PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between George Ballantine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stu Gotts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Gotts's choice of entrance music: Godfather Theme. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Ballantine
vs
Gotts

180 cm
25
147 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
19
160 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, George Ballantine!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Stu Gotts!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Steve Smith and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ballantine moves into the clinch.
Ballantine takes an elbow to the forehead.
Ballantine is trying to break the clinch but Gotts has him pressed against the cage.
Gotts throws a punch but it's blocked by Ballantine.
Ballantine keeps control of Gotts as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Ballantine decides to pull guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gotts wanted to stand there but Ballantine had control of the position.
Gotts trying to control but Ballantine is working from the bottom.
Ballantine has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Gotts has passed into side control.
Gotts working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Gotts advances to full mount.
Ballantine is looking to get to half guard.
Ballantine really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gotts tries to control but Ballantine wriggling away.
Ballantine tries to reverse the position but Gotts maintains control.
Ballantine is working hard here to advance position.
Gotts throwing strikes here but Ballantine is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Gotts wants to control the pace but Ballantine is squirming around nicely.
Ballantine is looking to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Ballantine is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Ballantine is working to get back to half guard.
Gotts misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Gotts can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ballantine is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ballantine working to try and regain half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Ballantine tries to hold on but Gotts postures up.
Ballantine is looking to improve his position but Gotts isn't that keen on the idea.
Ballantine tries to hold on but Gotts pushes him away.

That's four 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.
Ballantine tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ballantine is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Gotts trying to control but Ballantine is having none of it.
Ballantine's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ballantine wants to control but Gotts is having none of it.
Ballantine is wriggling around trying to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stu Gotts dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Gotts throws out a loose jab but Ballantine uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gotts wants to clinch

and Ballantine counters by clinching up.
Gotts wants to break the clinch but can't.
Ballantine tries to break free but Gotts pushes him back against the cage.
Gotts is looking to break free of the clinch but Ballantine has double underhooks.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ballantine.
Stalling in the clinch from Ballantine.
Ballantine tries to pull guard but Gotts won't allow it.
Gotts scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Gotts prevents a takedown attempt there.
Gotts misses with a punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ballantine has Gotts pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Gotts manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for George Ballantine. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ballantine tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A shot in the inside from Gotts.
Ballantine blocking some punches.
Gotts throws a punch but it's blocked by Ballantine.
Ballantine blocks an elbow strike from Gotts.

Ballantine has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Gotts is trying to keep an underhook but Ballantine manages to get the takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gotts manages to get to full guard.
Ballantine throws a strike but Gotts rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Gotts won't allow Ballantine to get back to his feet.
Ballantine not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

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.
Ballantine keeping moving, preventing Gotts from controlling successfully.

Ballantine has his feet on Gotts's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Stu Gotts seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gotts misses with a hook

and Ballantine holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Ballantine looking for a takedown.
Ballantine is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Gotts is trying to force a seperation but Ballantine has the dominant position.
Gotts misses with some punches.
Ballantine wants a takedown.

Ballantine jumps into guard, dragging Gotts to the mat.

Ballantine has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gotts can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Gotts would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ballantine working a defensive guard but Gotts passes into half guard.
Ballantine pushes Gotts off but Gotts dives into side control.
Ballantine can't do much from the bottom here.
Gotts wants to stand but Ballantine is controlling his arm.
Ballantine on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Ballantine tries to get out of the position.
Ballantine is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ballantine struggling a bit here.

That's four 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.
Gotts throws a strike aimed at the side of Ballantine's head but Ballantine avoids it well.
Gotts prevents Ballantine from escaping the position.
Gotts trying to control the position but Ballantine is working away.
Ballantine tries to bench press Gotts off him but Gotts keeps the position.
Ballantine gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that George Ballantine will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Ballantine gets a clinch.
Ballantine keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Gotts's efforts to push away.
Ballantine jumps guard but Gotts stands there with Ballantine around his waist. Ballantine gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Gotts keeps control of Ballantine as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Gotts misses with a hook from the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Gotts.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Gotts.
Ballantine is trying to break the clinch but Gotts is controlling him.
Gotts gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Ballantine.
Gotts swings away with an uppercut that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gotts gets underhooks to prevent Ballantine's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for George Ballantine. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gotts swings wildly with an uppercut but Ballantine uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gotts lands a right hand.
Gotts is pressed up against the cage. Ballantine has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Gotts down to the mat. Gotts avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Gotts lands a jab to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gotts takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Gotts wants to clinch
and Ballantine counters with a left and a right that stings Gotts.

Ballantine darts in and clinches Gotts up against the cage.
Gotts doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ballantine wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Gotts doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ballantine wants to get back to striking at distance but Gotts won't allow it.
Gotts doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Gotts taking a breather.
Ballantine tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Gotts avoids it.
Gotts misses with some punches.

Ballantine has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Gotts uses from the top position.
Gotts stands and throws Ballantine's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Gotts wants to control but Ballantine is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ballantine tries to bench press Gotts off him but Gotts keeps the position.
Gotts is looking to take a break and control but Ballantine is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ballantine tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Gotts missing with strikes from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ballantine wants to get back to his feet.
Ballantine is in bad spot here.
Gotts missing with punches from the back.
Ballantine trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Gotts tries to get the hooks in deep but Ballantine pushed the leg off.
Gotts throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Ballantine knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gotts on the ground.
Ballantine trying to control the position but Gotts manages to sink in the hooks.
Ballantine wants to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ballantine covering up well under a series of strikes from Gotts.
Ballantine has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Gotts.
Ballantine has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Gotts.
Ballantine looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Ballantine covering up well under a series of strikes from Gotts.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gotts is not going to allow Ballantine to sit and survive in this position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stu Gotts comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Gotts 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stu Gotts!