PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bartolomeo Fatyga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Christopher Marc Balisi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fatyga comes into the arena with Metalica-Enter Sandman blaring out of the sound system. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Fatyga
vs
Marc Balisi

170 cm
18
133 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bartolomeo Fatyga!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Christopher Marc Balisi!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Cecil Peabody and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balisi shoots and misses
enabling Fatyga to counter with a crisp jab.
Balisi is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Balisi gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Fatyga counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Balisi gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Fatyga counters with a straight right hand.
Bartolomeo Fatyga has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Christopher Marc Balisi.
Fatyga scores with a leg kick.
Balisi tries for a takedown but Fatyga circles away easily
and Fatyga counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Balisi is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Balisi has his takedown stuffed
enabling Fatyga to counter with a crisp jab.
Balisi takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Fatyga tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Balisi gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Fatyga holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Balisi has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Fatyga avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Balisi looks gassed!

Balisi has clasped his hands together around Fatyga's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Fatyga can't do much from the bottom here.
Fatyga is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Balisi has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balisi misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Balisi working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Balisi throws a strike aimed at the side of Fatyga's head but Fatyga avoids it well.
Balisi tries to score with some ground and pound. Fatyga controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Balisi looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Fatyga is avoiding damage well.
Fatyga prevents Balisi from moving into mount.
The ground and pound from Balisi seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Balisi misses with the ground and pound.
Balisi working away.
Balisi lands a decent elbow from side control.

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.
Balisi misses with the ground and pound.
Fatyga tries to bench press Balisi off him but Balisi keeps the position.
Balisi working the head with strikes.
Fatyga taking punishment in the form of punches.
Balisi scoring with punches and elbows.
Balisi lands a decent elbow from side control.
Balisi is working Fatyga over with some ground and pound from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Balisi in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Balisi working the head with strikes.
Balisi working the ground and pound from side control.
Balisi controlling from side mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balisi connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Fatyga some visible discomfort.
Balisi creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Balisi lands a decent elbow from side control.
Balisi working the ground and pound from side control.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Balisi working the body and head with strikes.
Fatyga knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Balisi on the ground.
Balisi landing a few strikes.
Fatyga is not content to let Balisi control the position.
Fatyga tries to improve position but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balisi scoring with punches and elbows.
Balisi works to advance to full mount. Fatyga defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Balisi working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Balisi unloading with bombs!
Balisi lands a big elbow.
Balisi pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Balisi cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Fatyga might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Balisi raining down shots from the mount!
Balisi lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Fatyga hang on?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Christopher Marc Balisi dominated that round.
That's time! Fatyga's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Balisi looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Fatyga wants to stand up but Balisi is controlling him.
Balisi lands a couple of digs.
Christopher Marc Balisi has got the better of the ground game so far.
Balisi pushing down on Fatyga's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Balisi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Fatyga defending well though.
Balisi not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Balisi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Fatyga has hold of Balisi's hands but Balisi slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Balisi lands a nice short elbow.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fatyga avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Balisi.
Balisi throwing shots but Fatyga is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balisi working over Fatyga with some ground and pound. Fatyga looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Balisi lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Balisi scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Nice strikes from Balisi there.
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. Balisi connects with a nice short shot to Fatyga's temple.
Fatyga taking some punishment here, with Balisi in his half guard.
Balisi is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Balisi working over Fatyga with some ground and pound. Fatyga looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Balisi lands with a punch from half guard.
Fatyga avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Balisi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Balisi lands a nice short elbow.
Balisi looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Balisi is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Fatyga doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Balisi.
Balisi lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Balisi looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balisi lands with a punch from half guard.
Balisi is trying to control the action in half guard but Fatyga is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Balisi not landing any meaningful shots this time.
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. Balisi connects with a nice short shot to Fatyga's temple.
Balisi lands strikes from half guard.
Balisi working Fatyga over with strikes.
Balisi lands strikes from half guard.
Balisi is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Fatyga is trying to stand up here but Balisi is controlling him well.
Balisi not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Balisi is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Balisi is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Balisi working over Fatyga with some ground and pound. Fatyga looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Balisi thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Balisi is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Balisi looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Balisi wants to control but Fatyga is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Christopher Marc Balisi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Fatyga moves in looking to clinch but Balisi pushes him off.
Balisi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Balisi with a lazy takedown attempt
and Fatyga counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Balisi is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Balisi fails with the takedown
and Fatyga counters with a straight right hand.
Balisi misses with a takedown
and Fatyga counters with a straight right hand.
Bartolomeo Fatyga has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Christopher Marc Balisi.
Balisi blocks a head kick by Fatyga.
Fatyga lands a high kick!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balisi with a lazy takedown attempt
and Balisi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Balisi avoids the head kick by Fatyga.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fatyga pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Balisi gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Fatyga counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balisi on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Fatyga tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Bartolomeo Fatyga is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Balisi misses with a takedown attempt
and Fatyga counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Fatyga pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Fatyga misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Balisi misses with a takedown attempt
and Fatyga counters with a slapping leg kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Fatyga.
A head kick misses from Fatyga.
Balisi shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Fatyga counters with a head kick.
Fatyga throws a head kick that misses.
Balisi shoots for a takedown but Fatyga saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

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.
Fatyga scores with a head kick. Balisi tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Balisi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Christopher Marc Balisi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fatyga punishes Balisi's body with a nice straight punch.
Balisi has his takedown stuffed
and Fatyga counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Balisi takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Balisi misses with a takedown attempt
and Fatyga counters with a head kick. That will keep Balisi thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Balisi doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Fatyga counters with a nice low kick that buckles Balisi's knee momentarily.
Fatyga pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Balisi is defended easily by Fatyga.
Balisi misses with a takedown
and Balisi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balisi fails with the takedown

and Fatyga counters by moving into the clinch.
Balisi changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Fatyga fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Balisi lands with a kick to the temple. Fatyga shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Bartolomeo Fatyga has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bartolomeo Fatyga is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fatyga lands a high kick!
Nice sprawl there from Fatyga as Balisi shoots in.
Balisi with a lazy takedown attempt
and Fatyga counters with an inside leg kick.
Balisi shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Fatyga counters with a right hand to the body.
Fatyga throws a head kick but Balisi moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Balisi has a takedown stuffed.
Balisi with a poor takedown
and Fatyga counters with a stiff right hand.
Balisi misses with a takedown attempt
letting Fatyga counter with a right hand.
Balisi tries for a takedown but Fatyga circles away easily
and Fatyga counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Balisi tries for a takedown but Fatyga circles away easily
and Fatyga counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Balisi has his takedown stuffed
and Fatyga counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Balisi with a lazy takedown attempt
and Fatyga counters with a stiff right hand.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Balisi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Balisi misses with a takedown attempt
and Fatyga counters with a big head kick but Balisi shrugs it off.
Christopher Marc Balisi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Balisi throws a sloppy head kick and Fatyga moves out of range easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bartolomeo Fatyga showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Balisi 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Christopher Marc Balisi!