PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bill Crack (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cocky Balboner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Balboner's choice of entrance music: You're The Best Around. Cocky Balboner will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Crack
vs
Balboner

190 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
22
192 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Inexperienced

Crocodile Steak and Ale House

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bill Crack!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Cocky Balboner!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Leandro Rodrigues and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Crack uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Balboner.
Crack shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Balboner sprawls well. Balboner wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Crack gets slowly back to his feet.
Crack shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Balboner throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Crack tries for a takedown but Balboner sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bill Crack. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Balboner misses with a jab, cross combination.
Balboner tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Crack was well out of range. Poor timing from Balboner.
A telegraphed right hand from Balboner misses the target.
Balboner leaves Crack with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nice shot lands for Balboner.
Balboner takes a swing at Crack's ribcage but misses.
Crack tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Balboner swivels and escapes.

Crack changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Balboner looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Crack working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Balboner keeps Crack under control for a moment.
Balboner tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Crack presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crack sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Crack thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Crack can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Balboner is looking to escape.
Crack is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Balboner is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Crack looking to finish with strikes here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Crack avoids the attempt from Balboner to control.
Balboner is working to get back to half guard.
Crack sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crack can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Balboner is looking to escape.
Balboner wants to hold on but Crack pushes him away.
Crack looking to control and managing it successfully.
Crack throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Balboner is squirming around, avoiding Crack's attempts to control the action.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Bill Crack just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
A punch combination from Balboner misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Balboner connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

It looks like Bill Crack has been cut.
Balboner throws the left hand but Crack avoids the punch easily.
Balboner throws a jab but it's blocked by Crack.
Crack slips under a jab from Balboner.
Balboner shoots and misses

and Crack counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Crack sitting in guard here, content to control.
Crack trying to control but Balboner is working from the bottom.
Crack being controlled here momentarily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Crack content to stall in guard here.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Balboner can do anything to dispel that myth.
Crack throwing strikes from guard but Balboner blocks nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bill Crack dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Bill Crack's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Balboner lands with a shot to the body.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Crack is defended easily by Balboner.
A big left from Balboner misses.
Balboner looks to throw the jab but Crack is out of range.

Crack shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Balboner's guard.
Crack is working Balboner over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Crack trying to control but Balboner is working from the bottom.
Crack preventing the sweep.
Crack trying to control but Balboner is working from the bottom.
Crack sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Balboner tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crack wants to stand but Balboner is controlling his posture from full guard.
Balboner avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Balboner wants to sweep but no luck.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Balboner misses with a series of wild punches.
Balboner lands a jab to the head.
Crack will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Balboner misses with a double jab.
Crack shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bill Crack. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Crack looks for a takedown but Balboner sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Balboner cracks Crack with an open hand slap.
Crack avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Balboner looks to land a left hand but Crack moved out of range nicely.
Balboner stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Balboner wants it to stay on the feet.

Balboner clinches.
Crack tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Balboner's elbow.
Balboner is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Crack keeps control of Balboner as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Balboner as Crack tries to tie him up.
Crack is leaning against Balboner and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Crack is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Balboner gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Balboner pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Balboner misses the jab.
Balboner moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Cocky Balboner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Balboner looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Balboner fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Crack avoids it really well and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Balboner misses the target.
A decent looking cross lands there for Balboner.
Balboner misses with a wild body shot.
Crack changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Balboner tries to avoid it but Crack manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Balboner to the ground. Balboner escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Crack shoots for a double leg takedown but Balboner sprawls well. He's pushed Crack's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Crack slips under a jab.
Crack doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Balboner counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Crack thinking.
Bill Crack is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Balboner punishes Crack's body with a nice straight punch.
Balboner connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
A slow jab from Balboner misses its intended target.
Balboner lands a jab.
Crack tries for a takedown but Balboner sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Balboner misses with a double jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balboner cracks Crack with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Crack takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Balboner lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

Crack fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Balboner sprawls well initially but Crack persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Balboner controlling the position for now.
Crack trying to control from half guard but Balboner is working away.
Crack throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Crack missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Crack prevents Balboner from improving his position.
Balboner is refusing to be controlled, as Crack sits in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cocky Balboner showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Bill Crack's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Balboner throws an overhand right that lands on Crack's shoulder, as Crack tries to avoid the shot.
Balboner is looking to clinch but Crack is avoiding it.
Crack shoots in looking for a takedown. Balboner tries to sprawl out of it but Crack keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Balboner manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Balboner lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Crack at a distance.
Crack slips under a jab from Balboner.
Balboner punishes Crack's body with a nice straight punch.
Balboner lands a jab to Crack's midsection.
Balboner missing with a left hand there. Crack was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Balboner misses with a double jab.
Balboner misses with a hook.
A slow jab from Balboner misses its intended target.
No luck for Crack with that takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Balboner rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Crack moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A big right from Balboner misses.
Crack shoots in for a takedown but Balboner shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bill Crack. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboner closes the distance looking to clinch

and Crack counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Crack tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Balboner.
Crack trying to control from half guard but Balboner is working away.
Balboner wants to control but Crack is keeping busy.
Bill Crack overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Crack is trying to control. Balboner wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Crack sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Balboner defending well though.
Crack has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balboner keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Balboner has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Crack is working away from the top position though.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Crack needs to keep his hands up - Balboner had a free shot at his head there.
Balboner looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Crack is fending him off so far but Balboner persists. Nope, Crack circles away and we're back to standing.
Crack shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Balboner sprawls well. Balboner wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Crack gets slowly back to his feet.
Crack shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Balboner but Balboner pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Crack on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balboner closes the distance and clinches up with Crack, looking for a takedown. Balboner pushes Crack against the cage but Crack circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Balboner connects with a jab.
Good exchange - Balboner coming out on top.
Balboner fails to land with a series of punches.
Balboner displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Crack.
Balboner moves in looking to clinch but Crack pushes him off.
Balboner scores with a body shot.
Balboner digs a good body shot into Crack's ribs.
Crack shoots for a takedown but Balboner saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Crack shoots for a double leg takedown but Balboner sprawls well. He's pushed Crack's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Balboner misses the shot to the body.
Balboner throws out a loose jab but Crack uses good head movement to avoid it.
Balboner misses with a series of wild punches.
Cocky Balboner seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Crack fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Crack slips a straight right by Balboner.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balboner is trying hard to land a takedown here. Crack sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Balboner throws a body punch but Crack moves out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Crack is defended easily by Balboner.
Crack ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Balboner doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Crack counters with a nice double leg into side control. Balboner won't be happy with that.
Crack trying to control the position but Balboner is working away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Balboner defending against the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Bill Crack.
I think Crack has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bill Crack!