PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Slow Motion (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sergey Balandin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Motion is coming into this fight with a significant injury, which will no doubt have an effect on his cardio. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Motion
vs
Balandin

185 cm
19
200 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

180 cm
19
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 Rio de Janeiro, Slow Motion!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sergey Balandin!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Daniel Cesar and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balandin shoots in and drives through. Motion sprawls well.
Motion is breathing heavily.
Balandin shoots in for a takedown but Motion shows good takedown defense.
Sergey Balandin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Balandin throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Balandin changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Motion tries to avoid it but Balandin manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Motion to the ground. Motion escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Slow Motion has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sergey Balandin.
Motion blocks a leg kick.

Balandin gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Motion looking for a takedown.
Balandin has Motion pushed against the cage.
Balandin is trying to break the clinch but Motion is controlling him.
Balandin lands a shoulder strike.
Balandin is trying to push Motion away but Motion has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Balandin lands with a left to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balandin is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Motion is defending well.

Balandin pulls guard successfully.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Balandin is pulling down on Motion's head. It's preventing any offense from Motion, at least for the moment.
Balandin wants to sweep here but Motion controlling him for the moment.
Balandin controlling Motion's posture.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Sergey Balandin was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Balandin moves into range and clinches up with Motion.

Balandin has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Motion clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Motion trying to control but not successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Motion showing good submission defense here.
Balandin controlling well, preventing Motion from escaping the position.
Even with his hooks in, Balandin manages to miss with strikes from the back.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Balandin misses with punches from the back.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Balandin tries to keep control of the position but Motion is staying busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Motion looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Balandin struggling to land strikes to the head as Motion covers up.
Balandin avoiding Motion 's attempts to control his hands.
Balandin trying to control momentarily.
Motion avoids the strikes from Balandin.
Balandin not allowing Motion to control his hands.
Motion is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Motion trying to control the hands but Balandin breaks the grip.
Balandin is riding his opponent, not letting Motion buck him off.
Balandin is not going to allow Motion to sit and survive in this position.
Balandin controlling well, preventing Motion from escaping the position.
Motion trying to control the hands but Balandin breaks the grip.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Motion preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Balandin.
Balandin is not going to allow Motion to sit and survive in this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergey Balandin dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Balandin fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Motion is out of range.
Balandin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Balandin shoots in for a takedown but Motion shows good takedown defense.
Balandin shoots in for a takedown but Motion shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Balandin.
Balandin tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Balandin is looking to take a break and control but Motion is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Motion managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Balandin.
Balandin working away.
Motion prevents Balandin from improving position.
Sergey Balandin has got the better of the ground game so far.
Balandin controls the position from side control.
Balandin is looking to take a break and control but Motion is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Balandin is trying to move to mount but Motion reverses beautifully and ends up in Balandin's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Motion wants to control from the top but Balandin keeps moving.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Motion stuffs the takedown.
Slow Motion has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sergey Balandin.

Motion gets a double leg takedown into Balandin's guard.
Balandin keeping full guard, as Motion tries to pass.
Motion trying to control but Balandin is working from the bottom.
Balandin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Motion is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balandin controlling the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Sergey Balandin was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Balandin stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Balandin wants it to stay on the feet.
Balandin loads up on a big right hand but Motion slips the punch.
Balandin fails to land the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Motion checks a low kick from Balandin.
Motion is trying hard to land a takedown here. Balandin sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Balandin fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Motion avoids it really well and circles away.
Slow Motion is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Balandin wants to clinch up but Motion keeps it at a distance.
Balandin shoots in looking for a takedown. Motion tries to sprawl out of it but Balandin keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Motion manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergey Balandin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Motion avoids the head kick by Balandin.
Balandin throws a body punch but Motion moves out of range.

Balandin closes the distance and clinches.

Balandin lands a takedown into guard.
Balandin sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Balandin wanted to stand there but Motion had control of the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balandin advances position into side control!
Motion is trying to escape the position but Balandin is controlling the position.
You can see the frustration on Motion's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Balandin tries for a kimura but Motion is defending well.
Motion is trying to control Balandin's posture but Balandin avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Balandin wants to control but Motion is keeping him busy.
Balandin wants to stand but Motion has his arm trapped.
Motion manages to work his way to half guard, despite Balandin's best efforts.
Motion trying to hold on to Balandin's head to control him but Balandin postures up.
Motion is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balandin is looking to advance position but Motion won't allow it.
Well, if Balandin is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Motion keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Sergey Balandin.

Balandin gets a double leg takedown into Motion's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Motion has his hands on Balandin's head, controlling the position.
Balandin controlling from the top position.
Motion is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Motion trying to keep a closed guard but Balandin is proving a slippery customer.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Balandin tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Motion swivels and escapes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sergey Balandin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Balandin 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sergey Balandin!