PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Balance Neut (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frij Arko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Neut comes to the cage accompanied by We're Not Gonna Take It. 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.

Neut
vs
Arko

189 cm
27
200 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

177 cm
25
178 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Sport Support

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Balance Neut!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Frij Arko!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Radbod Blank and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Neut throws a sloppy head kick and Arko moves out of range easily.
No joy there for Neut, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Arko takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Arko takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Neut scores with a kick to the body.

Arko is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Neut's half 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.
Arko stops Neut from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are battling for position here. Neut manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Neut wants to sweep here but Arko controlling him for the moment.
Neut is working hard here to advance position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Neut is on top in guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Neut throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Neut sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neut postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Neut makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Neut engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Arko escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Neut gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Neut slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Neut tries to free his leg and advance position but Arko is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neut is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

We're going to have a standup here because Balance Neut wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Neut lands with a kick to the ribs.
Neut connects with a leg kick. Arko looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Neut throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Arko's coach down at **CENTRUM GYM** was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Arko's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Neut lands a slapping body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Arko looks for a takedown but Neut sprawls well.
Arko shoots in for a double leg but Neut sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Arko looks winded!
Neut lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Neut scores with a spinning back kick!
Neut seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.

Neut has closed the distance and engaged Arko in a clinch.

Neut manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neut closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Neut pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A slapping body kick lands there for Neut.
No joy there for Neut, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Neut stuns Arko with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Neut feints a jab promting Arko to slip. Neut then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Arko slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Arko fails with the takedown.
Balance Neut has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frij Arko.
Neut thuds his right hand into Arko's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Arko shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Neut jabs at Arko's body.
Arko closes this distance looking for a takedown but Neut circles away.

Neut darts in and clinches Arko up against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Neut breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Neut scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neut scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Balance Neut seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Neut fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Neut punishes Arko's body with a nice straight punch.
Neut throws a front kick that sends Arko stumbling back into the cage.

Neut moves into range and clinches up with Arko.

Neut breaks from the clinch.
Arko misses with an attempted mid kick.
Jab from Neut.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Neut's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Arko takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A left and a right from Neut both land. Nice combination.
Neut thuds his shin into the meat of Arko's side.

Neut moves into the clinch successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Balance Neut dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Neut is looking to slow Arko down with leg kicks.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Arko is looking to control Neut's arms but Neut gets an underhook and turns him. Now Arko has his back to the cage.

Arko has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Neut uses from the top position.
Neut is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Arko is working an open guard so Neut takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Neut lands a nice looking body shot.
A lazy left from Neut finds it's target.
Neut's jab looks to have found its range, popping Arko under the eye.
Balance Neut is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A nice leg kick lands there from Neut.
Arko takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Arko has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Neut.
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!
Arko takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Neut scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Neut is looking to wear down Arko with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Arko is breathing heavily.
Neut lands a jab to Arko's midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arko gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Neut counter with a right hand.
Neut is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Neut throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Neut misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Neut.
Neut lands with a nice body kick.
Neut's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Neut duly obliges.
Neut is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Neut throws a 1-2 combo that connects squarely on Arko's jaw, knocking him onto his back! Neut dives in looking to finish as Arko flails his arms in a desperate attempt to block Neut's strikes! Neut is raining down hammerfists and the ref stops it! Arko's desperate flailing just didn't constitute intelligent defence. Some people will probably question the ref's decision but Arko was definitely hurt and the ref saved him from taking unnecessary punishment. A fighter's safety is paramount in this sport.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:37 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Balance Neut!
After winning the bout, Balance Neut thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.