PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Chuck Mandella (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Conan Balboa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Conan Balboa is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Mandella
vs
Balboa

168 cm
25
142 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

186 cm
33
139 lbs
8 - 21 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chuck Mandella!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Conan Balboa!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Stewart Dunkirk and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balboa fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Mandella.

Mandella looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Mandella looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Mandella tries to pass the half guard into mount. Balboa knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Mandella controlling the action here.
Balboa wants to get back to his feet.
Mandella wants to pass the guard but Balboa is defending well.
Balboa is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Mandella looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Mandella knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Balboa on the ground.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Chuck Mandella just wasn't active enough.
Balboa fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Mandella has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa motions for Mandella to come forward. Balboa throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Mandella manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Balboa on his heels. He'll look to pass Balboa's guard now, I'm sure.
Balboa is looking to stand up but Mandella isn't so interested in that idea.
Mandella engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Mandella has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Chuck Mandella just wasn't active enough.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Balboa.
Balboa stuffs the takedown.
Balboa does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Balboa shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Balboa connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Mandella fails to land the takedown.
Mandella is breathing heavily.
Mandella fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chuck Mandella. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Balboa feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Mandella's calf.
Mandella tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Balboa defends well and Mandella ends up having to push Balboa into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Balboa trying to land knees to the body.
Mandella is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Balboa pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Balboa breaks from the clinch.
Mandella keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Mandella misses with a double jab.
Conan Balboa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
An inside leg kick from Balboa misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nice combo by Balboa! Oh, that's hurt him - Mandella falls to the canvas and Balboa follows him into side control.

Mandella is rocked!

It looks like Chuck Mandella has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Balboa wants to stand but Mandella is controlling his arm.
Oh Mandella is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Balboa is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Mandella on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Mandella tries to get out of the position.
Balboa prevents Mandella from escaping the position.
Balboa wants to stand but Mandella has his arm trapped.
Mandella is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Balboa tries to stand but Mandella is controlling his head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mandella wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Balboa tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Mandella is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Mandella seems to have got his legs back now.
Balboa tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mandella wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Balboa wants to stand but Mandella is controlling his arm.

Balboa stands up.
Balboa swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Mandella shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Balboa as he jumps to the side.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Mandella checks a leg kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Balboa swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Nice cross by Balboa.
Balboa drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Mandella checks the leg kick nicely there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Conan Balboa dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Chuck Mandella's cut.
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.

Balboa tried to score with a low kick but Mandella checks it.
Balboa with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Balboa lands a leg kick that knocks Mandella off balance momentarily.
Conan Balboa seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Mandella blocks a leg kick.
Some wild striking there from Mandella.
That kick from Balboa tenderised Mandella's leg. Mandella is trying to keep his angry face on.
Balboa throws a low kick but Mandella moves out of range easily.
Balboa moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
That kick from Balboa tenderised Mandella's leg. Mandella is trying to keep his angry face on.
Mandella on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Balboa. Balboa obviously looking to wear him down.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Balboa connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Balboa lands a nice leg kick that just misses Mandella's sensitive parts.
Balboa throws a nice outside leg kick.
Balboa scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Balboa bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Mandella's head.
Balboa is looking to slow Mandella down with leg kicks.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa fails with the takedown.
Balboa with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Balboa attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Balboa throws a chopping leg kick but Mandella manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Balboa tries to clinch but Mandella is having none of it.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Balboa, right into the meat.
Chuck Mandella is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Balboa is looking to slow Mandella down with leg kicks.
A nice inside leg kick there by Balboa. That's going to slow Mandella down.
A chopping leg kick lands by Balboa.
Balboa thumps Mandella with a low kick.
Balboa connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Mandella with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Balboa to score with a decent uppercut.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Balboa, right into the meat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Balboa throws a front kick aimed at Mandella's knee but Mandella avoids it well.
An inside leg kick from Balboa misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some bone on bone action there as Mandella checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Mandella shoots in but no luck this time.
An inside leg kick lands from Balboa.
Balboa lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Balboa feints and then cracks Mandella's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Mandella down.
Balboa throws a leg kick which misses Mandella's front leg but catches the back leg as Mandella tries to avoid it.
Balboa misses with a low kick.
Mandella checks the leg kick.
Balboa tries to work over Mandella's front leg with a kick but Mandella checks it.
Balboa misses with a leg kick.
Mandella dives in for a single leg takedown but Balboa sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Balboa trying to land knees to the body.
Mandella avoiding damage as Balboa throws knees to the body.

Balboa pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Balboa throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
A nice inside leg kick there by Balboa. That's going to slow Mandella down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mandella stuffs the takedown attempt from Balboa. Balboa gets slowly back to his feet.
Balboa throws a combination. Mandella tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Mandella takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Balboa connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Balboa keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chuck Mandella. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Balboa lands a leg kick that knocks Mandella off balance momentarily.
Balboa fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Mandella.
Balboa's jab looks to have found its range, popping Mandella under the eye.
Balboa is looking to chop away at Mandella's legs.
Balboa scoring well with a low kick there.
Balboa uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Mandella.
Balboa is looking to chop away at Mandella's legs.

Mandella feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Balboa wants to get back to his feet but Mandella is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Mandella not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Balboa is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Mandella slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Mandella might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Mandella has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Chuck Mandella overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

The ref stands the fighters back up because Chuck Mandella just wasn't active enough.
Balboa misses with a low kick.
Balboa does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Balboa cracks Mandella with a good jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Conan Balboa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Chuck Mandella's cut.
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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Balboa is looking to slow Mandella down with leg kicks.
Balboa swings away with a leg kick that misses.
A bone on bone clash there as Mandella blocks the leg kick.
Mandella scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
A bone on bone clash there as Mandella blocks the leg kick.
Balboa defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Mandella.
Balboa fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Mandella is out of range.
Balboa tries to land a leg kick but Mandella saw it coming and moves away.
Balboa lands a nice leg kick that just misses Mandella's sensitive parts.
Balboa throws a leg kick which misses Mandella's front leg but catches the back leg as Mandella tries to avoid it.
Balboa throws a solid leg kick but Mandella takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Balboa.
Mandella swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Balboa moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Balboa lands a left and a right that sends Mandella crashing to the canvas! Balboa dives into mount looking to finish!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Balboa trying to control but Mandella is having none of it.
Balboa is looking to stand but Balboa has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa wants to control the pace but Mandella is squirming around nicely.
Mandella squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Balboa is looking to stand but Balboa has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.
Mandella tries to buck Balboa off but he can't manage it.
Balboa wants to stand but Mandella is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
Balboa tries to control but Mandella wriggling away.
Balboa tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.
Balboa can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Mandella is looking to escape.
Mandella is trying to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balboa wants to get back to his feet but Mandella is holding on tight.
Mandella is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Balboa trying to control but Mandella is having none of it.
Mandella wants to try and get back to his feet.
Balboa is looking to stand but Balboa has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.
Balboa trying to control but Mandella is having none of it.

Mandella bucks up and throws Balboa to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
Balboa has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balboa misses with a leg kick.
Mandella shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Balboa as he jumps to the side.
Good work by Mandella as he checks the leg kick.
Balboa throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
That kick from Balboa tenderised Mandella's leg. Mandella is trying to keep his angry face on.
Balboa finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Mandella checks a low kick from Balboa.
Balboa swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Mandella.
Balboa misses with a body shot.
Mandella blocks a leg kick.
Nice jab there from Balboa.
A leg kick checked by Mandella.
Mandella scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Horrible takedown by Mandella or perhaps it was just good defense by Balboa which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chuck Mandella. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mandella tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Balboa defends well and Mandella ends up having to push Balboa into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balboa tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Mandella avoids it.
Mandella drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Balboa gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Balboa missing with knees to the body.
Balboa is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Mandella is defending well for now.
Mandella avoiding damage as Balboa throws knees to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Balboa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Balboa throws a leg kick that misses.
Mandella shoots in looking for a takedown but Balboa manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Mandella's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Chuck Mandella has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Conan Balboa is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Balboa swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Mandella.
Mandella on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Balboa lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Balboa feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Mandella's calf.

And that's the end of the fight!
Conan Balboa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Balboa winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Conan Balboa!