PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jack Balentines (ranked 4263 p4p, 4262 weight class) and Franchesco Bombardini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Franchesco Bombardini enters the cage!

Balentines
vs
Bombardini

200 cm
23
270
1 - 0 - 0

200 cm
23
267
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jack Balentines!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Franchesco Bombardini!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Paulo Santos and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bombardini tries to clinch but Balentines is having none of it.
It looked like Balentines was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Balentines scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Bombardini pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Balentines back to the cage. Bombardini follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Bombardini lands with a good body shot.
Bombardini throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Balentines's waist but Balentines gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bombardini off to one side.
Balentines is looking for a counter combo.
Bombardini shoots in looking for a takedown. Balentines tries to sprawl out of it but Bombardini keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Balentines manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Balentines stuffs the takedown attempt from Bombardini. Bombardini gets slowly back to his feet.
Jack Balentines has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Franchesco Bombardini.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bombardini looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Balentines is fending him off so far but Bombardini persists. Nope, Balentines circles away and we're back to standing.
Balentines swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Bombardini shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Balentines as he jumps to the side.
Balentines displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Bombardini.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bombardini shoots in for a takedown but Balentines shows good takedown defense.
Balentines drops down looking for a counter takedown but Bombardini sprawls and moves away.

Balentines pushes Bombardini up against the cage in a clinch.
Balentines tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Bombardini just stands there and leans against the cage.
Balentines drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bombardini tries to work over Balentines's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Bombardini tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Balentines smiles and moves away.
Bombardini dives in and grabs Balentines's left leg, looking for a takedown. Balentines pushes down on Bombardini's head and hops out.
Balentines half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Bombardini takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Bombardini gets tackled into the cage by Balentines. Balentines maintains the clinch.
Bombardini jumps guard but Balentines stands there with Bombardini around his waist. Bombardini gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Bombardini looks winded!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Balentines manages to pull guard.
Bombardini is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Balentines looking for a sweep. Not yet Balentines, not yet.
Balentines tries to strike from the bottom.
Balentines bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Bombardini's guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Balentines got a little sloppy there for a moment and Bombardini has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Balentines has managed to get both his arms back between Bombardini's legs - danger averted.
Balentines is pushing down on Bombardini's leg trying to pass to half guard. Bombardini is fighting to maintain full guard but Balentines has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Balentines is working for a submission of some sort.
Balentines content to control rather than advance.
Bombardini trying to control from the bottom.
Balentines passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Balentines looking to control and managing it successfully.
Bombardini is looking to get to half guard.
Balentines controlling from the full mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bombardini manages to work a leg through to get back to half guard here. Good work there by Bombardini, under a barage of strikes from Balentines.
Balentines wants to free his trapped foot but Bombardini is holding on for dear life with his legs.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Balentines dominated that round.
That's time! Balentines's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Balentines dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Bombardini. That did some damage!
Bombardini blocks a head kick by Balentines.
Bombardini tries to score a power double leg takedown but Balentines sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Bombardini somewhat.
Balentines shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bombardini sprawls well. Bombardini wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Balentines gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Balentines gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Balentines is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bombardini can do to turn this around?
Bombardini jumps guard but Balentines turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balentines is trying to pull guard but Bombardini has him pressed against the cage.
Bombardini blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Bombardini fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Bombardini tries to pull guard but Balentines won't allow it.
Jack Balentines has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Franchesco Bombardini.
Bombardini is pressed up against the cage. Balentines has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Bombardini down to the mat. Bombardini avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Balentines with a lazy takedown attempt
and Bombardini counters with a one-two to the body.
Balentines throws a leg kick
and Bombardini counters with a one-two to the body.
Balentines misses with a hook. Bombardini ducked under it nicely.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Bombardini! But no joy.

Bombardini instigates a clinch.

Bombardini breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Balentines goes for a double leg but Bombardini avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Bombardini continues to drive forward.
Bombardini scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Bombardini pulls Balentines into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Balentines engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Balentines is fighting to break Bombardini's control of his arms but Bombardini is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Bombardini looking to control but Balentines passes into half guard.
Bombardini is controlling Balentines's trapped leg to prevent Balentines from advancing to side control.
Bombardini wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bombardini keeps trying to improve his position.
Bombardini moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Bombardini is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Bombardini is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Bombardini utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Bombardini is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Balentines is aware though and is defending well.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Balentines showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Balentines forces Bombardini back against the cage and clinches.

Bombardini pulls guard effortlessly.
Bombardini looking to control but Balentines passes into half guard.
Balentines is controlling the pace.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bombardini tries to get to full guard but Balentines has control of the leg.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Franchesco Bombardini 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!

Bombardini throws a sloppy head kick and Balentines moves out of range easily.
Balentines fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Franchesco Bombardini seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bombardini throws a combination. Balentines tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Balentines tries to close the distance and clinch but Bombardini swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Balentines misses with an uppercut.
Balentines uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bombardini.
Balentines moves in looking to clinch but Bombardini pushes him off.
Balentines thumps Bombardini with a low kick.
Balentines is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bombardini sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A low kick from Balentines is predictable there

and Bombardini moves into the clinch.
Balentines tries to score a body lock takedown but Bombardini shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jack Balentines. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bombardini drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Balentines breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bombardini takes the fight into the clinch.

Balentines has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Bombardini uses from the top position.
Balentines keeping full guard, as Bombardini tries to pass.
Bombardini trying to control but Balentines is working from the bottom.
Balentines managing to control the position.
Bombardini postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Balentines is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Balentines looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bombardini trying to control but Balentines is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Bombardini misses the shot to the body.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Bombardini.
Bombardini fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Bombardini is stalling here.
Balentines is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Bombardini looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Bombardini keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Balentines's efforts to push away.
Bombardini tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

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.
Balentines missing with knees to the body.

Balentines breaks the clinch.
Balentines tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bombardini swivels and escapes.

Bombardini closes the distance and clinches.
Balentines swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Balentines manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Balentines is working an open guard so Bombardini takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Bombardini misses with a kick to the body.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Balentines tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Balentines fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Bombardini avoids it really well and circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Franchesco Bombardini comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Bombardini 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight for Franchesco Bombardini!
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight for Jack Balentines!
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight for Jack Balentines!

Jack Balentines wins by split decision!