PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Hellson Ballswick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akihito Tatsuhiko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Tatsuhiko's choice of entrance music: Save Yourself. Hellson Ballswick had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Ballswick
vs
Tatsuhiko

175 cm
27
166 lbs
12 - 15 - 0

188 cm
29
168 lbs
11 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 15 - 0, fighting out of London, Hellson Ballswick!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 13 - 0, fighting out of London, Akihito Tatsuhiko!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Sam Margolis and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tatsuhiko shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Ballswick eats them both and turns towards Tatsuhiko to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Tatsuhiko fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ballswick blocks a leg kick.

Ballswick throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Tatsuhiko tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Ballswick is in Tatsuhiko's guard.
Ballswick with a flurry of punches that miss.

Ballswick gets to his feet. Tatsuhiko looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Tatsuhiko misses with the combination.
Ballswick fails with the takedown.
Ballswick lands a lovely overhand right.

Tatsuhiko closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ballswick wants to control but Tatsuhiko is keeping busy.
Ballswick scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Tatsuhiko manages to mount him!
Tatsuhiko looking to finish Ballswick with some ground and pound. This is bad for Ballswick!
Ballswick has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Tatsuhiko is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Ballswick to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Ballswick shrugs it off.
Ballswick takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Ballswick working to try and regain half guard.

Tatsuhiko working for a submission but Ballswick is keeping him at bay.
Tatsuhiko wants to take his opponent's back but Ballswick doesn't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Tatsuhiko get's back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tatsuhiko closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ballswick is trying to control Tatsuhiko's posture but Tatsuhiko avoids it.
Ballswick is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Tatsuhiko asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Ballswick is looking for a sweep.

Tatsuhiko working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Tatsuhiko tries for a kimura but Ballswick is defending well.
Ballswick wants to control but Tatsuhiko postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tatsuhiko swings around for an armbar but Ballswick sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Tatsuhiko's guard.

Ballswick thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ballswick's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Ballswick pushes down on Tatsuhiko's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Ballswick is trying to control the action in half guard but Tatsuhiko is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Tatsuhiko trying to control but Ballswick postures up.

Ballswick is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Ballswick is working for a kimura but Tatsuhiko is defending it quite comfortably.
Tatsuhiko is looking for a sweep. Ballswick is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ballswick is working for a submission of some sort.
Tatsuhiko is pressing down on Ballswick's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Ballswick avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ballswick controls from within his opponent's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Tatsuhiko is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akihito Tatsuhiko dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ballswick darts in and clinches Tatsuhiko up against the cage.

Tatsuhiko gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Ballswick actively working from the bottom here.
Tatsuhiko thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ballswick's head.
Ballswick slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Tatsuhiko trying to control but Ballswick is working from the bottom.
Tatsuhiko looking to sit in guard and control but Ballswick gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Ballswick cracks Tatsuhiko with a solid left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ballswick wants to control from the top but Tatsuhiko keeps moving.
Tatsuhiko looking for a sweep. Not yet Tatsuhiko, not yet.

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

Ballswick closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Tatsuhiko quickly recovers to half guard.
Ballswick trying to control the action but Tatsuhiko is working from the bottom.

Tatsuhiko manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Ballswick shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Tatsuhiko as he jumps to the side.
Ballswick keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ballswick changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

Tatsuhiko shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Ballswick is trying to defend but Tatsuhiko finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ground and pound from Tatsuhiko.

Ballswick is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Tatsuhiko pulls his head out easily.
Tatsuhiko not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Tatsuhiko lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Tatsuhiko is looking for a kimura but Ballswick is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Tatsuhiko to get the leverage.
Tatsuhiko is breathing heavily.

Ballswick is defending against the submission attempts here by Tatsuhiko.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ballswick looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Tatsuhiko missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Tatsuhiko is working for a kimura but Ballswick is defending it quite comfortably.
Ballswick moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Tatsuhiko postures up.

Ballswick pushes Tatsuhiko off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Ballswick shoots in but no luck this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Ballswick misses.

Tatsuhiko throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Ballswick was covering up waiting for the punch and Tatsuhiko finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Ballswick has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Tatsuhiko 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 Ballswick.

Tatsuhiko wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Ballswick, who protects the arm well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ballswick wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Akihito Tatsuhiko will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Ballswick moves out of range of the body kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Tatsuhiko wants to stall.

Tatsuhiko manages to break the clinch.
No joy there for Ballswick, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ballswick looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Tatsuhiko is fending him off so far but Ballswick persists. Nope, Tatsuhiko circles away and we're back to standing.
Ballswick throws a series of punches but Tatsuhiko moves out of range.
Ballswick checks a leg kick nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tatsuhiko throws a series of punches but Ballswick avoids them all with ease.

Tatsuhiko throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Ballswick was covering up waiting for the punch and Tatsuhiko finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Ballswick working for a triangle but Tatsuhiko defends it easily.
Tatsuhiko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ballswick is keeping the position for now.

Ballswick has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Tatsuhiko off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Ballswick looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ballswick fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tatsuhiko manages to avoid it.
Ballswick throws out a loose jab but Tatsuhiko uses good head movement to avoid it.

Tatsuhiko forces Ballswick back against the cage and clinches.
Ballswick wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hellson Ballswick. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tatsuhiko stops a takedown attempt from Ballswick.
Tatsuhiko is pressed up against the cage. Ballswick has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Tatsuhiko down to the mat. Tatsuhiko avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A left and a right from Tatsuhiko both land. Nice combination.
Ballswick fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Tatsuhiko is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tatsuhiko shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Ballswick throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Ballswick is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Ballswick keeping moving, preventing Tatsuhiko from controlling successfully.
Tatsuhiko is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Tatsuhiko got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ballswick has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Tatsuhiko has managed to get both his arms back between Ballswick's legs - danger averted.
Tatsuhiko tries to free his leg and advance position but Ballswick is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tatsuhiko stands and throws Ballswick's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Akihito Tatsuhiko has got the better of the ground game so far.

Tatsuhiko thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Tatsuhiko stands up and we're back to a striking position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tatsuhiko moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A combination from Tatsuhiko does no damage.
Tatsuhiko defending well as Ballswick loads up on a big left hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Akihito Tatsuhiko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Tatsuhiko has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 William Gold scores the fight for Akihito Tatsuhiko!
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight for Akihito Tatsuhiko!
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight for Akihito Tatsuhiko!

Akihito Tatsuhiko wins by unanimous decision!