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WP 109 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 79 wins and 55 losses; The Reverend Jim Ignatowski! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 55 wins and 71 losses; Boris Balkan!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Sam Margolis and Donald Grub.
The fighters bow as they face eachother in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Ignatowski closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Balkan did well to prevent Ignatowski getting side control. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Ignatowski (2) vs (0) Balkan
Ignatowski has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Balkan is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Balkan looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ignatowski wants to free his trapped foot but Balkan is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Balkan moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Balkan has an active guard here but Ignatowski has managed to pass into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ignatowski trying to pass the guard but Balkan defending well.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Ignatowski is looking to take a break and control but Balkan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are battling for position here. Balkan manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Balkan controlling Ignatowski's posture.
Balkan has his foot on Ignatowski's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ignatowski works his way back into a safe position though.
Balkan working for a triangle but Ignatowski defends it easily.
Ignatowski being controlled here momentarily.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balkan not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ignatowski sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Balkan's guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Balkan is refusing to be controlled, as Ignatowski sits in half guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balkan makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Balkan.
Ignatowski forces his way into half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Balkan gets back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Balkan tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Balkan not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Balkan is controlling Ignatowski's posture.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balkan keeping full guard, as Ignatowski tries to pass.
Ignatowski stopping the sweep attempt from Balkan.
Balkan looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ignatowski looking to pass the guard.
Balkan is looking to sweep but instead, Ignatowski has passed into half guard.
Ignatowski trying to control the action but Balkan is working from the bottom.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Ignatowski content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ignatowski is stalling here. Balkan is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Ignatowski seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Balkan has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work. Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Ignatowski (2) vs (4) Balkan
Balkan wants to control but Ignatowski is keeping him busy.
Balkan looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
My spies in Blacktalians MMA inform me that Balkan has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Balkan controlling the position.
Ignatowski is trying to improve his position.
Ignatowski wants to control but Balkan postures up.
Ignatowski manages to work his way to half guard, despite Balkan's best efforts.
Balkan is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Ignatowski tries to roll over but Balkan keeps him under control.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Ignatowski wants to get back to full guard but Balkan has mounted him! Score +3 for passing guard: Ignatowski (2) vs (7) Balkan
Balkan trying to control but Ignatowski is having none of it.
Balkan controlling his opponent.
Ignatowski slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Ignatowski is staying active underneath Balkan, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Ignatowski tries to get to full guard but Balkan has control of the leg.
Ignatowski is working hard here to advance position.
Balkan trying to pass the guard but Ignatowski defending well.
Ignatowski is trying to control but can't.
Ignatowski is looking to improve his position.
Balkan is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Balkan is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Ignatowski is trying to control but Balkan passes into side control!
Score +3 for passing guard: Ignatowski (2) vs (10) Balkan
Ignatowski tries to buck Balkan off but Balkan is having none of it.
Ignatowski manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu! Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Ignatowski (4) vs (10) Balkan
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Ignatowski looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Balkan is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Balkan is defending against the submission attempts here by Ignatowski.
Ignatowski slows the pace down in half guard.
Balkan won't allow Ignatowski to pass to mount.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Ignatowski looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Balkan is looking to improve his position.
Balkan has his hands clasped together around Ignatowski's back. He's all about the action.
Ignatowski wants to free his trapped foot but Balkan is holding on for dear life with his legs.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Ignatowski is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount! Score +3 for passing guard: Ignatowski (7) vs (10) Balkan
Ignatowski tries to control but Balkan wriggling away.
Balkan tries to hold on but Ignatowski pushes him away.
Ignatowski tries to control but Balkan wriggling away.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Balkan working to try and regain half guard.
Balkan is squirming around, avoiding Ignatowski's attempts to control the action.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Balkan wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back. Score +3 for taking back: Ignatowski (10) vs (10) Balkan
Ignatowski just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Ignatowski tries to get the hooks in deep but Balkan pushed the leg off.
Balkan trying to control the position but Ignatowski manages to sink in the hooks.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A lull in the action here.
Balkan is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
And that's the end of the fight!
As we have tied on points, we go to a tie breaker and Balkan gets a bonus point for attempting more subs.
Balkan wins on points by 11 to 10.
A relieved looking Boris Balkan thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it. |
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