PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Ej Balingit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bernie Hart (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.

Balingit
vs
Hart

205 cm
39
290 lbs
42 - 21 - 0

225 cm
34
300 lbs
27 - 14 - 0

World class boxer
Cardio machine

World class MT
Good gas tank

BeastMode

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 42 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ej Balingit!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Bernie Hart!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Kenichi Hosakawa and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balingit scores with a jab to the jaw.
Balingit moves out of range of the body kick.
Hart throws a nice outside leg kick.
Hart has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Balingit smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Balingit clinches up against the ropes.
Balingit tries to land knees in the clinch but Hart avoids the damage to the body.
Balingit throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hart blocks it with crossed arms.
Hart tries to break free but Balingit pushes him back against the ropes.
Hart pushes Balingit back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hart tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Balingit avoids it.
Hart lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Ej Balingit has been cut.
Balingit lands a good knee to the midsection. Hart won't want to take too many of those.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Balingit.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Hart pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hart misses with a low kick.
Balingit throws a hook but Hart blocks it.
Balingit ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balingit doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hart blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Our sources have told us that Balingit has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
Hart trying to land knees to the body.
Hart prevents a body shot from Balingit.
Balingit managing to block the knees to the body from Hart.
Balingit misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hart.
Balingit lands a body shot in the clinch.
Balingit gets through Hart's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Balingit tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hart avoids it.
Balingit missing with knees to the body.
Hart throws an elbow that misses.
Balingit trying to land knees to the body.
Hart wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hart is trying to push Balingit away but Balingit has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Balingit with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Balingit on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Hart breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Balingit throws a right hand that misses
and Hart counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Hart.
Balingit fails in his attempt to clinch.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Hart.
Balingit tries to clinch there but Hart circles away.

Balingit moves into the clinch successfully.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Balingit trying to land knees to the body.
Hart throws a knee to the head but misses.
Balingit looking to throw knees to the head but Hart is blocking nicely.
Hart blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hart missing with knees to the body.
Balingit is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hart is defending well for now.
Hart blocks an uppercut.
Hart misses with a punch to the body.
Balingit landing knees to the body.
Balingit tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hart breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Balingit checks a leg kick.
Balingit moves in looking to clinch but Hart pushes him off.
Balingit fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hart throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Balingit clinches.
Hart can't find room to land a body shot as Balingit controls the action.
Balingit tries to land knees in the clinch but Hart avoids the damage to the body.
Hart blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hart blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Balingit lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Bernie Hart has been cut.
Hart creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Balingit's defenses.
Hart avoiding damage as Balingit throws knees to the body.

Hart breaks from the clinch.
Hart fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hart uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Balingit.
Balingit lands a body shot.
Hart lands a nice looking body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Balingit on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Hart. Hart obviously looking to wear him down.
Balingit tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Balingit moves out of range of the body kick from Hart.
Hart moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Balingit staying out of range there.
Balingit fails with an attempt to clinch.
The crowd cheers as Hart lands an impressive looking overhand right. Balingit doesn't seem phased though.
Hart keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Balingit tries to clinch but Hart moves away
and Hart counters with a nice low kick that buckles Balingit's knee momentarily.
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 Ej Balingit will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hart scores with a leg kick.
Hart ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Balingit tries to clinch
and Hart counters with a leg kick.
Balingit moves to clinch but Hart breaks away
and Hart counters with a low kick, right behind Balingit 's knee.
Hart misses with a kick to the body.
Hart throws a leg kick that misses.
Hart looking to land some kicks to the body here.
A punch combination from Hart misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balingit misses the shot to the body.
A nice inside leg kick there by Hart. That's going to slow Balingit down.

Balingit takes the fight into the clinch.
Balingit blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Balingit is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balingit misses with a knee strike.
Hart working hard to break the clinch.
Hart wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Balingit looking to throw knees to the head but Hart is blocking nicely.
Hart tries to circle away but Balingit has him pinned against the ropes.
A body shot lands from Hart.
Balingit misses with a punch to the body.
Balingit trying to land knees to the body.
Balingit goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hart looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Balingit is leaning against Hart and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Balingit on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Balingit throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hart blocks it with crossed arms.
Balingit lands with a short shot to the head.
Hart pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Hart blocks a body shot from Balingit.
Ej Balingit has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Balingit tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Balingit.
Balingit tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hart avoids it.
Hart scores with a hook to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hart lands a damaging elbow.
Balingit trying to land knees to the body.
Nice body punch from Balingit.
Balingit blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hart avoiding damage as Balingit throws knees to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Hart breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Balingit takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Balingit fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hart ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Balingit moves away.
Balingit swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Balingit smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Hart uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Balingit.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Hart - that will leave a mark!
Nice straight punches there by Hart. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Hart.
Balingit throws a hook but Hart avoids it easily.
Hart bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Hart tries to work over Balingit's front leg with a kick but Balingit checks it.
Balingit throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Balingit takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Balingit is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hart throws a wild body kick that Balingit sees coming a mile off.
Balingit sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balingit swings widly with a right hand
and Balingit takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Hart looks to land a body kick but Balingit moved away.
Balingit throws an overhand right that lands on Hart's shoulder, as Hart tries to avoid the shot.
A chopping leg kick lands by Hart.
Balingit swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Balingit throws a body punch but Hart moves out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hart fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Balingit has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Hart feints and then cracks Balingit's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Balingit down.
Hart circles away from the clinch attempt.
Jab by Balingit.
Balingit misses with a body punch
and Hart counters with a right hand to the body.
Hart is looking to land body kicks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bernie Hart showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Some wild striking there from Hart.
Balingit is looking to clinch.
Hart throws a half hearted mid kick.

Balingit has closed the distance and engaged Hart in a clinch.
Balingit misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hart wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Balingit has him pressed against the ropes.
Hart doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Balingit misses with a hook from the clinch.
Balingit missing with knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hart looking to throw knees to the head but Balingit is blocking nicely.
Balingit putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Hart in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Balingit with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hart is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Balingit is defending well for now.
Balingit digs a right hand into Hart's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Hart's gas tank.
Balingit lands a body shot in the clinch.
Hart takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balingit using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hart has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hart managing to block the knees to the body from Balingit.
Balingit scores with a shot to the side of Hart's head.
Hart has had enough of the clinch but Balingit keeps him there for the moment.
Balingit putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Hart in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Balingit utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Balingit crunches a lovely knee into Hart's ribcage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Balingit.
Balingit lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Hart backwards.
Balingit pushes Hart back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.
Still in the clinch, Balingit scores with a nice short uppercut.
Balingit with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Balingit tries a knee to the head but Hart blocks it.
Balingit presses Hart against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
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!
Balingit throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hart managing to block the knees to the body from Balingit.
Balingit scores a nice knee to the body.
Balingit tries to land knees in the clinch but Hart avoids the damage to the body.
Balingit presses Hart against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Balingit.
Balingit lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
Balingit missing with knees to the body.
Hart prevents a body shot from Balingit.
Balingit throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hart is trying to break the clinch but Balingit is controlling him.
Knees in the clinch landing for Balingit.
Good body shot from Balingit.
Balingit lands a right hand.
Hart tries to land knees in the clinch but Balingit avoids the damage to the body.
Balingit scores a nice knee to the body.
Balingit throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balingit stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Balingit creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Balingit creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Balingit using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hart has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Balingit pushes Hart back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.
Balingit lands a knee to the body.
Balingit throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hart blocks it with crossed arms.
Balingit keeps control of Hart as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Balingit avoids the elbow strike from Hart, against the ropes.
Balingit scores a nice knee to the body.
Hart takes a knee to the side of the body.
Balingit throws a knee to the head but misses.
Balingit working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Hart creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Balingit lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Hart or not.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balingit tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Balingit misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Balingit lands a body punch in the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hart tries to land knees in the clinch but Balingit avoids the damage to the body.
Balingit misses with a knee to the head.
Balingit works on Hart's body with a couple of short punches.
Hart tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Balingit avoids it.
Hart has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Balingit misses with a knee to the head.
Balingit tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Balingit scores with a shot to the side of Hart's head.
Hart misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Balingit.
Balingit trying to land knees to the body.
Balingit avoiding damage as Hart throws knees to the body.

Hart's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hart circles away from the clinch attempt.
Balingit fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ej Balingit clearly takes that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Balingit looks to clinch
and Hart counters with a good low kick that Balingit was not able to check.
Balingit tries to clinch up.
Hart takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Hart with a jab.
Balingit tries to clinch but Hart moves out of range.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Hart lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Balingit has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Balingit and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Hart keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Balingit.
Balingit doesn't manage to clinch there - Hart circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hart is looking to land body kicks.
Balingit scores with a jab to the body.
Balingit thuds a left hand into Hart's body.
Balingit on the wrong end of a nice jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Balingit has managed to clinch.
Hart misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Balingit.
Balingit is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hart can do to turn this around?
Hart can't break the clinch.
Balingit scores with a knee to the head.
Hart throws an elbow that misses.
Balingit misses with a hook to the ribs.
Balingit blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Hart escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Balingit is looking to clinch.
Hart tries to land a front kick but Balingit steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Hart pivots, looking for a leg kick but Balingit is out of range and Hart settles back down.
Hart lands with a nice body kick.
Hart buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balingit closes the distance looking to clinch
and Hart counters with a low kick, right behind Balingit 's knee.
Hart circles away from the clinch attempt
and Hart counters with a good low kick that Balingit was not able to check.
Hart throws a low kick but Balingit avoids it.
Hart fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Balingit has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Bernie Hart seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A slow jab from Hart misses its intended target.

Balingit moves into range and clinches up with Hart.
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!
Hart blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Balingit with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Balingit.
Balingit tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Balingit obliges.
Hart is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Balingit lands a body punch in the clinch.
Balingit lands a nice uppercut.
Balingit lands a body shot in the clinch.
Balingit lands with a short shot to the head.
Balingit landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Balingit tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Balingit lands a hook to the side of the head.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Hart just misses with a elbow thrown towards Balingit's brow.
Hart is trying to break the clinch but Balingit has him pressed against the ropes.
Balingit scores a nice knee to the body.
Balingit lands a knee to the body.
Balingit scores a nice knee to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Balingit lands a left hand that snaps the head of Hart backwards.
Balingit prevents Hart from breaking the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balingit tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Balingit misses with a knee strike.
Balingit tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hart trying to land knees to the body.
Hart wants to break the clinch but can't.
Balingit tries to work over Hart's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hart misses with an elbow strike.

Hart breaks the clinch.
Hart throws a leg kick but Balingit checks it.
Hart goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Balingit doesn't manage to clinch there - Hart circles away.
Balingit tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hart swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Balingit closes the distance and pushes Hart back into the ropes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ej Balingit had his way with Bernie Hart in that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Balingit's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Balingit swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Balingit has taken the fight to the clinch.
Hart throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Balingit trying to land knees to the body.
Balingit makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Balingit is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hart is defending well for now.
Balingit misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hart.
Hart is trying to break the clinch but Balingit has him pressed against the ropes.
Balingit lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That has opened up Bernie Hart's cut even more.
Balingit lands a left hand.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Balingit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hart trying to land knees to the body.
Balingit with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hart is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Balingit blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Balingit lands a body punch.
Balingit lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balingit lands a left hand that snaps the head of Hart backwards.
Balingit has his opponent in a tight Thai clinch and unloads with a massive knee that drops Hart to the canvas! Can Hart beat the count? 3,4,5,6 and he's up... is he? Yes, he's up! The referee is taking a long look at him and he's waved off the fight! He didn't think Hart was in a fit state to continue so this fight is over! Balingit is your winner!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:13 of round 5, we have a winner by way of TKO (Knee). Ej Balingit!
A relieved looking Ej Balingit thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.