PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Fujiku Gennosuke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Goran Balic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Gennosuke
vs
Balic

197 cm
18
270 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

200 cm
18
275 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Fujiku Gennosuke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Goran Balic!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Radbod Blank and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balic shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gennosuke but Gennosuke pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Gennosuke misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gennosuke throws a leg kick but Balic checks it.
Gennosuke blocks a head kick by Balic.
Gennosuke feints and then cracks Balic's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Balic down.
Balic avoids a kick to the body.
Gennosuke lands with a thumping leg kick.

Balic lands a big head kick that sends Gennosuke tumbling to the mat! Balic takes a step backwards and waves Gennosuke back to his feet - he wants the finish!

It looks like Fujiku Gennosuke has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Balic wants to clinch up but Gennosuke keeps it at a distance.
Gennosuke is looking to land body kicks.
Gennosuke misses with a low kick.
Gennosuke on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Gennosuke lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Gennosuke throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Balic.
Balic will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Balic chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Gennosuke can pounce on him.
A head kick by Gennosuke misses
and Balic counters with an inside leg kick.

Balic clinches up against the cage.
Gennosuke is trying to force a seperation but Balic has the dominant position.
Balic blocks the elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balic blocks an elbow strike from Gennosuke.
Gennosuke is trying to break the clinch but Balic is controlling him.
Gennosuke using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Balic has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Gennosuke is breathing heavily.

Balic manages to break the clinch.
Balic moves out of range of the body kick.

Balic instigates a clinch.
Balic tries to score a body lock takedown but Gennosuke shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Fujiku Gennosuke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Goran Balic.
Balic slowing the pace effectively.
Knees to the body from Balic.
Gennosuke throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Balic blocks it with crossed arms.
Gennosuke tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Balic pulls guard.

Balic looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Gennosuke passes into half guard.
Balic is trying to stand back up but Gennosuke is controlling him

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balic tries to roll over but Gennosuke keeps him under control.
Balic regains full guard. Nicely done.
Gennosuke won't allow Balic to sweep him here.
Balic is trying to control the position but Gennosuke postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balic looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Balic is trying to keep Gennosuke in close.
Balic is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Gennosuke preventing the sweep.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Goran Balic hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Balic misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Balic shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gennosuke as he avoids it easily.
Crunch! Gennosuke slams his shin into Balic's torso.
Balic shoots in and drives through. Gennosuke sprawls well.
Balic fails with a takedown attempt.
Balic shoots in and drives through. Gennosuke sprawls well.
Gennosuke throws a sloppy head kick
and Balic counters with a nice uppercut.
Gennosuke leaves Balic with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Gennosuke throws a sloppy head kick and Balic moves out of range easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gennosuke shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

Balic closes the distance and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Goran Balic dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Fujiku Gennosuke's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Gennosuke displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Balic.
Gennosuke displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Balic.
Gennosuke throws a head kick that misses

and Balic holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Balic can't get the takedown.
Fujiku Gennosuke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Goran Balic.
Gennosuke is trying to break the clinch but Balic has him pressed against the cage.
Gennosuke tries to break the clinch but Balic is controlling the position.
Gennosuke wants to break free but Balic has control.
Balic avoids the elbow strike from Gennosuke, against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Gennosuke just misses with a elbow thrown towards Balic's brow.
Gennosuke can't break the clinch.
Gennosuke working hard to break the clinch.
Balic has Gennosuke pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Gennosuke manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Gennosuke is trying to break the clinch but Balic has him pressed against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gennosuke wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Balic has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Gennosuke avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Gennosuke wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Balic just leaning against Gennosuke, taking a breather.
Balic has Gennosuke pressed against the cage, preventing Gennosuke from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Gennosuke tries to circle away but Balic has him pinned against the cage.
Gennosuke is trying to force a seperation but Balic has the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Balic's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Balic closes the distance and clinches up with Gennosuke, looking for a takedown. Balic pushes Gennosuke against the cage but Gennosuke circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Balic fails with a takedown attempt.
Both fighters circling a little - Gennosuke finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Balic shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Gennosuke pinned against the cage. Gennosuke gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Balic is defended easily by Gennosuke.
Balic throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Gennosuke's waist but Gennosuke gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Balic off to one side.
Gennosuke throws a body kick that misses.

Balic has closed the distance and engaged Gennosuke in a clinch.
Gennosuke is trying to force a seperation but Balic has the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Balic manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Balic trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Balic had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gennosuke defends it easily.
Balic not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gennosuke sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balic looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Balic thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Balic trying to keep a closed guard but Gennosuke is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Goran Balic hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Balic fails to land the takedown.

Gennosuke tries to keep at a distance but Balic has taken the fight into the clinch.
Gennosuke wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Balic has him pressed against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Balic tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Gennosuke just stands there and leans against the cage.
Balic has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Gennosuke is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Balic has Gennosuke pressed against the cage, preventing Gennosuke from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Gennosuke looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Balic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Fujiku Gennosuke will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Fujiku Gennosuke's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Gennosuke tries a head kick but it misses.
Gennosuke throws a push kick but Balic slaps the foot to one side.
Balic throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Balic fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Gennosuke throws a body kick that misses.
Gennosuke misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Balic shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gennosuke but Gennosuke pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Gennosuke lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Gennosuke buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Gennosuke lands with a kick to the temple. Balic shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Balic shoots in looking for a takedown. Gennosuke tries to sprawl out of it but Balic keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gennosuke manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Fujiku Gennosuke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Goran Balic.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gennosuke throws a push kick but Balic slaps the foot to one side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gennosuke throws a head kick but Balic moves out of range.
Balic tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Balic fails with an attempt to clinch.
Goran Balic seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Balic clinches up with Gennosuke and pushes him back against the cage.
Gennosuke gets underhooks to prevent Balic's takedown attempt.
Gennosuke wants to get back to striking at distance but Balic won't allow it.
Balic utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Gennosuke wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Balic has him pressed against the cage.

Balic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
An inside leg kick from Balic misses.
Fujiku Gennosuke is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gennosuke throws a body kick that misses.
Gennosuke keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Goran Balic is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Balic shoots in for a takedown but Gennosuke shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Balic tries to bum rush Gennosuke with a series of wild strikes but Gennosuke uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

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.
Balic scores with a nice right hand.
Gennosuke throws a sloppy head kick
and Balic connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Balic moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Gennosuke throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Balic counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Balic tries to clinch there but Gennosuke circles away.
Gennosuke throws a leg kick
and Balic counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Balic shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Gennosuke sprawls well. Gennosuke wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Balic gets slowly back to his feet.
Balic looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Balic is defended easily by Gennosuke.
Horrible takedown by Balic or perhaps it was just good defense by Gennosuke which made him look bad.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gennosuke misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Balic tries to clinch but Gennosuke moves out of range.
Gennosuke swats away the attempt to clinch by Balic.
Balic takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Gennosuke throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Balic looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gennosuke is fending him off so far but Balic persists. Nope, Gennosuke circles away and we're back to standing.
Gennosuke keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A low kick from Gennosuke is predictable there
and Balic counters with a series of strikes. Gennosuke will be more careful next time no doubt.
Gennosuke throws a leg kick but Balic sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Balic blocks a head kick by Gennosuke.
Fujiku Gennosuke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Balic moves out of range of the body kick from Gennosuke.
Balic tries to clinch there but Gennosuke circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
A head kick misses from Gennosuke.
Gennosuke throws a nice inside leg kick.
Balic shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Gennosuke sprawls well. Gennosuke wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Balic gets slowly back to his feet.
Gennosuke throws a nice outside leg kick.
Balic avoids a kick to the body.
Balic lands a really nice looking cross but Gennosuke seems unphased.
Balic tries to close the distance and clinch but Gennosuke swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gennosuke is looking to slow Balic down with leg kicks.
Balic fails with the takedown.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Balic fails to land the takedown.
Crunch! Gennosuke slams his shin into Balic's torso.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fujiku Gennosuke showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Gennosuke 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 29:28
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Fujiku Gennosuke!