|
PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Herkules Nowacki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jami Balkan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nowacki comes to the cage accompanied by Moby - Flower. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!
|
|
|
182 cm
27
165 lbs
18 - 4 - 0 |
|
177 cm
29
162 lbs
19 - 8 - 0 |
Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine |
|
Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin |
| |
|
Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world! Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner. With a record of
18 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Herkules Nowacki! And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner. With a record of
19 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jami Balkan! The judges for this bout are James Atkins, James Glass and Colin Fotheringham.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway! Balkan throws a body shot but no joy. Balkan just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromNowacki. A solid leg kick lands there for Balkan.
Nice defenses there by Balkan. Nowacki looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight. Nowacki moves away from the strike by Balkan. Balkan scores with a nice strike. Balkan waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Nowacki. Nowacki cracks the inside of Balkan's front leg. Nowacki throws a solid leg kick but Balkan takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Nowacki. Balkan feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Nowacki's calf. Nowacki has taken the fight to the clinch.
Nowacki blocks an uppercut.
Nowacki doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up. Both guys are working to get underhooks. Balkan lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Nowacki. Nowacki swings wildly with an uppercut but Balkan uses good head movement to avoid it. A short right from Balkan on the inside. The crowd are loving this. Great action here. A hook to the body from Nowacki.
That's one minute gone in the round. Nowacki blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Nowacki misses with a short punch on the inside. An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Balkan. Balkan jumps guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing. Balkan keeping full guard, as Nowacki tries to pass. Balkan has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Nowacki can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself. Nowacki content to stall in guard here. Balkan is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
That's two minutes gone in the round. Nowacki wants to control from the top but Balkan keeps moving. Balkan looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it. Balkan working a defensive guard here.
Balkan working for a triangle but Nowacki defends it easily.
Balkan trying to control the position.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
That's three minutes gone in the round. Nowacki tries to land a front kick but Balkan steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed. Nowacki throws a nice head kick!
Nowacki dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Balkan. That did some damage! Balkan has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Nowacki. Nowacki works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance. Nowacki stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Balkan. Balkan throws a leg kick but Nowacki sees it coming and checks it nicely. Nowacki gets a clinch. Nowacki lands with a good tight uppercut to the head. Nowacki gets through Balkan's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head. With the fighters up against the cage, Nowacki throws an elbow but misses. Balkan content to slow the pace in the clinch.
That's four minutes gone in the round. Nowacki fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out! Balkan goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now. Balkan successfully pulls guard.
Nowacki seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up. Balkan looking to control.
Nowacki controls the pace of the fight for a moment. Nowacki is looking to advance position but Balkan has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount! Balkan fails to take his opponent's back. And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Jami Balkan will probably get the nod. The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!
A leg kick checked by Nowacki. Nowacki lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw. An inside leg kick from Balkan misses. Balkan swings away with a leg kick that misses. Herkules Nowacki is winning the standup battle so far. Nowacki staying out of range there. Nowacki throws a looping overhand right but Balkan ducks down to avoid it. Nowacki misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Balkan thows a left - swing and a miss! Nowacki swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Balkan throws a low kick but Nowacki moves out of range easily. Nowacki takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up. Balkan lands a front kick. Balkan has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight. Balkan has taken the fight to the clinch.
Nowacki lands a nice shot to the body. Nowacki blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Balkan successfully pulls guard.
Balkan has control of Nowacki's left arm, preventing Nowacki from doing any damage.
That's one minute gone in the round. Nowacki is stalling in the full guard. Nowacki trying to control but Balkan is working from the bottom.
That's two minutes gone in the round. Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless. Balkan being controlled here, momentarily. Balkan wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now. Nowacki tries to free his leg and advance position but Balkan is retaining full guard.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity. Nowacki lands with a straight right. Balkan didn't see that one coming. Balkan is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Nowacki. Nowacki throwing a counter right hand but Balkan manages to avoid it. Balkan comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range. Balkan misses with a left hand and Nowacki counters with a stiff right hand. Balkan cracks a nice hook into Nowacki's ribs.
That's three minutes gone in the round. Nowacki jabs Balkan right on the nose. Balkan blinks but takes it well. A solid leg kick lands there for Nowacki.
Nowacki lands a leg kick that knocks Balkan off balance momentarily. Nowacki throws a shot to the body.
Balkan swings for the body but Nowacki moves out of range.
Balkan slips under a jab. Some bone on bone action there as Balkan checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one. Balkan appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body. Balkan lands a jab to the head.
Balkan throws a leg kick which misses Nowacki's front leg but catches the back leg as Nowacki tries to avoid it. Nice body kick there by Balkan. Balkan connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there. Nowacki takes a body punch but keeps moving. Nowacki delivers a nice body kick. The crowd are loving this. Great action here. Nowacki defending well as Balkan loads up on a big left hand. Balkan moves into range and lands a nice leg kick. Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Balkan, as that shot connected.
That's four minutes gone in the round. Balkan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nowacki.
Nowacki throws a series of punches but Balkan moves out of range. An inside leg kick from Nowacki misses. Nowacki misses with a jab, cross combination.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Nowacki. Balkan blocks a leg kick. Nowacki misses with a hook
and Balkan counters with a thumping low kick. Nowacki tries to clinch there but Balkan circles away.
Balkan looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it. Balkan wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection. Nowacki is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight. Nowacki uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Balkan. Balkan attempts a low kick but it misses it's target. Nowacki misses with an attempted mid kick.
Balkan with a jab. Balkan scores with the left hand. Nowacki knows he should have avoided that one. Balkan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nowacki manages to avoid it. And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Jami Balkan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards. Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!
A swing and a miss from Nowacki. Nice defenses there by Nowacki. A chopping leg kick lands by Balkan. Balkan takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away. Balkan throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land. Jami Balkan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout. Nowacki takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Nowacki fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Balkan manages to avoid it. Nowacki plants his feet and lands a nice head kick! Nowacki takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness. A nice leg kick lands there from Nowacki. Nowacki uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Balkan.
Nowacki slips under a jab from Balkan. Balkan chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Balkan will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show! Balkan is looking to chop away at Nowacki's legs. Nowacki 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.
That's one minute gone in the round. Balkan with a hook. Balkan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nowacki manages to avoid it. Nowacki comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range. Nowacki fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Balkan has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage. Balkan lands a jab to Nowacki's midsection. Nowacki is looking to land body kicks. Nowacki connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there. Nowacki gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there. Balkan looks to score with a jab to the body but Nowacki is just out of range. Balkan on the wrong end of a nice jab. Nowacki slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range. Balkan takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show! The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Nowacki checks a leg kick. Balkan throws a body kick but he wasn't in range. Nowacki tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Balkan manages to circle out of the way. Balkan looks to land a body kick but Nowacki moved away.
That's two minutes gone in the round. Nowacki is looking to clinch but Balkan is avoiding it.
Nowacki takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards. Balkan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Balkan lands a nice hook to Nowacki's body. Nowacki takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes. Nowacki scores with a jab to the jaw. Balkan misses with a straight left. Balkan staying out of range there. Nowacki is looking to take this fight into the clinch. Nowacki will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Balkan throws a hook to the side of Nowacki's head but Nowacki sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully. Balkan stuns Nowacki with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range. Nowacki lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise. Balkan feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Nowacki's calf.
That's three minutes gone in the round. A solid leg kick lands there for Balkan.
Balkan looks to score with a jab to the body but Nowacki is just out of range. Nowacki tries to score with a low kick but Balkan moves his leg out of the way. It seemed like Balkan was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it. Balkan throws a hook but Nowacki blocks it. Nowacki scores with a nice body kick.
Nowacki avoids the body shot from Balkan.
Balkan is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Nowacki moves out of range of the strikes. Balkan misses with a body kick. Nowacki lands a jab to the nose. Nowacki checks a leg kick. Balkan throws a nice inside leg kick. Balkan takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Balkan takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
That's four minutes gone in the round. Balkan will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Nowacki tests Balkan's chin there with a solid looking shot. Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show! Balkan takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Nice shot by Nowacki. Nowacki takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Balkan throws a looping overhand right but Nowacki ducks down to avoid it. Nowacki moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot. Nowacki throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle. A good leg kick by Balkan. Balkan looks to score with a jab to the body but Nowacki is just out of range. Nowacki takes a shot right to the bread basket. Nowacki thuds his right hand into Balkan's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters. Balkan checks a leg kick. Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Nowacki 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 Balkan has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Balkan and we're back underway with a touch of gloves. And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close third round but Jami Balkan just about did enough to take it. The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.
Balkan throws a head kick that misses. Balkan shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it. Balkan lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range. A shot to the body from Balkan misses and Nowacki counters with a lovely straight right hand! Nowacki buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Nowacki throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd. Balkan throws a leg kick which misses Nowacki's front leg but catches the back leg as Nowacki tries to avoid it. Balkan misses with a low kick as Nowacki jumps back. Balkan keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Balkan.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up. Nowacki slips under a jab. Balkan attempts a low kick but it misses it's target. Nowacki looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger. Balkan throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Nowacki stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly. A slow jab from Balkan misses its intended target. Balkan lands with a thumping leg kick.
That's one minute gone in the round. A solid leg kick lands there for Nowacki.
Nowacki scores with a slapping inside leg kick. Balkan misses with the combination.
Nowacki thinks about countering with a body kick. Nowacki rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Balkan moves out of range and avoids them all easily. Balkan throws a counter combo. Nowacki digs a good body shot into Balkan's ribs. Nowacki lands a head kick!
Nowacki blocks a jab. Ouch! a nice leg kick from Nowacki, right into the meat.
Balkan misses with an uppercut
and Nowacki counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters. Nowacki moves into the clinch successfully.
Nowacki lands on the inside with an uppercut. Both fighters working to control the clinch. Balkan can't find room to land a body shot as Nowacki controls the action.
Nowacki doesn't land with the attempted 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! Nowacki blocks a body shot from Balkan.
That's two minutes gone in the round. Balkan blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Nowacki lands a right hand. Nowacki prevents a body shot from Balkan. Both guys are working to get underhooks. Balkan blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Nowacki. Balkan swings wildly with an uppercut but Nowacki uses good head movement to avoid it. A nice glancing elbow lands by Nowacki.
It looks like Jami Balkan has been cut. Balkan tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked. Balkan is trying to maintain a safe position but Nowacki gets an underhook and turns Balkan into the cage. A body shot lands from Balkan.
Still in the clinch, Balkan scores with a nice short uppercut. Balkan cracks Nowacki with a nice body shot. Nowacki lands with a short punch from the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Nowacki just misses with a elbow thrown towards Balkan's brow. Stalling in the clinch from Balkan.
That's three minutes gone in the round. Balkan jumps guard but Nowacki turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing. Nowacki stalling against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Nowacki as Balkan tries to tie him up. An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Balkan. Balkan digs a right hand underneath Nowacki's ribcage. Nowacki let out a lung full of air as it connected. Balkan is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though. Nowacki stalling in the clinch but Balkan improves position. Nowacki fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Balkan tries to throw a body punch but Nowacki avoids it by throwing Balkan back against the cage. A nice left hand lands by Nowacki.
Nowacki lands with a good tight uppercut to the head. Nowacki manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Balkan breaks the clinch.
That's four minutes gone in the round. Nowacki tries to land a front kick but Balkan steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed. Nowacki moves away from the strike by Balkan. Balkan throws out a loose jab but Nowacki uses good head movement to avoid it. Nowacki throws a solid leg kick but Balkan takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Nowacki. Nowacki tries to clinch there but Balkan circles away.
Nowacki throws a leg kick which misses Balkan's front leg but catches the back leg as Balkan tries to avoid it. Nowacki ducks under a wild hook from Balkan. Nowacki with a jab. Nowacki throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd. Nowacki misses with a low kick.
Balkan was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind. Balkan takes a head kick and keeps coming.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here. Nowacki misses with a hook. Balkan misses with a looping left. Nowacki throws a quick counter kick to the body but Balkan avoids it. A nice inside leg kick there by Balkan. That's going to slow Nowacki down. And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Herkules Nowacki had his way with Jami Balkan in that round. The cut man is working on Jami Balkan's cut. Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!
Nowacki misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Balkan.
Balkan misses with a low kick. Balkan throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land. As Balkan tries to get set, Nowacki tries to push him back and clinch up but Balkan manages to avoid the attempt. Balkan looks to score with a jab to the body but Nowacki is just out of range. Good work by Balkan as he checks the leg kick. Balkan swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made. Balkan misses with a looping right. Nowacki throws a head kick that misses. Nowacki misses with a leg kick and Balkan counters with a nice uppercut. Nowacki lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise. Balkan lands a right hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up. Nowacki checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time. A nice leg kick lands there from Nowacki. Balkan misses with a jab to the body
enabling Nowacki to counter with a crisp jab. Balkan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle. Balkan fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
That's one minute gone in the round. Balkan moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross. Balkan uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nowacki.
Nowacki misses with an uppercut. Nowacki pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way. Nowacki is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Balkan blocks a head kick by Nowacki.
Nowacki moves out of range of the body kick from Balkan.
An inside leg kick lands from Balkan. Balkan misses with a body kick. Balkan misses the body punch and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick. Balkan circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nowacki gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there. Balkan lands with a straight right. Nowacki didn't see that one coming.
That's two minutes gone in the round. Balkan misses with a body kick. Balkan keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Balkan gets cracked there but stands up to it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here. Nowacki moves out of range of the body kick. Balkan throws a body punch but Nowacki moves out of range. Nowacki seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance. Nowacki uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Balkan. Balkan throws a front kick aimed at Nowacki's knee but Nowacki avoids it well. Herkules Nowacki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here! Nowacki fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Balkan checks it well. Balkan has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye. Nowacki swings away with a leg kick that misses. Nowacki digs a good body shot into Balkan's ribs. Balkan moves into range and lands a nice leg kick. Balkan throws a body shot but no joy. Balkan ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent. Nowacki swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
That's three minutes gone in the round. Balkan checks a low kick from Nowacki. Nowacki thuds his shin into the meat of Balkan's side. Balkan chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Nowacki can pounce on him.
A head kick misses from Nowacki. Balkan misses the jab. Nowacki scores with a decent looking hook. Balkan jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Nowacki moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Nowacki steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Balkan. Balkan throws a good cross that connects.
Balkan misses the shot to the body. Nowacki tries to clinch up but Balkan circles away and keeps his distance. Balkan dips down and scores with a jab to the body. Balkan throws a hook to the side of Nowacki's head but Nowacki sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
That's four minutes gone in the round. Nowacki has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Nowacki there as he acknowledges the 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! Balkan fakes a head shot and lands one to the body. Balkan throws a body kick that misses. Balkan uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Nowacki. Nowacki throws a right and a left that both miss. Nowacki staying out of range there. Nowacki throws out a leg kick but Balkan moves out of range and Nowacki only half commits. Nowacki lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent. Nowacki takes a body punch but keeps moving. Nowacki misses with a right hand and Balkan counters with a straight punch to the midsection. A decent looking cross lands there for Nowacki. Balkan throws out a token jab with nothing on it. Nowacki feinted there with a counter leg kick. Balkan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
And that's the end of the fight! I would just about give that final round to Jami Balkan. I think Balkan 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision. Judge James Atkins scores the fight 46:49 Judge James Glass scores the fight 46:49 Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 46:49
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jami Balkan! Jami Balkan is the new lightweight champion! An out of breath Jami Balkan thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career. Herkules Nowacki spoke after the fight, saying 'My Ukrainian friend was better this evening. Congratz for him. I'll hope I will have another chance for the title soon...'.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
|
S |
C |
G |
|
energy
A | B |
|
hype
A | B |
|
pop
A | B |
|
mgr
A | B |
|
FIGHT
RATING
65% |
|
|
|
|
|
|