PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rylan Hunter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kasey Ballard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ballard has chosen Eye of the Tiger as his entrance music. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Hunter
vs
Ballard

195 cm
18
220 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

193 cm
19
215 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Powerful

Nature's Edge Nutrition

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 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rylan Hunter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kasey Ballard!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Hugh Johnson and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ballard throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Hunter was covering up waiting for the punch and Ballard finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Hunter looking for a guillotine here but Ballard defends easily.
Hunter looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ballard is one step ahead there.
Ballard stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hunter swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hunter keeping moving, preventing Ballard from controlling successfully.
Hunter seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hunter is looking for a triangle but Ballard pushes his legs off easily.
Ballard is looking to stand up but Hunter won't let him.
Ballard postures up.

Hunter working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Ballard has passed into half guard!
Ballard tries to pass to full mount but Hunter defends it.
Hunter wants to sweep but Ballard has passed to side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hunter is pushing Ballard's head away, looking to escape. Ballard manages to hold on to the position though.
Ballard is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Hunter will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

Ballard stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Hunter bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Ballard is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Ballard is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Hunter has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ballard struggling a bit here.
Ballard tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hunter wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The referee asks Hunter politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Hunter prefers to stall for the moment though.

Hunter looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Ballard is looking for a sweep.
Hunter controlling from side mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ballard gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Ballard pushes Hunter off but Hunter dives into side control.
Hunter looking to control but instead Ballard has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Hunter prevents Ballard from improving his position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hunter working over Ballard with some ground and pound. Ballard looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kasey Ballard will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ballard shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Ballard showed some decent athleticism there.
Hunter is controlling Ballard's trapped leg to prevent Ballard from advancing to side control.
Hunter works his way to full guard. Good work.
Ballard postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ballard working some strikes from top position.

Hunter is working an open guard so Ballard takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Ballard shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hunter sprawls well. Hunter wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ballard gets slowly back to his feet.
Ballard will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunter is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ballard tries to score with a low kick but Hunter moves his leg out of the way.
Rylan Hunter is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ballard moves in looking to clinch but Hunter pushes him off.
Hunter has a takedown stuffed.
Ballard shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hunter defends it nicely.
Hunter shoots in for a takedown but Ballard shows good takedown defense.
Ballard takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ballard looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hunter is fending him off so far but Ballard persists. Nope, Hunter circles away and we're back to standing.
Rylan Hunter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kasey Ballard.

Hunter drives through with a takedown into Ballard's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Ballard not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hunter wants to get up but he can't break Ballard's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Ballard bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hunter's guard.
Hunter lands some strikes from the bottom.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Hunter is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Ballard controlling from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ballard trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hunter keeping moving, preventing Ballard from controlling successfully.
Hunter is trying to keep Ballard in close.
Ballard stops Hunter from standing up.
Hunter tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Kasey Ballard wasn't active enough on the ground.
Ballard looks for a takedown but Hunter sprawls well.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ballard is defended easily by Hunter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hunter gets a clinch.
Hunter tries to pull guard but Ballard won't allow it.

Hunter is trying to trip Ballard. He has hold of a leg but Ballard is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Hunter persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Hunter trying to control the position from guard on top but Ballard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ballard wants to hit a switch here but Hunter passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Ballard there!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ballard sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kasey Ballard will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ballard gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hunter counters with an outside leg kick.
Ballard has a takedown stuffed.

Hunter shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Hunter goes for an armbar but Ballard turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Ballard.

Hunter working for a triangle but Ballard defends it easily.
Hunter is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ballard trying to control but Hunter is working from the bottom.
Hunter looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ballard trying to control the position from guard on top but Hunter is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Hunter throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Ballard throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ballard trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hunter keeping moving, preventing Ballard from controlling successfully.
Ballard tries to stand but Hunter is controlling from the bottom.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Hunter 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.
Hunter keeping moving, preventing Ballard from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Kasey Ballard was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Ballard wants to clinch up but Hunter keeps it at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ballard 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.
Hunter working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ballard.
Hunter wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Ballard wants to control from the top but Hunter keeps moving.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Ballard missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Hunter holds on and takes a little breather.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Kasey Ballard wasn't active enough on the ground.
Hunter wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hunter scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Hunter tries for a kimura but Ballard is defending well.
Ballard sneaks back into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hunter misses with a head shot. Ballard uses the momentum to regain guard.
Rylan Hunter has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kasey Ballard is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Ballard looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Hunter has picked Ballard up and slammed him! Ballard can't keep hold of the triangle and Hunter manages to pass to 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 Rylan Hunter.
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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kasey Ballard!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Kasey Ballard waved his t-shirt featuring Nature's Edge Nutrition's logo in front of the cameras.