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Stepping Stone 34 PBP Commentary |
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the super heavyweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of Montreal, with a TWGC record of 0 wins and 0 losses; Olin Hartwell! And in the blue corner, fighting out of Montreal, with a TWGC record of 0 wins and 0 losses; Nikos Balopoulos!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Steve Smith and Elvis Blanc.
The fighters connect hands in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Balopoulos closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Hartwell has Balopoulos pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Balopoulos manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Hartwell has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Balopoulos is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Hartwell changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Balopoulos fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Olin Hartwell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Balopoulos closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Balopoulos lands in his opponent's guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Hartwell (0) vs (2) Balopoulos
Hartwell seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Balopoulos got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hartwell has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Balopoulos has managed to get both his arms back between Hartwell's legs - danger averted.
Balopoulos preventing the sweep.
Balopoulos looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balopoulos slips nicely into half guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Hartwell is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hartwell works his way to full guard. Good work.
Hartwell is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Balopoulos drops back looking for a leg! Hartwell is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hartwell manages to kick Balopoulos off! Balopoulos jumps back into Hartwell's guard.
Hartwell looking to hit a scissor sweep but Balopoulos is one step ahead there.
Balopoulos is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Hartwell is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Balopoulos slips effortlessly into side control - very nice. Score +3 for passing guard: Hartwell (0) vs (5) Balopoulos
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balopoulos advances to full mount. Score +2 for reaching mount: Hartwell (0) vs (7) Balopoulos
Hartwell is looking to improve his position but Balopoulos isn't that keen on the idea.
Balopoulos sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Hartwell is wriggling around trying to escape.
Hartwell defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Balopoulos.
Hartwell tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Balopoulos has control of Hartwell's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Hartwell regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Balopoulos wants to finish this one by submission but Hartwell is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Balopoulos.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hartwell is in all sorts of trouble here.
Balopoulos has hold of Hartwell's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Hartwell manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Hartwell is wriggling around trying to escape.
Balopoulos looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Hartwell bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done! Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Hartwell (2) vs (7) Balopoulos
Balopoulos working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hartwell doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hartwell manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hartwell drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Balopoulos manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Hartwell has Balopoulos in his guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Hartwell (2) vs (9) Balopoulos
Balopoulos stays in close to Hartwell's body and controls the position.
Balopoulos stands and throws Hartwell's legs to the side, diving into side control. Score +3 for passing guard: Hartwell (2) vs (12) Balopoulos
Balopoulos wants to control but Hartwell is keeping him busy.
Balopoulos taking a breather here.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Hartwell is trying to work for a sweep but Balopoulos has mounted him! Score +2 for reaching mount: Hartwell (2) vs (14) Balopoulos
Balopoulos looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Balopoulos looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Balopoulos takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Hartwell keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Hartwell knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Balopoulos on the ground.
Balopoulos has hold of Hartwell's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Hartwell manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
We've been informed that Balopoulos has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Balopoulos looking for a guillotine from mount but Hartwell is having none of it.
Hartwell is squirming around, avoiding Balopoulos's attempts to control the action.
Balopoulos prevents Hartwell from getting the reversal.
Hartwell slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Hartwell is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hartwell is working hard here to advance position.
Balopoulos performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Balopoulos is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Hartwell is looking for a sweep. Balopoulos is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hartwell works his way to full guard. Good work.
Hartwell on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Hartwell tries to get out of the position.
Hartwell is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Hartwell (4) vs (14) Balopoulos
Balopoulos is defending against the submission attempts here by Hartwell.
Hartwell is working for a submission of some sort.
Balopoulos wants to control the action here but instead Hartwell manages to pass to full mount! Score +3 for passing guard: Hartwell (7) vs (14) Balopoulos
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Balopoulos slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Hartwell wants to work for an arm triangle but Balopoulos is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Balopoulos is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Hartwell's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Hartwell's back! Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Hartwell (7) vs (18) Balopoulos
Balopoulos looking for the choke but no joy.
Hartwell rolls, trying to escape but Balopoulos keeps control of the position.
Balopoulos is persistently looking for the submission but Hartwell is defending it well.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Hartwell turns into Balopoulos and is now in his guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Hartwell (9) vs (18) Balopoulos
Hartwell drops back, looking for a kneebar! Balopoulos looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Balopoulos looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Balopoulos! Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Hartwell (9) vs (22) Balopoulos
Balopoulos is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Hartwell will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Hartwell is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Balopoulos wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hartwell keeps working.
Hartwell is looking for a sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hartwell regains half guard.
Hartwell is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Balopoulos perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Balopoulos is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Balopoulos trying to pass the guard but Hartwell defending well.
Hartwell is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Balopoulos's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Balopoulos's back! Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Hartwell (13) vs (22) Balopoulos
Balopoulos breaks Hartwell's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Hartwell (13) vs (24) Balopoulos
Balopoulos sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Hartwell throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Balopoulos escapes and throws Hartwell's legs to the side, diving into side control! Score +3 for passing guard: Hartwell (13) vs (27) Balopoulos
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Balopoulos thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Hartwell is looking for a sweep.
Balopoulos trying to control the action but Hartwell is working from the bottom.
Hartwell tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hartwell is letting Balopoulos control him for a moment.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Hartwell is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Balopoulos off and has taken his back! Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Hartwell (17) vs (27) Balopoulos
Hartwell working for the choke.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hartwell looking for the choke from the back.
Balopoulos trying to control the action but Hartwell just sinks the hooks in.
Hartwell keeps control of the position as Balopoulos tries to break free.
Hartwell doesn't have the hooks in and Balopoulos manages to turn into his guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Hartwell (17) vs (29) Balopoulos
Balopoulos not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Balopoulos stopping the sweep attempt from Hartwell.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Hartwell has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Balopoulos can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Balopoulos stands and throws Hartwell's legs to the side, diving into side control. Score +3 for passing guard: Hartwell (17) vs (32) Balopoulos
Hartwell is looking for a sweep.
Balopoulos tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Balopoulos thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Hartwell is looking for a sweep.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Hartwell trying to remain calm as Balopoulos controls from the top position.
Balopoulos thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Hartwell tries to improve position but can't.
Balopoulos has knee on belly and moves into mount. Score +2 for reaching mount: Hartwell (17) vs (34) Balopoulos
Hartwell is in all sorts of trouble here.
Balopoulos controlling his opponent.
Balopoulos looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Balopoulos sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
And that's the end of the fight!
Balopoulos wins on points by 34 to 17.
Nikos Balopoulos really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Fantasy Threads logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty. |
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