PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hiro Protagonist (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robbie Balboa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Balboa has chosen Burning Heart as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Protagonist
vs
Balboa

183 cm
27
195 lbs
12 - 3 - 1

186 cm
27
192 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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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 12 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hiro Protagonist!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Robbie Balboa!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A slow jab from Protagonist misses its intended target.
Protagonist dodges the punch combination from Balboa.
Balboa avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Balboa drops his hands momentarily and Protagonist takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Balboa throws a right and a left that both miss.
Balboa is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Protagonist throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Balboa checks the leg kick nicely there.
Protagonist throws a looping overhand right but Balboa ducks down to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Protagonist tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Balboa was well out of range. Poor timing from Protagonist.
Balboa thows a body shot but no joy.
Protagonist swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Balboa misses with a few strikes there.
Protagonist throws a left and a right that both miss
and Balboa counters with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa throws a body punch but Protagonist moves out of range.
Protagonist missing with a left hand there. Balboa was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Balboa is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Protagonist.

It looks like Robbie Balboa has been cut.
Balboa misses with an uppercut. Protagonist saw that one coming.
A swing and a miss from Balboa.
Balboa digs a good hook to Protagonist's body.
Balboa misses with the combination.
A low kick from Balboa misses
and Protagonist counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Protagonist throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Balboa sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Balboa misses with a wild combination.
Balboa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Protagonist was well out of range. Poor timing from Balboa.
Balboa takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Hiro Protagonist seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Balboa ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Protagonist lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Balboa missing with a left hand there. Protagonist was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Protagonist is looking to slow Balboa down with leg kicks.
Balboa on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Balboa misses with a straight left.
Protagonist throws a sloppy body shot
and Balboa counters with a nice uppercut.
Protagonist throws a chopping leg kick but Balboa manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Balboa just misses with a punch to the body.
Protagonist misses with a double jab
and Balboa makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Balboa clinches up against the cage.
Protagonist digs a right hand into Balboa's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Balboa's gas tank.
Balboa is trying to push Protagonist away but Protagonist has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Protagonist pushes Balboa back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Balboa is trying to push Protagonist away but Protagonist has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Protagonist lands a body shot.
Balboa looks gassed!
Still in the clinch, Protagonist scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Protagonist softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Protagonist breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Balboa does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Balboa misses with a hook to the body

and Protagonist counters with a head kick that drops Balboa to the mat! Balboa scrambles across the canvas and gets back to his feet, still wobbly!

Protagonist lands a big uppercut and Balboa crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Balboa looks OK. Protagonist waves Balboa back to his feet!

Balboa is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Protagonist pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A jab from Balboa misses.

Protagonist lands a big right hand that sends Balboa crashing to the mat! Protagonist stays standing though and waves Balboa back to his feet!
Balboa is still on wobbly legs! Can Protagonist finish him?
Protagonist avoids a punch combination nicely.
Balboa seems to have recovered his senses.
Balboa tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Protagonist misses with a looping left.
Protagonist misses with a straight right.
Balboa takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balboa tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Protagonist paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Protagonist tests Balboa's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A slow jab from Protagonist misses its intended target.
Protagonist dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Balboa. That did some damage!
Protagonist turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Protagonist works the jab nicely.
Protagonist lands with an uppercut that bounces Balboa off the cage and back into rage.
Protagonist with a body punch. A glancing blow.
A nice leg kick lands there from Protagonist.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Protagonist throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Balboa stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Protagonist misses with a body punch
and Balboa counters with a straight right hand.
Protagonist throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Balboa.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hiro Protagonist dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Robbie Balboa's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Protagonist's jab looks to have found its range, popping Balboa under the eye.
Balboa uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Protagonist.
Protagonist pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Protagonist lands with a shot to the body.
Protagonist throws a chopping leg kick but Balboa manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Hiro Protagonist is winning the standup battle so far.
Protagonist looks to score with a jab to the body but Balboa is just out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Protagonist misses the target.
Protagonist throws a leg kick but Balboa checks it.
Balboa throws a jab when Protagonist was well out of range.
Protagonist tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Balboa was well out of range. Poor timing from Protagonist.
Protagonist swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nice body punch from Protagonist.
Balboa is breathing heavily.
Protagonist scores with a punch to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Protagonist tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Balboa was well out of range. Poor timing from Protagonist.
Protagonist throws a nice inside leg kick.
Sloppy strikes from Protagonist. Those never looked like landing.
Protagonist is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Balboa.
Balboa avoids a kick to the body.
Balboa throws a combination that misses
and Protagonist counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Protagonist jabs Balboa to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Protagonist throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Balboa sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Protagonist looks to score with a jab to the body but Balboa is just out of range.
Protagonist lands a nice looking body shot.
Balboa on the wrong end of a nice jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Protagonist with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Protagonist.
A nice leg kick lands there from Protagonist.
Protagonist throws a hook to the side of Balboa's head but Balboa sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Balboa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Protagonist throws a leg kick which misses Balboa's front leg but catches the back leg as Balboa tries to avoid it.
Protagonist is looking to slow Balboa down with leg kicks.
Protagonist looks to score with a jab to the body but Balboa is just out of range.
Protagonist misses with an uppercut. Balboa saw that one coming.
Protagonist looks to score with a jab to the body but Balboa is just out of range.
Balboa avoids the head kick by Protagonist.
Protagonist feints and then cracks Balboa's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Balboa down.
Balboa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Protagonist fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Balboa has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Protagonist throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A good leg kick by Protagonist.
Balboa throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Protagonist on the side of the head.
A big right from Protagonist misses.
Balboa throws a predictable looking body shot
enabling Protagonist to counter with a crisp jab.
Protagonist lands the left hand.
Protagonist keeps the fight on the outside.
Protagonist misses with a hook.
Sloppy strikes from Balboa. Those never looked like landing.
Protagonist fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Balboa has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Protagonist throws out a leg kick but Balboa moves out of range and Protagonist only half commits.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Protagonist misses with a double jab
and Balboa counters with a stiff right hand.
Balboa showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Protagonist.
Balboa on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Protagonist scores with a nice right hand.
Balboa scores with a body shot.
Protagonist throws a series of punches but Balboa avoids them all with ease.
Balboa throws a leg kick
and Protagonist counters with a leg kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Protagonist takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Balboa scores with a body shot.
Protagonist pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hiro Protagonist dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Robbie Balboa's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Protagonist takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Robbie Balboa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Protagonist throws a leg kick
and Protagonist takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Balboa misses with a jab, cross combination.
Balboa is looking to clinch.
Protagonist misses with a double jab
and Balboa counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Balboa dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Balboa scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Protagonist misses the shot to the body.
Protagonist lands a body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Protagonist throws a leg kick which misses Balboa's front leg but catches the back leg as Balboa tries to avoid it.
Protagonist looks to land a right hand but Balboa moved out of range.
Balboa avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Protagonist misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Balboa counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Protagonist slips under a jab.
Balboa tries to bum rush Protagonist with a series of wild strikes but Protagonist uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Balboa defending well as Protagonist loads up on a big left hand.
Protagonist looks to land a right hand but Balboa moved out of range.
Balboa moves out of range as Protagonist strikes.
A bone on bone clash there as Balboa blocks the leg kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Protagonist misses the target.
Protagonist keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Balboa misses with a few strikes there.
Balboa scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
A big left from Protagonist misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Nice body kick there by Balboa.
Protagonist misses with a jab to the body
and Balboa counters with a thumping low kick.
Balboa throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Balboa throws a left and a right that both miss
and Protagonist cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Donk. Balboa catches Protagonist right on the button with a cross.
Protagonist takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Balboa misses with a looping right.
Balboa scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Protagonist fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Balboa.
Balboa misses with a hook.
Balboa misses with a low kick.
Balboa tries to bum rush Protagonist with a series of wild strikes but Protagonist uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Protagonist misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Balboa.
Balboa swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Protagonist counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Decent striking displayed by Balboa there.
Protagonist thows a left - swing and a miss!
Protagonist scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Robbie Balboa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Balboa slips a straight right by Protagonist.
Protagonist cracks Balboa with an open hand slap.
Protagonist is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Balboa.
Protagonist misses the shot to the body.
Protagonist misses with the combination.
Balboa connects with a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balboa feints and then cracks Protagonist's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Protagonist down.
The fighters circling - Protagonist throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Balboa moves out of range as Protagonist strikes.
Balboa throws a low kick but it's checked well by Protagonist.
Protagonist slips a jab and a cross from Balboa.
Balboa has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Balboa misses with the combination.
A chopping leg kick lands by Protagonist.
Balboa scores with a hook.
Protagonist moves out of range of the leg kick from Balboa.
Hiro Protagonist is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Protagonist misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Balboa counters with a lovely shot to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Robbie Balboa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Protagonist has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hiro Protagonist!