PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Daniel DC (ranked 24784 p4p, 3885 weight class) and Rocky Balboa (ranked 591 p4p, 404 weight class). DC comes to the cage accompanied by Wolf Totem. Balboa has chosen Purge announcement as his entrance music. Daniel DC looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

DC
vs
Balboa

178 cm
23
200
3 - 14 - 0

180 cm
27
210
3 - 4 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Daniel DC!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rocky Balboa!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Steve Montenegro and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balboa circles away from the clinch attempt.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
DC looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!

Balboa scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Balboa tries to score with some ground and pound. DC controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Balboa is looking to take a break and control but DC is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Balboa decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Balboa scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
DC is looking to get back to is feet but Balboa passes into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Balboa looking to punish the body of his opponent here but DC is avoiding damage well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
DC avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Balboa.

Balboa is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but DC is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Balboa tries for a kimura but DC is defending well.
Balboa throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
You can see the frustration on DC's face as Balboa controls the position.
Balboa working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

Balboa decides to stand up, so the ref orders DC to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Balboa shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches DC napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Balboa works to advance to full mount. DC defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
DC looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Balboa controlling the position easily from mount.
DC on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if DC tries to get out of the position.
Balboa punching from mount but DC doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Balboa landing strikes from the mount and DC is in trouble!
Balboa tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Balboa throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for DC because Balboa loaded up on that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Balboa there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

Balboa jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but DC manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Balboa thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
DC knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Balboa on the ground.

Balboa is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but DC is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Balboa looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

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

Balboa thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
DC trying his best to control but Balboa has mounted him.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rocky Balboa dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A momentary lapse in concentration from DC enables Balboa to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. DC manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Balboa stays in close to DC's body and controls the position.
Balboa throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as DC works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Balboa sitting in guard here, content to control.
Rocky Balboa has got the better of the ground game so far.
Let's hope that Balboa has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa forces his way into half guard.
Balboa controlling the action here.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Balboa.
Balboa has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Balboa is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Balboa passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for DC!

Balboa gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

Balboa gets a double leg takedown into DC's guard.
Balboa throwing strikes from guard but DC blocks nicely.
DC can't keep his opponent in guard - Balboa advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Balboa is looking for a kimura here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balboa trying to control the pace.
Balboa thows a huge punch but DC dodges it nicely.
DC keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Balboa seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.
Balboa thows a huge punch but DC dodges it nicely.
Still in half guard, Balboa seems content to control.
Balboa is continuing to stall.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Balboa thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed DC's head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rocky Balboa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Balboa shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in DC's guard.
Balboa trying to control but DC is working from the bottom.
Balboa has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
DC utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
DC trying to keep a closed guard but Balboa is proving a slippery customer.
Balboa won't allow DC to sweep him here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balboa pushes down on DC's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Balboa stands up out of the half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Balboa has closed the distance and engaged DC in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Balboa works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Balboa throws a big elbow that misses.
Balboa sitting in guard here, content to control.
DC is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Balboa slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Balboa postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Balboa takes a little break here. DC wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

Balboa thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Balboa is working to tighten his grip on DC's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. DC has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Balboa is really squeezing tight and eventually DC passes out! Balboa breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:35 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Rocky Balboa!
An intense looking Rocky Balboa took to the microphone post fight and gave a little speech: 'Thank you fans, coaches, Furnace Performance,Silverguard Outfitters, and MMA Helsieki for giving me the chance to do this. I want a Title shot.'.
The defeated Daniel DC had this to say: 'Learn, grow and come back stronger. I will return'.