PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between BIll Serra (ranked 3129 p4p, 5196 weight class) and Alphonzo Ball (ranked 425 p4p, 0 weight class). Ball has chosen Zo and Young Lando - Last Days as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. BIll Serra has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Serra
vs
Ball

215 cm
25
180
2 - 0 - 0

200 cm
19
190
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Intelligent

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, BIll Serra!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alphonzo Ball!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Tiny Johnson and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ball avoids the head kick by Serra.
Ball misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ball misses with a body kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Ball.
A punch lands to the side of Serra 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Serra will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Serra clinches up against the cage.
Ball wants to break the clinch but can't.

Serra manages to pull guard.
Serra looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ball is one step ahead there.
Serra is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Serra has his foot on Ball's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ball works his way back into a safe position though.
Serra is pulling down on Ball's head to control his posture.
Ball throws a strike but Serra rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Serra not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Serra slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Serra will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Serra moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Ball wants to get back to his feet but Serra is dominant here and he's now got Ball's back!
Serra has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Ball's body.
Ball is trying to get back to his feet but Serra has full control of the position and if anything, Ball has just worked his way into a worse spot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Serra biding his time, looking for the opening.
Ball is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Serra has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Ball has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Serra controlling from the back.
Serra has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ball is trying to stand back up.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

BIll Serra dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Ball throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Serra counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Ball wants to get back to his feet but Serra passes into half guard.

Serra escapes and gets back to his feet.
Serra shoots in for a takedown but Ball shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Serra takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Serra is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ball can do to turn this around?

Serra moves into the clinch successfully.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Ball just misses with a elbow thrown towards Serra's brow.
Ball looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Ball doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ball tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Serra avoids it.

Serra manages to break the clinch.

Ball tries to keep at a distance but Serra has taken the fight into the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Serra breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Alphonzo Ball seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ball throws a push kick but Serra slaps the foot to one side.
Serra shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ball but Ball pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Serra pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ball uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Serra has time to react.
Ball misses with a body shot.

Serra fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Ball sprawls well initially but Serra persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Serra stands up from half guard.
Ball throws a push kick but Serra slaps the foot to one side.
Ball scores with a nice strike.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Serra moves into the clinch.
Ball wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Serra has him pressed against the cage.
Ball misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Serra.

Serra breaks the clinch.
Ball keeps Serra at a distance using the push kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ball keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for BIll Serra. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Some wild striking there from Ball.
Ball scores with a push kick.
Serra tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ball swivels and escapes.
Some bone on bone action there as Ball checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Ball takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Serra takes a head kick and keeps coming.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Ball.
Ball connects with an inside leg kick.
Ball slaps away a takedown attempt from Serra, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Alphonzo Ball is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ball thows a body kick. Serra tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Ball scores with a nice body kick.
Serra really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Serra darts in looking for a takedown but Ball gets double underhooks and turns Serra into the cage.
Serra takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Ball does it's job there.
Serra fails with the takedown.
Ball throws a body kick that misses.
Serra drops down looking for a counter takedown but Ball sprawls and moves away.
Ball throws a nice outside leg kick.
Alphonzo Ball seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Serra fails in his attempt to clinch.
Serra is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Serra drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Serra stops Ball from standing up.
Ball is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Serra stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ball swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ball being controlled here, momentarily.

Serra gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Ball thuds a left hand into Serra's body.

Serra closes the distance and clinches.
Ball is trying to force a seperation but Serra has the dominant position.
Ball doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ball tries to break the clinch but Serra is controlling the position.
Serra will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.

Ball breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alphonzo Ball showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Serra is defended easily by Ball.
Ball jabs Serra to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Ball explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Ball explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Serra takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Serra throws a head kick that misses.
Ball throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Serra.
Serra swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Serra dives in for a single leg takedown but Ball sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ball scores with a spinning back kick!
Ball throws a series of strikes that have Serra backpedaling.
Ball misses with a series of wild punches.
Serra misses with a takedown attempt - Ball sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for BIll Serra. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Ball. No joy for Serra on that attempt.
Serra takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Ball pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ball throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Serra fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ball explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Ball scores with a three punch combo!
Serra shoots in but Ball avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ball looks to land a combination but Serra avoids it well.
Serra avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ball moves in looking to clinch but Serra pushes him off.
Serra throws a big counter combination but Ball scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Ball digs a good hook to Serra's body.
A right-left combo lands from Ball.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ball thuds his right hand into Serra's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Ball throws a series of punches but Serra avoids them all with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ball tries to close the distance and clinch up but Serra swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ball takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Serra lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ball circles away quickly and effectively.
Ball digs a good body shot into Serra's ribs.
Ball throws a one two combo.
Ball throws a push kick but Serra slaps the foot to one side.
Donk. Ball catches Serra right on the button with a cross.
Ball rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Serra moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Serra feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Ball wants to get back to his feet but Serra passes into half guard.

Serra prevents Ball from standing back up.
Serra is taking a breather. Ball 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.

Serra stands up from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Serra tries a head kick but it misses.
Serra moves out of range as Ball throws a body kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Ball.
Ball moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Serra.
Ball is looking to land body kicks.
Serra tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Ball catches Serra with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Nice uppercut lands for Ball. That snapped Serra's head back.
Serra throws a head kick that misses.
Nice body punch from Ball.
Ball thuds his shin into the meat of Serra's side.
Ball is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ball looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A head kick misses from Ball.
Serra looks for a takedown but Ball sprawls well.
Ball lands a body shot.
Ball throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Ball fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Serra has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
A punch combination from Ball misses.
Ball is looking to clinch but Serra is avoiding it.
A shot to the liver by Ball. Beautiful body shot.
Ball works over Serra's head and body with a nice combination.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Serra has managed to clinch.
Ball trying to stall but Serra improves his position.
Serra is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

Serra escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alphonzo Ball comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ball 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alphonzo Ball!
Alphonzo Ball was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.