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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Hernando Veras (ranked 3938 p4p, 4089 weight class) and Callum Balzaretti (ranked 368 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Veras might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Hasta el Amanecer. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.
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| 180 cm
25
160
0 - 0 - 0 |
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176 cm
19
165
0 - 0 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin |
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BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Hernando Veras!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Callum Balzaretti!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Yves DeLean and Alec Ball.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Veras stuffs the takedown attempt from Balzaretti. Balzaretti gets slowly back to his feet.
Veras throws a big counter combination but Balzaretti scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Veras has his takedown stuffed
and Balzaretti counters with a series of strikes. Veras will be more careful next time no doubt.
Balzaretti fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Veras is out of range.
Veras shoots in for a takedown but Balzaretti shows good takedown defense.
Balzaretti tries to clinch up but Veras circles away and keeps his distance.
Balzaretti throws the kick towards the body but Veras avoids it.
Veras keeps the fight on the outside.
Veras has taken the fight to the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balzaretti is trying to drag Veras to the mat but Veras just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Balzaretti is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Veras fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hernando Veras. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Veras escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Veras tries for a takedown but Balzaretti sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Veras shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Balzaretti but Balzaretti pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Veras rushes Balzaretti and presses him up against the cage.
Balzaretti working hard to break the clinch.
Veras breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Balzaretti tries to clinch there but Veras circles away.
Veras pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A jab from Balzaretti finds it's way through Veras's defenses.
Veras has managed to clinch.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Veras pulls guard effortlessly.
Balzaretti postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Balzaretti tries to free his leg and advance position but Veras is retaining full guard.
Veras 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.
Veras is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Veras has Balzaretti pulled in close to control his posture.
Balzaretti trying to control but Veras is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balzaretti throwing strikes from guard but Veras blocks nicely.
Veras looking for a sweep. Not yet Veras, not yet.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Veras changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Balzaretti tries to avoid it but Veras manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Balzaretti to the ground. Balzaretti escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Veras rushes Balzaretti and presses him up against the cage.
Veras misses with a punch to the body.
Veras tries to pull guard but Balzaretti won't allow it.
Veras is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Veras lands a body punch.
Veras escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balzaretti dives in for a single leg takedown but Veras sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Veras fails with the takedown
and Balzaretti counters with a three punch combo that has Veras backing up. Veras nods at Balzaretti to acknowledge the strikes.
Veras shoots in and drives through. Balzaretti sprawls well.
Veras closes this distance looking for a takedown but Balzaretti circles away.
Veras fails with the takedown.
Balzaretti throws a counter combo.
Veras shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Balzaretti sprawls well. Balzaretti wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Veras gets slowly back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Veras misses with a takedown
and Balzaretti makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Balzaretti shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Veras sprawls well. Veras wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Balzaretti gets slowly back to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Callum Balzaretti will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.
Veras avoids the head kick by Balzaretti.
Balzaretti throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Veras counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Veras breaks from the clinch.
Balzaretti avoids the head kick by Veras.
Veras clinches up with Balzaretti and pushes him back against the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Veras.
Veras gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Balzaretti.
Balzaretti letting Veras take a breather here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Veras breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Veras has closed the distance and engaged Balzaretti in a clinch.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Balzaretti wants to take the fight to the mat but Veras manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Veras lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Veras escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Balzaretti tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Veras moves into range and clinches up with Balzaretti.
Veras gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Balzaretti regains guard.
Veras got a little sloppy there for a moment and Balzaretti has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Veras has managed to get both his arms back between Balzaretti's legs - danger averted.
Balzaretti has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Veras can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Balzaretti is breathing heavily.
Veras not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Veras is looking to work some ground and pound but Balzaretti has wrist control.
Veras has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Balzaretti is proving hard to escape from.
Veras is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Balzaretti can do to turn this around?
Veras is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Veras got a little sloppy there for a moment and Balzaretti has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Veras has managed to get both his arms back between Balzaretti's legs - danger averted.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Balzaretti is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Veras has his takedown stuffed
and Balzaretti counters with a three punch combo that has Veras backing up. Veras nods at Balzaretti to acknowledge the strikes.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Veras dives in for a single leg takedown but Balzaretti sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Veras just leaning against Balzaretti, taking a breather.
Balzaretti managing to block the knees to the body from Veras.
Veras breaks from the clinch.
Balzaretti throws a leg kick
and Veras holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Hernando Veras has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Veras is working for takedown but Balzaretti is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hernando Veras. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Veras is looking for a takedown.
Veras manages to break the clinch.
Veras moves into the clinch.
Balzaretti is looking to take this one to the mat.
Veras wants a takedown but no success here.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Veras goes for a takedown attempt but Balzaretti pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Veras.
Balzaretti steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Veras swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Balzaretti goes for a double leg but Veras avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Veras continues to drive forward.
As Balzaretti looks to move away, Veras throws a big counter combo but Balzaretti just gets out of the way.
Balzaretti shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Veras pinned against the cage. Veras gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Veras rushes Balzaretti and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Veras fails to pull guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Hernando Veras dominated that second round.
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!
Veras throws a leg kick
and Balzaretti counters with a two punch combo.
Veras gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Veras's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Veras rushes Balzaretti and presses him up against the cage.
Veras keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Balzaretti's efforts to push away.
Veras tries to pull guard but Balzaretti holds him up against the cage and eventually Veras drops back down to his feet.
Balzaretti wants to break the clinch but can't.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balzaretti tries to circle away but Veras has him pinned against the cage.
Balzaretti goes for a takedown attempt but Veras pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Veras gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Veras breaks the clinch.
Veras gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Veras stalling.
Balzaretti pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Veras blocks a head kick by Balzaretti.
Veras goes for a double leg but Balzaretti avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Balzaretti continues to drive forward.
Veras is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Balzaretti gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hernando Veras. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Veras wants a takedown.
Veras effectively controlling the action here.
Balzaretti tries to land knees in the clinch but Veras avoids the damage to the body.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Veras escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Callum Balzaretti seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Balzaretti shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Veras pinned against the cage. Veras gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Balzaretti uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Balzaretti looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Balzaretti checks a leg kick.
Balzaretti lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Veras at a distance.
Veras drives through with a takedown into Balzaretti's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Balzaretti takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Veras trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Balzaretti manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Veras has a closed guard, preventing Balzaretti from standing up.
Veras working for submissions but it's allowed Balzaretti to get to half guard.
Veras tries to roll over but Balzaretti keeps him under control.
Veras has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Balzaretti is working away from the top position though.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Veras wants to get back to full guard.
Veras is working hard here to advance position.
Veras on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Veras tries to get out of the position.
Balzaretti is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Veras is refusing to be controlled, as Balzaretti sits in half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Veras is trying to control but can't.
And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Callum Balzaretti.
I think Balzaretti has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.
Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:29
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 29:28
In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Hernando Veras!
After winning the bout, Hernando Veras thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
34% |
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