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WP 51 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 35 wins and 46 losses; Boris Balkan! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 50 wins and 34 losses; The Reverend Jim Ignatowski!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, James Atkins and William Gold.
The fighters bow as they face eachother in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Ignatowski scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice. Score +4 for clean takedown past guard: Balkan (0) vs (4) Ignatowski
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Balkan is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Ignatowski wants to lay and pray for a moment but Balkan keeps working.
Ignatowski working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Balkan gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Ignatowski controlling the action here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ignatowski's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Balkan is not content to let Ignatowski control the position.
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.
Ignatowski is pressing down on Balkan's thigh, looking to free his foot. Balkan is holding on for now.
Ignatowski controlling the action here.
Ignatowski trying to pass the guard but Balkan defending well.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ignatowski trying to control the action but Balkan is working from the bottom.
Balkan wants to get back to full guard.
Ignatowski is keen to just control but Balkan is a slippery customer.
Ignatowski keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Balkan is positioning himself well to prevent Ignatowski advancing to mount.
Ignatowski is pressing down on Balkan's thigh, looking to free his foot. Balkan is holding on for now.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ignatowski wants to take a breather but Balkan is having none of it.
Ignatowski wants to free his trapped foot but Balkan is holding on for dear life with his legs.
My spies in KFA inform me that Ignatowski has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Balkan tries to get to full guard but Ignatowski has control of the leg.
Ignatowski wants to pass to mount but Balkan is defending the position.
Ignatowski controlling the pace.
Ignatowski wants to lay and pray for a moment but Balkan keeps working.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ignatowski is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Balkan pulls Ignatowski in close to his closed guard and prevents Ignatowski from doing any damage or advancing position.
Balkan can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ignatowski controls the pace.
It looks like Ignatowski might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Balkan pulls Ignatowski in close to his closed guard and prevents Ignatowski from doing any damage or advancing position.
Ignatowski wants to control from the top but Balkan keeps moving.
Balkan tries to land a sweep but no joy.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Balkan keeping moving, preventing Ignatowski from controlling successfully.
Balkan has Ignatowski pulled in close to control his posture.
Ignatowski pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Balkan is keeping the position for now.
Balkan wants to sweep but no luck.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Ignatowski is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Balkan is pulling down on Ignatowski's head to control his posture.
Ignatowski trying to control the position from guard on top but Balkan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ignatowski controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Balkan is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ignatowski trying to control the position from guard on top but Balkan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ignatowski wants to pass the guard but Balkan is keeping the position.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Balkan keeping moving, preventing Ignatowski from controlling successfully.
Ignatowski engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Ignatowski tries to free his leg and advance position but Balkan is retaining full guard.
Balkan will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Ignatowski passes into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Balkan manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Ignatowski wants to control from the top but Balkan keeps moving.
Balkan has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Balkan working a defensive guard here.
Ignatowski trying to control but Balkan is working from the bottom.
Ignatowski trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Ignatowski trying to control the position from guard on top but Balkan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Balkan is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Balkan keeping moving, preventing Ignatowski from controlling successfully.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Ignatowski slips effortlessly into side control - very nice. Score +3 for passing guard: Balkan (0) vs (7) Ignatowski
Balkan is looking for a sweep.
Ignatowski moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Balkan tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Ignatowski easily slips into full mount! Score +2 for reaching mount: Balkan (0) vs (9) Ignatowski
Ignatowski tries to control but Balkan wriggling away.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Ignatowski is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Ignatowski wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Ignatowski wants to control the pace but Balkan is squirming around nicely.
Balkan is controlling an arm, preventing Ignatowski from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Balkan keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Ignatowski controlling from mount.
Balkan keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Balkan regains half guard.
Ignatowski wants to take a breather but Balkan is having none of it.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Ignatowski uses his free foot to push down on Balkan's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Balkan. Score +3 for passing guard: Balkan (0) vs (12) Ignatowski
Balkan is working to get back to half guard.
Ignatowski tries to control but Balkan wriggling away.
Balkan tries to reverse the position but Ignatowski maintains control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ignatowski moves to the back. Score +3 for taking back: Balkan (0) vs (15) Ignatowski
Ignatowski is persistently looking for the submission but Balkan is defending it well.
And that's the end of the fight!
Ignatowski wins on points by 15 to 0.
The Reverend Jim Ignatowski decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well. |
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