PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Said Magizov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mariusz Balon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Balon has chosen Dawaj na ring as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Magizov
vs
Balon

187 cm
18
260 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

193 cm
18
260 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Experienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Said Magizov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mariusz Balon!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Sergei Dronov and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Magizov with a lazy takedown attempt

so Balon counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Magizov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Balon won't allow Magizov to sweep him here.
Balon is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Magizov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Magizov can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Balon controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Said Magizov wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Magizov closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Balon to the mat! Balon manages to get full guard.
Magizov wants to control from the top but Balon keeps moving.

Magizov is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Balon is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Balon has escaped and now he's on top!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Magizov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balon controls from within his opponent's guard.
Balon stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Magizov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Magizov controls Balon momentarily but Balon frees himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Balon is stalling in the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Said Magizov wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Magizov gets caught napping as Balon dives in and scores a takedown. Magizov manages to retain guard.
Balon postures up.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Balon's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Magizov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Magizov lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Balon!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Magizov trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Magizov unloads with some shots from mount but Balon bucks and avoids them well.
Magizov with good strikes from the mount here!
Magizov wants to control the pace but Balon is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mariusz Balon 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.

Balon throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Magizov 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.
Magizov wants to stand and escape but instead Balon has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Balon trying to control the position from guard on top but Magizov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Balon preventing the sweep.
Magizov is trying to keep Balon in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balon tries to free his leg and advance position but Magizov is retaining full guard.
Balon slips nicely into half guard.
Balon really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Magizov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Magizov tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Balon is controlling the pace.

That's two 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.
Magizov could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Balon is trying to control. Magizov wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Balon is breathing heavily.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Mariusz Balon hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Magizov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Balon manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A looping hook to the body misses from Balon. Magizov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Balon uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Magizov.
Magizov tries to clinch there but Balon circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magizov doesn't succeed with the takedown

so Balon counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Balon's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Balon prevents Magizov from getting back to his feet.
Balon trying to control but Magizov is working from the bottom.
Magizov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Magizov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Balon manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balon is looking to stand up but Magizov isn't so interested in that idea.

Mariusz Balon has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Magizov doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Balon counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Magizov manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Balon is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mariusz Balon showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Magizov tries for a takedown but Balon circles away easily

and Balon counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Magizov is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Balon is controlling him.
Balon controlling from the top position.
Magizov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Balon manages to get himself to full guard.
Magizov advances to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magizov trying to control from half guard but Balon is working away.
Mariusz Balon has got the better of the ground game so far.
Magizov stalling away here and it's allowed Balon to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Magizov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mariusz Balon is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.
Magizov trying to control but Balon is working from the bottom.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Balon can do anything to dispel that myth.
Balon wants to get back to his feet but Magizov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Balon keeping moving, preventing Magizov from controlling successfully.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Said Magizov wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Magizov shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Balon is trying to defend but Magizov finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Magizov seems to be looking for submissions.
Magizov seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

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.
Magizov thows a huge punch but Balon dodges it nicely.
Magizov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Balon defending well though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Balon is trying to escape back to his feet but Magizov uses the scramble to pass into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Said Magizov.
Well Balon 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mariusz Balon!