PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Thesis Dewit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Muhammad Balboa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Dewit
vs
Balboa

194 cm
19
194 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

183 cm
20
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Thesis Dewit!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Muhammad Balboa!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, John Mangel and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dewit tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Balboa was well out of range. Poor timing from Dewit.
Dewit misses with a body punch
and Balboa counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Balboa tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Dewit manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nice sprawl there from Balboa as Dewit shoots in.
Balboa rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Dewit moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Thesis Dewit seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dewit misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Balboa decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Dewit's guard.

Dewit is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Dewit has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Balboa can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Dewit looking to hit a scissor sweep but Balboa is one step ahead there.

Balboa drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Dewit manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Balboa has Dewit in his guard.
Dewit trying to control the position from guard on top but Balboa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dewit throws a big right hand that misses.
Balboa will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Balboa looking for a sweep. Not yet Balboa, not yet.
Balboa wants to stand but Dewit is controlling the position.

Balboa is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Dewit is pushing down on Balboa's leg trying to pass to half guard. Balboa is fighting to maintain full guard but Dewit has managed to sneak the leg through.

Dewit is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Dewit seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Balboa does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Dewit tries to pass the half guard into mount. Balboa knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Balboa wants to get back to full guard.

Dewit is working for a kimura but Balboa is defending it quite comfortably.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Dewit is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Balboa defends it well.
Dewit throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Dewit is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Balboa has managed to free his arm - good work.

Dewit is trying to work for a kimura but Balboa is defending well.
Balboa misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dewit tries to pass to full mount but Balboa defends it.
Balboa missing with punches from the bottom.
Dewit uses his free foot to push down on Balboa's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Balboa.
Dewit prevents Balboa from getting the reversal.
Balboa is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Dewit is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Balboa is surviving well by controlling Dewit's body position as best he can.
Balboa really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Balboa looks gassed!

Dewit with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dewit jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Balboa manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Dewit is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Balboa knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Dewit is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Balboa is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Dewit tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Dewit is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Balboa knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thesis Dewit dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Dewit throws a poor cross that misses
and Balboa counters with a one-two to the body.
Dewit throws a sloppy body shot
and Balboa counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Dewit misses with a lunging right hand

and Balboa moves into the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Balboa manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Balboa uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Balboa misses with a double jab.
Dewit looks for a takedown but Balboa sprawls well.
Balboa takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Dewit misses with a hook. Balboa ducked under it nicely.
Dewit misses with a left hand
and Balboa counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Dewit misses with a body punch
and Balboa counters with a three punch combo that has Dewit backing up. Dewit nods at Balboa to acknowledge the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dewit throws a sloppy body shot
and Balboa counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Balboa misses with a takedown attempt

and Dewit counters with a takedown into side control.
Balboa is breathing heavily.

Dewit is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Balboa is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Dewit knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Balboa on the ground.

Dewit tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Dewit tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Dewit has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Dewit tries for a kimura but Balboa is defending well.
Balboa is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Dewit are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Balboa sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Balboa looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Dewit is working for a kimura but Balboa is defending it quite comfortably.
Dewit is pressing down on Balboa's thigh, looking to free his foot. Balboa is holding on for now.
Dewit lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Dewit blocks the strikes from Balboa.
Dewit is trying to control the action in half guard but Balboa is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Dewit in particular looking to stall.

Balboa is defending against the submission attempts here by Dewit.
Dewit prevents Balboa from improving his position.

Dewit is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Balboa sees it coming and defends easily.
Balboa is looking to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Dewit is looking for a kimura here.
Dewit trying to control from half guard but Balboa is working away.

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.

Dewit is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Dewit looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Dewit prevents Balboa from improving his position.

Dewit is trying to work for a kimura but Balboa is defending well.
Dewit stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thesis Dewit dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Dewit scores with a takedown into Balboa's guard.
Dewit preventing the sweep.
Balboa doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Dewit drops back looking for a leg! Balboa is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Balboa manages to kick Dewit off! Dewit jumps back into Balboa's guard.

Balboa has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Dewit is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Balboa.
Balboa wants to get back to his feet but Dewit drags him back down.
Balboa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Dewit wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Balboa, who protects the arm well.

Dewit tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Dewit has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa trying to remain calm as Dewit controls from the top position.
Balboa is trying to improve his position.

Dewit tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Dewit has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Dewit is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Balboa is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Dewit in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

That's two 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.

Dewit tries for a kimura but Balboa is defending well.
Balboa tries to bench press Dewit off him but Dewit keeps the position.

Dewit is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Balboa is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Dewit content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

Dewit is trying to get an arm triangle but Balboa is defending well.
Dewit will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Balboa looks to move to half guard but instead Dewit has passed into mount! Damn!
Dewit throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dewit wants to finish this one by submission but Balboa is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Dewit.

Dewit is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Balboa has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Balboa tries to reverse the position but Dewit maintains control.
Thesis Dewit overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Dewit putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

Dewit looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Dewit moves to take his opponent's back.
Balboa is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Muhammad Balboa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dewit tries to keep control of the position but Balboa is staying busy.

Dewit working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Dewit is hanging on to Balboa's back as he tries to escape.

Dewit sinks in the hooks and is looking for the choke. He's got it! Balboa taps out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:43 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Thesis Dewit!