PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Miquel Mendoza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hellson Ballswick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Mendoza
vs
Ballswick

165 cm
28
147 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

175 cm
34
157 lbs
19 - 31 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Miquel Mendoza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 31 - 1, fighting out of New York, Hellson Ballswick!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Dean Styles and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice uppercut lands for Ballswick. That snapped Mendoza's head back.
Ballswick lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Mendoza tries to clinch there but Ballswick circles away.

Ballswick shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Mendoza manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Ballswick stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mendoza swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ballswick advances to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ballswick is pressing down on Mendoza's thigh, looking to free his foot. Mendoza is holding on for now.
Mendoza is trying to stand back up but Ballswick is controlling him
Mendoza is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ballswick is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Mendoza has managed to free his arm - good work.
Mendoza wants to get back to full guard.
Ballswick trying to pass the guard but Mendoza defending well.
Ballswick working over Mendoza with some ground and pound. Mendoza looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Nice strikes from Ballswick there.

Ballswick is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Mendoza is just riding it out for now. Ballswick eventually gives up the hold.

Ballswick wants to work for an arm triangle but Mendoza is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ballswick seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Mendoza does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Ballswick is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Mendoza wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ballswick with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Ballswick is working for a submission of some sort.
Ballswick frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Mendoza is squirming around, avoiding Ballswick's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza is wriggling around trying to escape.
Ballswick wants to control the pace but Mendoza is squirming around nicely.
Ballswick moves to back control.

Ballswick tightening his grip on Mendoza, looking for the choke.

Ballswick looking for the choke but no joy.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mendoza rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Mendoza throws a nice looking combination but Ballswick bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Mendoza is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ballswick tests Mendoza's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A punch combination from Mendoza misses.
Mendoza tries to clinch but Ballswick is having none of it.
Ballswick shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ballswick. Mendoza does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ballswick scores with a body shot.
Ballswick throws a jab when Mendoza was well out of range.
Ballswick thows a body shot but no joy.

Ballswick shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Mendoza's guard.
Ballswick tries to free his leg and advance position but Mendoza is retaining full guard.

Ballswick gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Miquel Mendoza is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mendoza uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Mendoza tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Ballswick manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ballswick throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendoza throws a hook but Ballswick blocks it.
A left lands for Mendoza.
Mendoza tries to close the distance and clinch but Ballswick swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ballswick just misses with a punch to the body.
Mendoza wants to clinch.
Mendoza misses with a body shot.
Ballswick misses with a straight left.
Ballswick dodges the punch combination from Mendoza.
Ballswick misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mendoza.
Miquel Mendoza seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mendoza wants to clinch up but Ballswick keeps it at a distance.
Mendoza moves out of range of the strikes.
Mendoza throws a jab when Ballswick was well out of range.
Ballswick throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Mendoza sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Mendoza tries to clinch but Ballswick is having none of it.
Mendoza tries to clinch but Ballswick is having none of it.
Mendoza walks into a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ballswick takes one to the chin there.
Nice sprawl there from Mendoza as Ballswick shoots in.
Mendoza doesn't manage to clinch there - Ballswick circles away.
Miquel Mendoza is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ballswick shoots for a double leg takedown but Mendoza sprawls well. He's pushed Ballswick's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Mendoza looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Ballswick throws out a loose jab but Mendoza uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mendoza tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ballswick swats him away and circles back towards the center.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ballswick throws the left hand but Mendoza avoids the punch easily.
Ballswick ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ballswick keeps the fight on the outside.
Ballswick scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Mendoza wants to clinch up but Ballswick keeps it at a distance.
Mendoza slaps away a takedown attempt from Ballswick, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Miquel Mendoza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hellson Ballswick.
Mendoza wants to clinch up but Ballswick keeps it at a distance.
Ballswick walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Mendoza checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Ballswick avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Mendoza drives through and clinches with Ballswick against the cage.
Mendoza misses with an elbow over the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza tries to land a knee to the head but Ballswick blocks with his arms.
Mendoza blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Mendoza misses with a knee to the head.
Mendoza pushes off an throws an elbow but Ballswick leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Mendoza tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Mendoza tries to land a knee to the head but Ballswick blocks with his arms.
Ballswick lands a nice uppercut.

Ballswick pulls Mendoza into guard.
Mendoza trying to control but Ballswick is working from the bottom.
Mendoza throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ballswick works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Mendoza working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ballswick looking for a sweep. Not yet Ballswick, not yet.
Mendoza stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ballswick swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Ballswick is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Mendoza is aware though and is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza looking to pass the guard.
Ballswick utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Mendoza stopping the sweep attempt from Ballswick.
Ballswick lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Mendoza!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ballswick trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Mendoza is bucking up trying to escape but Ballswick cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mendoza is trying to stand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Hellson Ballswick will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Ballswick misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mendoza.
Mendoza uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ballswick.
Ballswick loads up on a big right hand but Mendoza slips the punch.
Ballswick misses with a looping left.

Ballswick fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Mendoza sprawls well initially but Ballswick persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Mendoza is staying active underneath Ballswick, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Mendoza tries to kick Ballswick off but Ballswick keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Ballswick is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Ballswick wants to pass the guard but Mendoza is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ballswick works his way into full mount!

Ballswick goes for an armbar but Mendoza turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Mendoza.

Ballswick looking for a guillotine here but Mendoza defends easily.
Mendoza postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mendoza in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza advances position into side control!
Ballswick tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Mendoza looks up at the clock and then as Ballswick takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Mendoza smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Ballswick is working to avoid the ground and pound but Mendoza connects with a decent elbow.

Mendoza decides to stand back up.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mendoza scores with a jab.

Mendoza pushes Ballswick up against the cage in a clinch.
Mendoza throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ballswick avoids the elbow strike from Mendoza, against the cage.
Mendoza swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Mendoza lands with a short shot to the head.
Ballswick on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Mendoza throws an elbow that misses.
Ballswick tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Mendoza's elbow.
Mendoza lands a nice knee to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ballswick misses with a hook to the ribs.
Mendoza misses with a knee to the head.
Mendoza lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Mendoza lands an elbow inside that Ballswick shrugs off.
Ballswick effectively controlling the action here.
Mendoza misses with a knee strike.
Mendoza misses with an elbow over the top.
Ballswick misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Mendoza doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Mendoza lands a knee to the body.
Mendoza takes a shot to the head.
Mendoza throws an elbow that misses.
Mendoza with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ballswick trying to stall but Mendoza improves his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Mendoza just misses with a elbow thrown towards Ballswick's brow.
Ballswick blocks an elbow strike from Mendoza.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Mendoza misses with an elbow strike.
Miquel Mendoza has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Good body shot from Ballswick.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
The referee calls for Ballswick to work.
Mendoza lands an elbow inside that Ballswick shrugs off.
Ballswick tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mendoza smiles and moves away.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A jab lands there for Mendoza.
Mendoza lands a nice hook to Ballswick's body. Ballswick takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Mendoza throws a shot to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Miquel Mendoza showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ballswick 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hellson Ballswick!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Hellson Ballswick made sure he mentioned Fossington & Blythe: Gentlemen's Fight Attire, along with how happy he was to win his fight.