PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ana Balestra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryle Joaquin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ana Balestra has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Balestra
vs
Joaquin

169 cm
26
130 lbs
5 - 2 - 1

190 cm
22
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ana Balestra!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ryle Joaquin!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Seu Braga and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Joaquin looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Joaquin throws a leg kick but Balestra sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Joaquin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Joaquin closes the distance looking to clinch

and Balestra counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Balestra displaying some good clinch control by pressing Joaquin up against the cage.
Joaquin is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Joaquin being controlled against the cage.
Joaquin is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Balestra pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Joaquin tries to pull guard but Balestra holds him up against the cage and eventually Joaquin drops back down to his feet.
Joaquin tries to circle away but Balestra has him pinned against the cage.
Balestra prevents Joaquin from breaking the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Balestra.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balestra lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Balestra works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Joaquin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Joaquin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Joaquin has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Balestra can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Joaquin looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Balestra is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Joaquin is working an open guard so Balestra takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Joaquin throws a sloppy head kick and Balestra moves out of range easily.
Joaquin misses with a head kick.
Balestra avoids the head kick by Joaquin.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Balestra blocks a head kick by Joaquin.
Joaquin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joaquin tries a head kick but it misses.
Joaquin throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Joaquin displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Balestra.

Joaquin gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Balestra to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Joaquin can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Balestra controls the pace.
Balestra knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Joaquin on the ground.
Balestra is working Joaquin over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Joaquin is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Balestra is looking to advance position but Joaquin has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Balestra avoids a series of strikes thrown by Joaquin.
Joaquin won't let Balestra get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Joaquin misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balestra regains half guard.
Balestra avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Joaquin.
Balestra is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Balestra has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Joaquin is working away from the top position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Balestra is holding on to half guard well.
Joaquin seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Balestra does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Joaquin is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Balestra throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balestra is looking to improve his position.
Joaquin throwing shots but Balestra is blocking nicely.
Joaquin throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Joaquin not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Joaquin not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Joaquin stops Balestra from getting back to his feet.
Balestra is not content to let Joaquin control the position.
Joaquin not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Balestra trying to hold on to Joaquin's head to control him but Joaquin postures up.
Balestra on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Balestra tries to get out of the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Balestra avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Joaquin.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ana Balestra will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Balestra dodges the punch combination from Joaquin.
Joaquin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Joaquin tries a head kick but it misses.
Ana Balestra is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Balestra drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Balestra seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Joaquin looking for a guillotine here but Balestra defends easily.
Joaquin keeping moving, preventing Balestra from controlling successfully.

Balestra thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Balestra might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joaquin keeping moving, preventing Balestra from controlling successfully.

Joaquin is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Balestra defends well.
Balestra has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Balestra trying to control but Joaquin is working from the bottom.

Joaquin escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Balestra gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Joaquin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Balestra's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Balestra stands up from Joaquin's guard - Balestra perhaps looking for a knockout.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Balestra here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Nice sprawl there from Balestra as Joaquin shoots in.
Ryle Joaquin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Balestra scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
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!

Joaquin looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Balestra is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Balestra lands with a punch from half guard.

Balestra is trying to work for a kimura but Joaquin is defending well.
Joaquin has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Joaquin actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joaquin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Joaquin is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Joaquin wants to control but Balestra is keeping busy.
Balestra trying to pass the guard but Joaquin defending well.
Balestra drops an elbow to the side of Joaquin's head.
Balestra stalling.
Joaquin is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Balestra's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Balestra's back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Balestra showing good submission defense here.
Balestra tries to escape the position.
Joaquin is trying to stick to Balestra's back but Balestra is turning into Joaquin. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Joaquin's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Balestra.
Balestra stopping the sweep attempt from Joaquin.
Balestra postures up.
Ana Balestra overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Joaquin will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Joaquin is looking for a triangle but Balestra pushes his legs off easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ana Balestra will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Joaquin throws a head kick but Balestra moves out of range.
Joaquin throws a sloppy head kick and Balestra moves out of range easily.
Joaquin tries to clinch but Balestra is having none of it.
Balestra blocks a head kick by Joaquin.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Joaquin checks a leg kick.
Joaquin throws a sloppy head kick and Balestra moves out of range easily.
Balestra misses with a two punch combination.

Balestra shoots in and gets a takedown into Joaquin's guard.
Balestra landing with the ground and pound.
Joaquin tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Joaquin has his foot on Balestra's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Balestra works his way back into a safe position though.
Balestra engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Joaquin looking for subs off his back but Balestra has passed one foot through into half guard.
Joaquin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balestra controlling the pace.

Joaquin looking for submissions off his back.

Joaquin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Balestra seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Joaquin does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balestra takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Joaquin gets back to full guard.
Joaquin keeping moving, preventing Balestra from controlling successfully.

Joaquin is looking for a triangle here but Balestra uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Joaquin is trying to escape the position but Balestra is controlling the position.
Balestra grinds an elbow into Joaquin's temple.
Joaquin seems a little lost for a moment, as Balestra dominates the positioning.
Joaquin wants to control but Balestra postures up.

Balestra looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Joaquin's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Balestra decides to stand back up. Balestra steps back and let's Joaquin get back to his feet.
Joaquin throws a head kick but Balestra moves out of range.
Joaquin throws a sloppy head kick and Balestra moves out of range easily.
Joaquin changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Balestra tries to avoid it but Joaquin manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Balestra to the ground. Balestra escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Joaquin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Joaquin throws a sloppy head kick and Balestra moves out of range easily.
A head kick misses from Joaquin.

Balestra closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Joaquin's guard.
Balestra controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balestra is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Balestra is posturing up here but Joaquin has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Balestra tries to roll out but it's too tight and Balestra has to tap! Slick submission there by Joaquin!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ryle Joaquin!
Ryle Joaquin got down on his knees post fight and begged the management for a title shot. 'Please, I want that title shot so bad! Give it to me!'