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WPGC 4.6 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 New York, with a TWGC record of 12 wins and 11 losses; Boris Balkan! And in the blue corner, fighting out of London, with a TWGC record of 19 wins and 29 losses; Ruben Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Paulo Santos and Alexandre Firmino.
The fighters connect hands in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Balkan clinches with his opponent.
Balkan has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Gracie uses from the top position.
Gracie trying to control but Balkan is working from the bottom.
Balkan controls Gracie momentarily but Gracie frees himself.
Balkan trying to control the position here.
My spies in Rivers Edge Gym inform me that Gracie has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie pushing down on Balkan's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie stalling away here and it's allowed Balkan to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Balkan pulls Gracie in to control the position.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Balkan keeps moving.
Balkan seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Balkan keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.
Balkan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Balkan is pulling down on Gracie's head to control his posture.
Balkan looking to control but Gracie passes into half guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Balkan is defending well.
Balkan is looking to control Gracie's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Balkan avoid being mounted?
Gracie passes to side control. Score +3 for passing guard: Balkan (0) vs (3) Gracie
Gracie tries for a kimura but Balkan is defending well.
A bit of a lull in the action here.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie working away.
Gracie has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Balkan! Score +2 for reaching mount: Balkan (0) vs (5) Gracie
Gracie is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Balkan has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Balkan! Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Balkan (2) vs (5) Gracie
Balkan controls from within his opponent's guard.
Gracie looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Balkan has picked Gracie up and slammed him! Gracie can't keep hold of the triangle and Balkan manages to pass to side control! Score +3 for passing guard: Balkan (5) vs (5) Gracie
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Balkan is staying tight to Gracie's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Balkan is looking to take a break and control but Gracie is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gracie tries to buck Balkan off but Balkan is having none of it.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Balkan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gracie keeps working.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
We've been hearing good reports from Balkan's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Balkan is looking to take a break and control but Gracie is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is looking to reverse the position.
Gracie keeps trying to improve his position.
Gracie is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Balkan wants to take a breather but Gracie is having none of it.
Balkan content to control rather than advance.
Gracie is looking to control Balkan's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gracie avoid being mounted?
Balkan is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Gracie is trying to get back to full guard.
Balkan is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Gracie regains full guard. Nicely done.
Balkan trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Gracie wants to sweep here but Balkan controlling him for the moment.
Balkan is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Balkan trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Gracie wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Balkan is now in half guard.
Gracie tries to roll over but Balkan keeps him under control.
Still in half guard, Balkan seems content to control.
Balkan is looking to take a break and control but Gracie is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Balkan tries to pass to full mount but Gracie defends it.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Balkan is working hard here to advance position.
Balkan wants to take a breather but Gracie is having none of it.
Balkan is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Gracie doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Balkan.
Balkan moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Gracie. Score +3 for passing guard: Balkan (8) vs (5) Gracie
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Balkan is looking to take a break and control but Gracie is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Balkan controlling from side mount.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Balkan working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is looking for a sweep.
Balkan moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Balkan tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
And that's the end of the fight!
Balkan takes the fight on points by 8 to 5.
During a confident post fight interview, Boris Balkan thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him. |
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