PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jason Balls (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Valera Miheev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jason Balls has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Balls
vs
Miheev

197 cm
22
210 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

178 cm
20
200 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jason Balls!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Valera Miheev!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balls tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Miheev looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Balls drives through with a takedown into Miheev's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Balls will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Balls throwing strikes from guard but Miheev blocks nicely.
Balls wants to stand but Miheev has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Balls working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Balls tries to stand but Miheev is controlling from the bottom.

Miheev is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balls is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Balls is in close to Miheev's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Miheev avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Balls wants to control from the top but Miheev keeps moving.

Miheev is working an open guard so Balls takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Balls is looking to clinch.

Balls scores with a takedown into Miheev's guard.
Balls has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Miheev is proving hard to escape from.
Balls throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Balls tries to stand but Miheev is controlling from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balls trying to control the position from guard on top but Miheev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Balls decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Miheev, up you get!
Miheev takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

Balls manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Miheev on his heels. He'll look to pass Miheev's guard now, I'm sure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balls working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Balls tries to stand but Miheev is controlling from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Miheev keeping moving, preventing Balls from controlling successfully.
Miheev wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Balls knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Miheev on the ground.

Miheev 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.

Jason Balls dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Balls moves into the clinch successfully.
Balls lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Miheev letting Balls take a breather here.
Balls prevents a takedown attempt there.
Miheev is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Balls breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balls lands with a kick to the temple. Miheev shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Balls looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Miheev is refusing to be controlled, as Balls sits in half guard.
Balls is thwarting Miheev's attempts to control the position.
Miheev blocking the ground and pound attempt from Balls.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balls is nestled in close to Miheev, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Balls lands strikes from half guard.
Balls wants to stand but Miheev has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Miheev has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Balls is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Miheev looking for submissions off his back.
Balls trying to mount his opponent but Miheev defends it.
Balls wants to stand but his hand is trapped. Miheev uses the opportunity to regain full guard.

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.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Miheev is on top in guard.
Miheev won't allow Balls to get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Balls looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Miheev puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jason Balls dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Balls feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Balls postures up in Miheev's guard and throws a big left but Miheev blocks it.
Balls wants to control from the top but Miheev keeps moving.
Balls postures up in Miheev's guard and throws a big left but Miheev blocks it.
Balls wants to stand but Miheev has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Balls got a little sloppy there for a moment and Miheev has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Balls has managed to get both his arms back between Miheev's legs - danger averted.
Miheev pulls Balls in to control the position.
Miheev trying to keep a closed guard but Balls is proving a slippery customer.
Balls is looking to stand up but Miheev won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Miheev looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Balls lands a leg kick that knocks Miheev off balance momentarily.

Balls bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Jason Balls overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balls wants to stand but Miheev has him controlled and pulls him back into his guard.
Miheev is controlling Balls's posture.
Balls trying to control but Miheev is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Miheev pushes a forearm under Balls's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Balls is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:53 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Valera Miheev!