PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jose Reis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Smeder Balovich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Reis
vs
Balovich

180 cm
19
150 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

172 cm
18
153 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Intelligent

Bad Man Clothing

Namunamu Clothing

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jose Reis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Smeder Balovich!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Valeri Chadov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Balovich throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Reis was covering up waiting for the punch and Balovich finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Reis definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Balovich is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Balovich postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Reis has momentary wrist control but Balovich slips an elbow through the middle.
Balovich trying to control but Reis is working from the bottom.
Balovich is working Reis over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Balovich accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Balovich wants to control from the top but Reis keeps moving.
Balovich missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Balovich is looking to work some ground and pound but Reis has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balovich engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Balovich throws a big elbow that misses.
Balovich trying to control the position from guard on top but Reis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Reis is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Smeder Balovich hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Reis gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Balovich to score an easy takedown into full guard.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Balovich working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Reis working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Balovich.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balovich postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Balovich wants to control from the top but Reis keeps moving.
Balovich postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Balovich wants to control from the top but Reis keeps moving.
Balovich throwing strikes but missing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Balovich throws a big right hand that misses.
Reis knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Balovich on the ground.
Balovich pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Reis is keeping the position for now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Balovich passes Reis's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balovich stalling.
Balovich lands strikes from half guard.
Balovich working the head and body with strikes.
Reis wants to get back to his feet.
Balovich seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Balovich lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Balovich throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Balovich throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Reis blocking the ground and pound attempt from Balovich.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balovich lands with a punch from half guard.
Balovich stops Reis from getting back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Balovich is working for a submission of some sort.
Balovich uses his free foot to push down on Reis's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Reis.
Balovich lands a big elbow.
Balovich putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Reis taking shots to the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Balovich looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Balovich cracks Reis with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Reis taking shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Smeder Balovich dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Reis misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Balovich shoots in but Reis avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Jose Reis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Reis tries to clinch but Balovich moves out of range.
Reis looks to clinch

and Balovich counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Reis keeping moving, preventing Balovich from controlling successfully.
Balovich working some strikes from top position.
Balovich controls from within his opponent's guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Balovich's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
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!
Balovich postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balovich is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Balovich forces his way into half guard.
Balovich drops an elbow to the side of Reis's head.
Reis taking some punishment here, with Balovich in his half guard.
Reis on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Balovich has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Balovich throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Reis is looking to get back to is feet but Balovich passes into side control.
Balovich works to advance to full mount. Reis defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Reis is squirming around, avoiding Balovich's attempts to control the action.
Reis really wants to buck Balovich off and get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
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!

Balovich is working for a guillotine from mount but Reis frees his head quite easily.
Balovich tries to control but Reis wriggling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reis taking shots to the head.
Balovich lands with some strikes.
Balovich scoring with strikes but Reis is staying in there.
Balovich has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Balovich tries to control but Reis wriggling away.
Balovich lands a couple of good shots and Reis has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Balovich is punishing Reis with some ground and pound.

Balovich is working for the choke. It looks like he might have got it... has he...? Yes! Reis is tapping out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Smeder Balovich!
Our winner, Smeder Balovich, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.