PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Maria Freeman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ambo Balisi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Freeman
vs
Balisi

150 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Maria Freeman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ambo Balisi!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Yves DeLean and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balisi tries a head kick but it misses.
Balisi throws a body kick that misses.
A head kick misses from Balisi.
Freeman tried to counter with a leg kick but Balisi avoided it.
A nice combination there by Balisi.

It looks like Maria Freeman has been cut.
Balisi throws a head kick that misses

and Freeman counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Freeman.
Freeman slowing the pace effectively.
Freeman keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Balisi's efforts to push away.
Freeman keeps control of Balisi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Balisi wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Balisi wants to break the clinch but can't.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Balisi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Balisi fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Balisi throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Ambo Balisi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Freeman tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Balisi is able to avoid easily.
Balisi changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Balisi tries a head kick but it misses.
As Balisi backs away, Freeman returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balisi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
It looked like Freeman was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Freeman misses with a head kick.
Freeman avoids the head kick by Balisi.

Balisi pushes Freeman up against the cage in a clinch.
Freeman tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Balisi can't break the clinch.
Balisi is trying to break the clinch but Freeman is controlling him.
Balisi is trying to break the clinch but Freeman has him pressed against the cage.
Freeman prevents Balisi from breaking the clinch.
Freeman keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Balisi's efforts to push away.
Balisi looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A frustrated look appears on Balisi's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Balisi wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Freeman has him pressed against the cage.
Balisi takes an elbow to the forehead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balisi tries to break the clinch but Freeman is controlling the position.
Balisi has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Freeman has Balisi pressed against the cage, preventing Balisi from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Balisi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Freeman misses with a straight left.
Balisi misses with a takedown attempt

and Freeman counters by moving into the clinch.
Balisi looks winded!
Balisi tries to break the clinch but Freeman is controlling the position.
Freeman keeps control of Balisi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Freeman lands a damaging elbow.
Balisi is trying to break the clinch but Freeman has him pressed against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Balisi's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Freeman is struggling to control the position.
Balisi is trying to break the clinch but Freeman is controlling him.
Balisi is looking to break free of the clinch but Freeman has double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balisi tries to circle away but Freeman has him pinned against the cage.
Balisi wants to get back to striking at distance but Freeman won't allow it.
Freeman really is a fat lump.
Balisi stops a takedown attempt from Freeman.
Balisi is trying to force a seperation but Freeman has the dominant position.
Balisi working hard to break the clinch.
Balisi wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Balisi prevents a body shot from Freeman.
Freeman keeps control of Balisi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Balisi wants to break free but Freeman has control.
Balisi is trying to push Freeman away but Freeman has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Freeman lands a left hand.
Freeman prevents Balisi from breaking the clinch.
Freeman stops a takedown attempt from Balisi.
Freeman keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Balisi's efforts to push away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Balisi is trying to force a seperation but Freeman has the dominant position.
Balisi managing to block the knees to the body from Freeman.
Freeman stalls.
Balisi letting Freeman take a breather here.
Balisi tries to break free but Freeman pushes him back against the cage.
Balisi is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Freeman prevents Balisi from breaking the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Freeman creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Balisi tries to circle away but Freeman has him pinned against the cage.
Balisi wants to break free but Freeman has control.
Freeman is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Balisi is defending well for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ambo Balisi will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Maria Freeman's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Balisi looks for the body kick but Freeman saw that one coming.
Freeman has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Balisi.
Balisi misses the jab.

Balisi moves into the clinch.
Balisi can't break the clinch.
Balisi wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Balisi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Balisi misses with a head kick.
Freeman swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

Balisi gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A frustrated look appears on Balisi's face as he tries to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A frustrated look appears on Balisi's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Freeman controlling the action here for a moment.
Balisi wants to get back to striking at distance but Freeman won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Balisi breaks from the clinch.
Balisi misses with a double jab.
Balisi misses with the combination.
Balisi is breathing heavily.
Freeman waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Balisi.
Balisi throws a head kick but Freeman moves out of range.
Freeman wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Freeman loads up on a big right hand but Balisi slips the punch.
Freeman throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Freeman tries a head kick but it misses.
A head kick misses from Balisi.
Balisi slips under a jab.
Balisi throws a head kick that misses.

Balisi gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Freeman has Balisi pushed against the cage.
Freeman looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Freeman keeps control of Balisi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Maria Freeman has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Balisi tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Freeman smiles and moves away.
Balisi checks the leg kick nicely there.

Freeman shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Freeman is looking for a kimura but Balisi is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Freeman to get the leverage.

Freeman has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Balisi defend it? Freeman steps over the head and cranks it - Balisi is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Freeman!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:41 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Maria Freeman!