PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Lemuel Roach (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Randolph Balabbo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Randolph Balabbo has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Lemuel Roach's chin.

Roach
vs
Balabbo

191 cm
18
177 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

181 cm
25
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Lemuel Roach!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Randolph Balabbo!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Paul Tew and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Roach looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Balabbo is fending him off so far but Roach persists. Nope, Balabbo circles away and we're back to standing.
Roach takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Roach takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Balabbo tries to clinch up but Roach circles away and keeps his distance.
Roach ducks under a wild hook from Balabbo.
Balabbo is looking to slow Roach down with leg kicks.
Balabbo is looking to slow Roach down with leg kicks.
Balabbo connects with a leg kick. Roach looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Roach takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

It looks like Lemuel Roach has been cut.
Roach moves away from the strike by Balabbo.
A chopping leg kick lands by Balabbo.
Balabbo lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Roach shoots for a takedown but Balabbo saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Roach checks a low kick from Balabbo.
Balabbo misses with a body punch

and Roach moves into the clinch.

Roach drags the fight down to the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Balabbo is stalling in the full guard.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roach keeping moving, preventing Balabbo from controlling successfully.
Balabbo won't allow Roach to get back to his feet.
Roach keeping full guard, as Balabbo tries to pass.
Balabbo won't allow Roach to get back to his feet.

Balabbo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Balabbo stays in close to Roach's body and controls the position.
Roach tries to strike from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Balabbo wants to control from the top but Roach keeps moving.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Roach wants to stand but Balabbo is controlling the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Balabbo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Roach paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Roach keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Roach has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Balabbo.
Roach takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Balabbo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Balabbo looks for the body kick but Roach saw that one coming.
Balabbo throws a head kick that misses.
Balabbo misses with a hook.
Balabbo lands a nice looking kick to the body. Roach takes a step back to recover.
Balabbo jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Roach wants to clinch up but Balabbo keeps it at a distance.
Nice body punch from Balabbo.
Roach tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balabbo thuds his shin into the meat of Roach's side.
Balabbo throws a sloppy head kick and Roach moves out of range easily.
Balabbo looks to land a combination but Roach avoids it well.
Balabbo lands a leg kick that knocks Roach off balance momentarily.
A slapping leg kick lands for Balabbo.
A looping hook to the body misses from Balabbo. Roach does a little dance to reset his feet.
Roach circles away from the clinch attempt.
Roach is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
The fight stays on the outside here - Balabbo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Balabbo wants to clinch up but Roach keeps it at a distance.
Balabbo misses with a kick to the body.

Balabbo moves into the clinch.
Roach is working for takedown but Balabbo is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lemuel Roach. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Balabbo lands a knee to the head.
Balabbo lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roach wants a takedown but no success here.
Balabbo landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Roach is breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice body punch from Balabbo.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Balabbo creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Balabbo lands an elbow inside.
A right handed body shot lands from Balabbo.
Balabbo working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Balabbo connects with a knee to the head.
A right hand to the body from Balabbo.
Roach takes a knee right on the jaw!

Roach is rocked!
Balabbo creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Roach's defenses.
Oh Roach is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Roach takes an elbow to the forehead.
Balabbo jerks Roach's head down, straight into the path of a devastating knee! Roach drops to the floor in a crumpled heap! Balabbo goes to throw a finishing haymaker but pulls out - good sportsmanship from Balabbo because Roach was completely out of it. That was a nice finish - just the right level of brutality to send everyone home happy.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:44 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Knee). Randolph Balabbo!
A victorious Randolph Balabbo thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.