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WP 84 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 45 wins and 60 losses; Boris Balkan! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 63 wins and 59 losses; Shane MacGowan!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Andrew Berry and James Atkins.
The fighters connect hands in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
MacGowan gets a double leg takedown into Balkan's guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Balkan (0) vs (2) MacGowan
MacGowan wants to pass the guard but Balkan is keeping the position.
Balkan 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.
Balkan trying to control the position.
MacGowan wants to control from the top but Balkan keeps moving.
MacGowan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Balkan is keeping the position for now.
Balkan trying to keep a closed guard but MacGowan is proving a slippery customer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
MacGowan trying to control the position from guard on top but Balkan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Balkan seems keen to control MacGowan's posture.
Balkan bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in MacGowan's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Balkan (2) vs (2) MacGowan
That's one minute gone in the round.
Balkan trying to control but MacGowan is working from the bottom.
MacGowan is trying to control the position from the bottom.
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.
MacGowan 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: Balkan (2) vs (4) MacGowan
Balkan is refusing to be controlled, as MacGowan sits in half guard.
MacGowan looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
MacGowan is trying to work for a kimura but Balkan is defending well.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
MacGowan is trying to work for a kimura but Balkan is defending well.
MacGowan is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Balkan has managed to free his arm - good work.
MacGowan is thwarting Balkan's attempts to control the position.
Balkan is not content to let MacGowan control the position.
MacGowan is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Balkan moves into full guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balkan throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
MacGowan trying to control the position from guard on top but Balkan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
MacGowan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Balkan swivels though and keeps the full guard.
MacGowan forces his way into half guard.
MacGowan is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
MacGowan seems to be looking for submissions.
Balkan moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balkan is trying to control the position from the bottom.
MacGowan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Balkan is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and MacGowan defends well.
MacGowan is looking to advance position but Balkan has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount! Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Balkan (6) vs (4) MacGowan
MacGowan sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
MacGowan moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Balkan's corner is telling him to maintain position.
MacGowan is trying to keep Balkan in close.
MacGowan has Balkan pulled in close to control his posture.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Balkan tries to free his leg and advance position but MacGowan is retaining full guard.
MacGowan keeping moving, preventing Balkan from controlling successfully.
MacGowan trying to keep a closed guard but Balkan is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
MacGowan looking for a sweep. Not yet MacGowan, not yet.
Balkan postures up.
Balkan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. MacGowan swivels though and keeps the full guard.
MacGowan bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Balkan's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Balkan (6) vs (6) MacGowan
Balkan controls MacGowan momentarily but MacGowan frees himself.
MacGowan wants to pass the guard but Balkan is keeping the position.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
MacGowan is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Balkan is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Balkan has escaped and now he's on top! Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Balkan (8) vs (6) MacGowan
MacGowan wants to control but Balkan passes easily into half guard.
MacGowan is trying to maintain the position but Balkan is very close to passing his half guard.
Balkan wants to lay and pray for a moment but MacGowan keeps working.
Balkan looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Balkan is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
The fighters are battling for position here. MacGowan manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Balkan controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Balkan postures up.
Balkan passes into half guard.
MacGowan gets back to full guard.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
MacGowan is trying to keep Balkan in close.
Balkan slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Balkan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. MacGowan is keeping the position for now.
MacGowan being controlled here, momentarily.
MacGowan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Balkan is one step ahead there.
Balkan trying to control the position from guard on top but MacGowan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Balkan postures up.
Balkan slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
MacGowan tries to land a sweep but no joy.
MacGowan is trying to hold Balkan in close to prevent damage but Balkan has managed to pass into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Balkan in particular looking to stall.
MacGowan is not content to let Balkan control the position.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
MacGowan has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Balkan is working away from the top position though.
Balkan is trying to control the action in half guard but MacGowan is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Balkan will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
MacGowan wants to sweep but Balkan has passed to side control! Score +3 for passing guard: Balkan (11) vs (6) MacGowan
Balkan trying to control the position but MacGowan is working away.
MacGowan tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Balkan wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Balkan controlling the position from side mount.
MacGowan struggling a bit here.
Balkan tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
MacGowan is not content to let Balkan control the position.
MacGowan wants to control but Balkan postures up.
Balkan is trying to get an arm triangle but MacGowan is defending well.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
MacGowan tries to buck Balkan off but Balkan is having none of it.
Balkan working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
MacGowan tries to bench press Balkan off him but Balkan keeps the position.
Balkan wants to control but MacGowan is keeping him busy.
MacGowan prevents Balkan from improving position.
Balkan has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for MacGowan! Score +2 for reaching mount: Balkan (13) vs (6) MacGowan
Balkan looking to control but MacGowan is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
MacGowan tries to reverse the position but Balkan maintains control.
Balkan trying to control but he's not successful this time.
MacGowan is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Balkan controlling the position easily from mount.
MacGowan is working to get back to half guard.
Balkan trying to control but MacGowan is having none of it.
MacGowan looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back! Score +3 for taking back: Balkan (16) vs (6) MacGowan
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
MacGowan defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
A lull in the action here.
MacGowan is in bad spot here.
Balkan is not going to allow MacGowan to sit and survive in this position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
MacGowan is trying to break free.
And that's the end of the fight!
Balkan takes the fight on points by 16 to 6.
A very excited looking Boris Balkan made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction. |
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