.

Shackleton
vs
Balafas

170 cm
21
156
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
21
153
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Hates pizza

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 London, Biggie Shackleton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Nikos Balafas!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, James Ackerman and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Balafas shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Shackleton manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Balafas keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

Shackleton gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Balafas regains guard.
Balafas is wriggling around but Shackleton manages to pass to half guard.

We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shackleton controlling the action here.
Shackleton frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Shackleton content just to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shackleton putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Balafas is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Shackleton controlling from the full mount.

Shackleton wants to finish this one by submission but Balafas is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Shackleton.
Shackleton takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Balafas is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shackleton with a couple of short strikes.
Balafas is looking to improve his position but Shackleton isn't that keen on the idea.
Shackleton has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Balafas's face.
Shackleton controlling from the full mount.
A nice elbow there by Shackleton.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Shackleton cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Balafas looks winded!
A nice elbow there by Shackleton.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shackleton sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shackleton lands a big elbow.
Shackleton content just to control the position here.
Shackleton seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Balafas for as long as he can get away with.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shackleton continues to stall.
Balafas in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

Shackleton has control of Balafas's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Balafas regains control of the situation pretty easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Biggie Shackleton dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Shackleton throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Balafas tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Shackleton is in Balafas's guard.
Balafas wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Shackleton manages to pass to side control.

Shackleton slows the pace down in half guard.
Shackleton scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Shackleton is working for a submission of some sort.
Balafas really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Shackleton. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Shackleton lands with a punch from half guard.
Shackleton is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Balafas can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shackleton seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Shackleton lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Balafas has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Shackleton is working away from the top position though.
Shackleton controlling the pace.
Balafas is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Shackleton scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Shackleton working the head and body with strikes.
Shackleton winds up and cracks Balafas with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Shackleton sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Shackleton is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Nice strikes from Shackleton there.
Shackleton passes to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balafas on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Shackleton scoring with punches from side control.
Balafas being controlled for a moment.
Shackleton'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.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Shackleton is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Balafas knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The referee asks Shackleton politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Shackleton prefers to stall for the moment though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Biggie Shackleton dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Shackleton forces Balafas back against the cage and clinches.
Balafas tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Shackleton avoids it.

Balafas has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Shackleton clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

Shackleton is trying to get back to his feet. He's worked up on to his knees and now he's on his feet with his head on the canvas, trying to shake Balafas off. It looks like it's working - Balafas slides off, much to his dismay, and we're back to standing! Shackleton displaying calm under pressure there.
Shackleton throws a big shot that misses.
Balafas tries to move into range but Shackleton moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Shackleton moves into the clinch successfully.

Shackleton is trying to trip Balafas. He has hold of a leg but Balafas is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Shackleton persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Shackleton controls from within his opponent's guard.
Shackleton lands a couple of elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shackleton stands up over Balafas, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Balafas being controlled here, momentarily.
Balafas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Balafas trying to control the position here.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Shackleton engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Shackleton moves into the clinch.

Balafas pulls Shackleton into guard.
Biggie Shackleton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Shackleton content to stall in guard here.
Shackleton connects with a couple of short punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shackleton showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Shackleton is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Shackleton pushing down on Balafas's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Shackleton is taking a breather. Balafas says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Biggie Shackleton is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Shackleton is looking for a kimura but Balafas is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Shackleton to get the leverage.
Shackleton seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Shackleton has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nikos Balafas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Biggie Shackleton showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Shackleton 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Biggie Shackleton!