PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thracian Spartacus (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. Ballard has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Kasey Ballard will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Spartacus
vs
Ballard

195 cm
19
205 lbs
5 - 12 - 0

193 cm
19
215 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Thracian Spartacus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kasey Ballard!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Donatello Bradman and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ballard displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Spartacus.
Spartacus shoots in for a takedown but Ballard shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Spartacus is defended easily by Ballard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thracian Spartacus. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Spartacus fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ballard looks gassed!

Spartacus feints and as Ballard raises his hands in defense, Spartacus changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Spartacus accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ballard looking to control.
Spartacus with a nice head shot there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Spartacus working some strikes from top position.
Spartacus trying to control but Ballard is working from the bottom.
Ballard working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Spartacus.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spartacus is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Spartacus content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Spartacus accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Spartacus scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Spartacus with a nice head shot there.
Spartacus lands a couple of elbows.
Spartacus with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Ballard escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Spartacus gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Spartacus postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Spartacus scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Ballard has momentary wrist control but Spartacus slips an elbow through the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spartacus working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ballard has momentary wrist control but Spartacus slips an elbow through the middle.
Spartacus chips away with some ground and pound.
Spartacus lands a couple of digs.
Ballard trying to keep a closed guard but Spartacus is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Spartacus stands up over Ballard, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Spartacus works over Ballard with some ground and pound from guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Ballard can do anything to dispel that myth.
Ballard trying to control the position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Spartacus's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Spartacus passes Ballard's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Spartacus lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Spartacus connects with a nice short shot to Ballard's temple.
Ballard is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Spartacus looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Ballard with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Spartacus drops an elbow to the side of Ballard's head.
Spartacus is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Spartacus lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Spartacus seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Spartacus lands a nice short elbow.
Spartacus winds up and cracks Ballard with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Spartacus prevents Ballard from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Spartacus connects with a nice short shot to Ballard's temple.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Spartacus lands a nice short elbow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Spartacus lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Spartacus is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Spartacus working over Ballard with some ground and pound. Ballard looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Spartacus lands strikes from half guard.
Ground and pound from Spartacus.
Spartacus seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Spartacus is nestled in close to Ballard, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Spartacus lands with a punch from half guard.
Spartacus working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thracian Spartacus dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Spartacus closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Spartacus working the ground and pound.

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

Spartacus scores a takedown into full mount!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Spartacus cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Spartacus lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

Ballard is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ballard really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Ballard is still in real trouble! Can Spartacus finish him?
Spartacus landing strikes from the mount.
Spartacus looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Spartacus dominating with strikes here.
Spartacus postures up and connects with a big shot that has rocked Ballard badly. He's trying desperately to grab hold of Spartacus around the waist but Spartacus pushes him off and unloads with more strikes, forcing the referee to jump in and save him! Spartacus is the winner by TKO! Spartacus jumps onto the cage and shouts into the camera. "We did it momma!"

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Thracian Spartacus!
During a confident post fight interview, Thracian Spartacus thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.