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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dave Collins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Elijah Ballard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Collins comes into the arena with Beginning of the End blaring out of the sound system. Ballard has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!
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| 178 cm
26
175 lbs
10 - 8 - 0 |
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174 cm
20
158 lbs
6 - 4 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin |
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Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dave Collins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Elijah Ballard!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Roosa Järviläinen and Matti Vanhoillinen.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Collins tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ballard swivels and escapes.
Ballard throws a big shot that misses.
Collins tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ballard sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Collins somewhat.
Ballard swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Collins shoots in but Ballard avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dave Collins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ballard misses the shot to the body.
Collins scores with a hook.
Nice straight punches there by Collins. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Collins.
Ballard misses with a head kick.
Ballard throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ballard buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Ballard connects with a leg kick. Collins looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Collins shoots in and bounces Ballard off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Collins scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Collins accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Collins is looking to work some ground and pound but Ballard has wrist control.
Ballard manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Collins manages to get himself to full guard.
Ballard preventing the sweep.
Ballard looking to pass the guard.
Ballard must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Collins managing to control the position.
Collins looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ballard is one step ahead there.
That's two 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.
Collins wants to stand and escape but Ballard is having none of it.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Collins wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Ballard is now in half guard.
Collins 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.
Collins is trying to get back to full guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Collins is holding on to half guard well.
Collins is trying to control but can't.
Collins controlling the position for now.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Dave Collins.
Horrible takedown by Collins or perhaps it was just good defense by Ballard which made him look bad.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Ballard.
Collins fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ballard avoids it really well and circles away.
Elijah Ballard is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Ballard moves out of range as Collins strikes.
Ballard lands a body shot.
Collins misses with a left hand
and Ballard makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Collins really felt that one!
Collins on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Ballard. Ballard obviously looking to wear him down.
Ballard lands a nice leg kick that just misses Collins's sensitive parts.
Ballard misses with a body shot.
Ballard cracks the inside of Collins's front leg.
Ballard throws a leg kick but Collins sees it coming and moves out of range.
The fighters circle momentarily. Ballard darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Ballard, right into the meat.
Ballard misses with a straight left.
Collins misses with a wild body shot.
Ballard keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Collins.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Elijah Ballard dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!
Ballard thuds his shin into the meat of Collins's side.
Ballard throws a lazy uppercut
and Collins counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Collins throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Collins is looking to take a break and control but Ballard is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Collins looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Collins stalling.
Ballard trying to hold on to Collins's head to control him but Collins postures up.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Ballard. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Collins is keen to just control but Ballard is a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Collins not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Ballard taking some punishment here, with Collins in his half guard.
Ballard has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Collins is working away from the top position though.
Collins looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Ballard with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Ballard moves into full guard.
Ballard manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Collins manages to get himself to full guard.
Ballard wants to control from the top but Collins keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ballard is fighting to break Collins's control of his arms but Collins is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Collins looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ballard is one step ahead there.
Collins keeping full guard, as Ballard tries to pass.
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.
Collins is looking to stand up but Ballard isn't so interested in that idea.
Ballard wants to control from the top but Collins keeps moving.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
OK we're going to have a standup here. Elijah Ballard hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Collins thows a left - swing and a miss!
Collins shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Collins closes the distance and clinches up with Ballard, looking for a takedown. Collins pushes Ballard against the cage but Ballard circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ballard cracks the inside of Collins's front leg.
Collins shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ballard defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dave Collins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Collins avoids the head kick by Ballard.
Ballard slips a straight right by Collins.
Ballard comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Ballard misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Collins.
Collins throws a body punch but Ballard moves out of range.
Ballard throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Collins tries for a takedown but Ballard sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Ballard stuns Collins with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Collins swings away with a body shot that misses
and Ballard counters with an inside leg kick.
Ballard cracks Collins with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Collins shoots and misses
and Ballard finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ballard defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Collins.
Ballard connects with a crisp jab.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ballard connects with a leg kick. Collins looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Ballard slaps away a takedown attempt from Collins, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Ballard turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Ballard scores with a decent looking hook.
Ballard tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Elijah Ballard seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ballard uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Collins.
Collins gets cracked there but stands up to it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ballard swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Collins.
Collins fails with a takedown attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ballard connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Ballard lands with a kick to the ribs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Elijah Ballard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!
Ballard throws a nice outside leg kick.
Collins gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Ballard.
Ballard turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Ballard throws a head kick that misses.
Ballard connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Collins rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Ballard counters with a slapping leg kick.
Ballard misses with a body shot
and Collins counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Collins preventing the sweep.
Ballard avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Collins trying to control the position from guard on top but Ballard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Collins missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ballard is trying to control the position but Collins postures up.
Ballard takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref stands the fighters back up. Elijah Ballard was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Ballard misses with a body kick.
Nice sprawl there from Ballard as Collins shoots in.
Collins is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Collins looks to land a left hand but Ballard moved out of range nicely.
Ballard slips a jab from Collins.
Ballard throws a nice outside leg kick.
Collins connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Collins defending well as Ballard loads up on a big left hand.
Collins misses with a straight left.
Ballard looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Nice cross by Collins.
Collins stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Ballard.
Ballard throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Collins.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ballard lands a jab to the nose.
Ballard uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Collins.
Collins closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Collins lands in his opponent's guard.
Collins stopping the sweep attempt from Ballard.
Collins working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Collins trying to control the position from guard on top but Ballard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Collins is really struggling to control Ballard but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Collins scoring with some ground and pound.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Collins is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Dave Collins overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ballard preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Collins postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Collins slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Collins with a flurry of punches that miss.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Ballard can do anything to dispel that myth.
Collins trying to control but Ballard is working from the bottom.
We're going to have a standup here because Dave Collins wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Collins looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Collins is keen to just control but Ballard is a slippery customer.
Ballard is positioning himself well to prevent Collins advancing to mount.
Collins missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Collins is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Collins is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Dave Collins has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Collins sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Ballard wants to get back to full guard.
Ballard is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Collins scores with a couple of nice shots.
Ballard trying to hold on to Collins's head to control him but Collins postures up.
Ballard is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Collins wants to control but Ballard is keeping him busy.
Ballard is trying to control but can't.
Collins missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
And that's the end of the fight!
Dave Collins showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ballard 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Elijah Ballard!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
69% |
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