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WP 124 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 60 wins and 80 losses; Boris Balkan! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 66 wins and 74 losses; Strega Notturna!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Donald Grub and Chris Edwards.
Let's get this grappling contest under way! Who will be victorious?
Balkan shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Notturna's guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Balkan (2) vs (0) Notturna
Notturna wants to sweep but no luck.
Notturna is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Balkan is aware though and is defending well.
Balkan controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Notturna wants to sweep but no luck.
Balkan is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Balkan stands and throws Notturna's legs to the side, diving into side control. Score +3 for passing guard: Balkan (5) vs (0) Notturna
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Notturna looking for a sweep but Balkan has passed into full mount! Oh no! Score +2 for reaching mount: Balkan (7) vs (0) Notturna
Balkan 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 takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Notturna stops Balkan from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Notturna tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Notturna keeps trying to improve his position.
Balkan looking to control and managing it successfully.
Balkan wants to control the pace but Notturna is squirming around nicely.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balkan content just to control the position here.
Balkan trying to control but Notturna is having none of it.
Balkan will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Notturna wants to hold on but Balkan pushes him away.
Notturna is trying desperately to improve position.
Notturna is still trying to improve position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Notturna manages to regain half guard. Good work.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Notturna controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Notturna tries to roll over but Balkan keeps him under control.
Balkan is trying to control. Notturna wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Balkan is looking for a kimura but Notturna is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Balkan to get the leverage.
Notturna wants to control but Balkan is keeping busy.
Balkan is just content to waste time from the top position. Notturna takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Notturna looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balkan showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Balkan stopping the sweep attempt from Notturna.
Notturna looking to control.
Notturna can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Balkan controls the pace.
Balkan tries to free his leg and advance position but Notturna is retaining full guard.
Balkan preventing the sweep.
Balkan stands and throws Notturna's legs to the side, diving into side control. Score +3 for passing guard: Balkan (10) vs (0) Notturna
Balkan working away.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Notturna's face as Balkan controls the position.
Balkan working away.
Notturna is looking to regain half guard here but Balkan keeps moving and retains side control.
Notturna gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there! Score +2 for reaching mount: Balkan (12) vs (0) Notturna
Balkan avoids the attempt from Notturna to control.
Balkan sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Balkan looking to control but Notturna is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Balkan avoids the attempt from Notturna to control.
Notturna is desperately trying to improve his position but Balkan has a good base and remains in mount.
Balkan trying to control but Notturna is having none of it.
Balkan tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Balkan avoids the attempt from Notturna to control.
Balkan trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Notturna manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Balkan slows the pace down in half guard.
Notturna controlling the position for now.
Notturna is refusing to be controlled, as Balkan sits in half guard.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Notturna is trying to control but can't.
Notturna regains full guard. Nicely done.
Notturna looking to hit a scissor sweep but Balkan is one step ahead there.
Balkan is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Notturna is adopting a defensive guard.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Balkan got a little sloppy there for a moment and Notturna has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Balkan has managed to get both his arms back between Notturna's legs - danger averted.
Notturna controlling the position.
Notturna is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Notturna controls Balkan momentarily but Balkan frees himself.
Balkan trying to control the position from guard on top but Notturna is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Balkan passes into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Notturna manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Notturna keeping moving, preventing Balkan from controlling successfully.
Notturna 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.
Notturna keeping moving, preventing Balkan from controlling successfully.
Notturna is trying to control the position but Balkan postures up.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Balkan is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Balkan won't allow Notturna to sweep him here.
Notturna controls Balkan momentarily but Balkan frees himself.
Balkan is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Balkan has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Notturna is pulling down on Balkan's head. It's preventing any offense from Balkan, at least for the moment.
Notturna looking for a guillotine here but Balkan defends easily.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Notturna keeping moving, preventing Balkan from controlling successfully.
Balkan being controlled here momentarily.
Balkan trying to control the position from guard on top but Notturna is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Balkan slips effortlessly into side control - very nice. Score +3 for passing guard: Balkan (15) vs (0) Notturna
Balkan is looking to take a break and control but Notturna is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Notturna regains half guard there - taking advantage of Balkan's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Notturna is looking to control Balkan's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Notturna avoid being mounted?
Notturna is looking to improve his position.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Balkan passes the guard and advances to mount! Score +3 for passing guard: Balkan (18) vs (0) Notturna
Balkan goes for an armbar but Notturna turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Notturna. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Balkan (18) vs (2) Notturna
Notturna wants to control from the top but Balkan keeps moving.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Balkan wants to sweep here but Notturna controlling him for the moment.
And that's the end of the fight!
Balkan takes the fight on points by 18 to 2.
Boris Balkan thanked the fans post fight for their support. |
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