PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Boris Balkan (ranked 2020 p4p, 1475 weight class) and ZaDarius Haden (ranked 227 p4p, 165 weight class). Haden has chosen Motörhead - Orgasmatron as his entrance music. ZaDarius Haden has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Balkan
vs
Haden

207 cm
21
260
5 - 3 - 0

198 cm
21
249
6 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Conviction
Fenrir Fightgear - Anno 2013

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Boris Balkan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, ZaDarius Haden!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Steve Erwin and Darius Henderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balkan ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
We've been informed that Haden has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Balkan throws a hook but Haden avoids it easily.
Haden shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Balkan pinned against the cage. Balkan gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Balkan tests Haden's chin there with a solid looking shot.

It looks like ZaDarius Haden has been cut.
Haden uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Balkan.

Balkan clinches with his opponent.
Balkan tries to throw a body punch but Haden avoids it by throwing Balkan back against the cage.
Haden lands an uppercut.
Balkan blocks an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balkan misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Haden blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Balkan misses with the head strike.
Balkan blocking some punches.
Balkan blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haden throws a head punch that misses.
A nice left hand lands by Balkan.
Balkan working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Balkan lands with a left to the head.
Haden is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Haden blocks an uppercut.

Haden has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Balkan regains guard immediately.
Balkan has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.

Balkan is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Haden loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Balkan looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Haden avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haden working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Haden makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Haden's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Balkan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Haden is one step ahead there.
Haden with a nice head shot there.
Balkan utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
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!
Haden loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haden loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Haden works over Balkan with some ground and pound from guard.
Haden working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Balkan's head.
Haden is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Haden trying to control the position from guard on top but Balkan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Haden pushes down on Balkan's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Haden is looking to take a break and control but Balkan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Balkan is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Haden scores with a couple of nice shots.
Haden not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haden lands with a punch from half guard.
Haden trying to control the action but Balkan is working from the bottom.
Haden is nestled in close to Balkan, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Haden working Balkan over with strikes.
Balkan is trying to get back to full guard.
Haden slips a nice elbow through Balkan's hands, connecting with Balkan's forehead.
Haden wants to lay and pray for a moment but Balkan keeps working.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Haden lands a nice short elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but ZaDarius Haden will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on ZaDarius Haden's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Balkan tries to clinch there but Haden circles away.

Haden is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Balkan's half guard.
Balkan is trying to get back to full guard.
Balkan keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Haden connects with a nice short shot to Balkan's temple.
Haden not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Haden lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Haden seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Balkan does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Haden lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haden not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Balkan is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Haden scores with a couple of nice shots.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Haden lands a nice short elbow.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Haden connects with a nice short shot to Balkan's temple.
Haden lands strikes from half guard.
Haden has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Haden throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Balkan is trying to stand back up but Haden is controlling him
Haden scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Haden is nestled in close to Balkan, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Haden working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Haden seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balkan taking some punishment here, with Haden in his half guard.
Haden working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Balkan is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Haden scores with a couple of nice shots.
Haden winds up and cracks Balkan with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Haden looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Haden connects with a nice short shot to Balkan's temple.
Haden has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Balkan has hold of Haden's hands but Haden slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Balkan is rocked!
Haden seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Balkan does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Oh Balkan is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Haden looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Haden scores with a big shot! Balkan's head bounced off the canvas with a huge thud! More strikes land and the referee has jumped in to save Balkan! He was hurt real bad - good stoppage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). ZaDarius Haden!