PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Valerii Balanko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gabriel UY (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Valerii Balanko has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Balanko
vs
UY

176 cm
19
215 lbs
2 - 6 - 0

160 cm
21
269 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Inexperienced

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 2 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Valerii Balanko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gabriel UY!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, John Kavanagh and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Balanko forces UY back against the cage and clinches.
UY using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
UY tries to pull guard but Balanko won't allow it.
Balanko has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. UY is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Balanko pulls guard successfully.
Balanko wants to stand and escape but UY is having none of it.
UY sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Balanko's guard.
UY wants to control but Balanko is keeping him busy.
UY is thwarting Balanko's attempts to control the position.
UY wants to pass to mount but Balanko is defending the position.
Balanko is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Balanko trying to control from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
UY tries to pass to full mount but Balanko defends it.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Balanko is not content to let UY control the position.
UY really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Balanko. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

UY drives through and clinches with Balanko against the cage.
UY tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Balanko avoids it.
Balanko tries for a takedown but UY manages to get underhooks.
UY is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Balanko is keeping busy.

UY's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
UY fails in his attempt to clinch.
A slapping leg kick lands for UY.
Balanko closes the distance and clinches up with UY, looking for a takedown. Balanko pushes UY against the cage but UY circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Valerii Balanko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Balanko is breathing heavily.
UY stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and UY wants it to stay on the feet.

UY feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Balanko will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
UY wants to control from the top but Balanko keeps moving.
UY slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Gabriel UY wasn't active enough on the ground.
UY tries for a takedown but Balanko circles away easily
and Balanko cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

UY instigates a clinch.
UY has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balanko tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Balanko wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Balanko jumps guard.
UY wants to control from the top but Balanko keeps moving.
UY sitting in guard here, content to control.

Balanko is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Balanko is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Balanko managing to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Balanko is trying to keep UY in close.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

UY takes the fight into the clinch.
UY digs a right hand into Balanko's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Balanko's gas tank.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Balanko prevents the takedown attempt.
Balanko drops to a knee looking for a takedown but UY gets the underhooks and prevents it.
UY tries to stall but Balanko uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel UY dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

UY fails with the takedown

so Balanko counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Balanko sitting in guard here, content to control.

Balanko decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on UY, up you get!
UY tries to clinch but Balanko is having none of it.
UY fails with the takedown
and Balanko counters with a leg kick.
Balanko pulls out of a head kick attempt.
UY needs to keep his hands up - Balanko had a free shot at his head there.

Balanko feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Balanko is pushing down on UY's leg trying to pass to half guard. UY is fighting to maintain full guard but Balanko has managed to sneak the leg through.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balanko slows the pace down in half guard.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - UY has eaten all the pies!
Balanko working over UY with some ground and pound. UY looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
UY is trying to maintain the position but Balanko is very close to passing his half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Balanko connects with a nice short shot to UY's temple.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Balanko here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
UY pushes Balanko off looking to stand but Balanko dives back in and keeps control.
UY tries to get to full guard but Balanko has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Balanko is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Balanko moves nicely into side control.
UY tries to buck Balanko off but Balanko is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balanko taking a breather here.
UY tries to get back to half guard but can't.
UY struggling a bit here.

Balanko tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Balanko controlling from side mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balanko moves into full mount!
Balanko punishing his opponent with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valerii Balanko dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Balanko tries for a takedown but UY circles away easily

and UY counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Balanko!
UY trying to control but Balanko is having none of it.

UY swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Balanko is now in UY's guard. A big mistake from UY there, giving up the dominant position!
Balanko controls from within his opponent's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Balanko gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Balanko feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Balanko's corner is telling him to maintain position.
UY wants to stand and escape but Balanko is having none of it.
UY manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Balanko manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
UY wants to get up but he can't break Balanko's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Balanko looking for a sweep. Not yet Balanko, not yet.
Balanko controlling UY's posture.

Balanko scrambles and gets back to his feet.

UY clinches up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Balanko's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

UY working for submissions but it's allowed Balanko to get to half guard.

Balanko escapes and gets back to his feet.
Balanko connects with a high kick.
UY shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Balanko counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps UY thinking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

UY shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than UY was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Balanko is looking to improve his position but UY isn't that keen on the idea.
UY tries to control but Balanko wriggling away.
Balanko is looking to get to half guard.
Valerii Balanko overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

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 Valerii Balanko.
I think Balanko 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:27
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:27
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Valerii Balanko!