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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jo Ballinger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and JJ Tucker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ballinger comes into the arena with Cheese Scones blaring out of the sound system. Jo Ballinger could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to JJ Tucker's chin.
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| 168 cm
29
156 lbs
7 - 5 - 0 |
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160 cm
37
164 lbs
25 - 15 - 2 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jo Ballinger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
25 - 15 - 2, fighting out of London, JJ Tucker!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Shigeki Sano.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big right from Tucker misses.
Ballinger tries a head kick but it misses.
Ballinger throws a head kick but Tucker moves out of range.
Ballinger throws a lazy right hand but Tucker sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Tucker throws a looping overhand right but Ballinger ducks down to avoid it.
Tucker swats away the attempt to clinch by Ballinger.
Ballinger misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Tucker takes one to the chin there.
Ballinger fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Tucker drives through and clinches with Ballinger against the cage.
Tucker drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ballinger gets the underhooks and prevents it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Knees in the clinch landing for Tucker.
Tucker scores with a shoulder strike.
Ballinger tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ballinger is trying to force a seperation but Tucker has the dominant position.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Ballinger looking to stall.
Ballinger swings wildly with an uppercut but Tucker uses good head movement to avoid it.
A head punch on the inside from Ballinger fails to land.
Ballinger wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tucker.
Tucker lands an elbow just above Ballinger 's eye.
Tucker makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Tucker.
Tucker lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Tucker gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Tucker lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Ballinger is trying to maintain a safe position but Tucker gets an underhook and turns Ballinger into the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Ballinger.
Tucker lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Ballinger backwards.
Tucker lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tucker with an attempt at a knee that misses.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ballinger throws a head punch that misses.
Tucker lands an uppercut.
Ballinger tries a body shot but Tucker blocks it.
Tucker pushes Ballinger back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Tucker lands an elbow just above Ballinger 's eye.
Tucker landing knees to the head.
Tucker pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ballinger throws a push kick but Tucker slaps the foot to one side.
Tucker avoids a punch combination nicely.
Ballinger tries to land a front kick but Tucker steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Ballinger lands a head shot.
Ballinger keeps the fight on the outside.
Tucker ducks under a wild hook from Ballinger.
Tucker's coach down at Snake Pit was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Tucker's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Ballinger goes for a double leg but Tucker avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Tucker continues to drive forward.
Jo Ballinger seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ballinger shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Tucker moves into range and clinches up with Ballinger.
Tucker stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ballinger jumps guard but Tucker turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jo Ballinger. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A right handed body shot lands from Tucker.
Tucker breaks from the clinch.
Ballinger will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Ballinger.
Tucker connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Ballinger's hands.
Ballinger throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Tucker counters with a stiff right hand.
A head kick misses from Ballinger.
Tucker lands a nice looking body shot.
Tucker instigates a clinch.
Tucker comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Tucker makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Ballinger misses with a punch on the inside.
Tucker manages to break the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ballinger swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ballinger shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Tucker but Tucker pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ballinger misses with a body shot.
Tucker bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Ballinger's head backwards.
Ballinger swings widly with a right hand
and Tucker counters with a stiff right hand.
Ballinger swings away with a body shot that misses
and Tucker holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Ballinger swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Tucker wants to take the fight to the mat but Ballinger manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Ballinger misses with a hook from the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ballinger.
Ballinger misses with a punch to the body.
Ballinger tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ballinger is looking to control Tucker's arms but Tucker gets an underhook and turns him. Now Ballinger has his back to the cage.
Ballinger misses with some punches.
A short right from Tucker on the inside.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tucker working Ballinger over with knees to the body.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Tucker creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Ballinger wants to stall.
Ballinger jumps guard but Tucker turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
JJ Tucker dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
Good leg kick by Tucker there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
JJ Tucker seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nice shot by Tucker.
Tucker throws a leg kick which misses Ballinger's front leg but catches the back leg as Ballinger tries to avoid it.
Ballinger on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Ballinger shoots in looking for a takedown. Tucker tries to sprawl out of it but Ballinger keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Tucker manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Horrible takedown attempt by Tucker or perhaps it was just good defense by Ballinger, which made it look bad.
Ballinger takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Tucker bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Tucker looks to score with a jab to the body but Ballinger is just out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tucker scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Ballinger throws a jab when Tucker was well out of range.
Ballinger throws a hook but Tucker avoids it easily.
Tucker scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
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!
Tucker darts in and clinches Ballinger up against the cage.
Tucker lands an elbow just above Ballinger 's eye.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Tucker unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Tucker unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Tucker lands a hook that snaps the head of Ballinger backwards.
Tucker with a knee to the head.
Tucker blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Tucker lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Ballinger backwards.
Tucker scores with a knee to the head.
Tucker lands an elbow inside that Ballinger shrugs off.
Ballinger fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Tucker lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Tucker is working Ballinger over against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ballinger tries to break the clinch but Tucker is controlling the position.
Ballinger looking to slow down the pace here.
Ballinger makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Tucker softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Tucker lands a right hand.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ballinger tries a body shot but Tucker blocks it.
Ballinger is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Tucker lands a knee to the head.
Tucker working Ballinger over with knees to the body.
Ballinger is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Tucker lands a body shot in the clinch.
Tucker presses Ballinger against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Tucker lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ballinger working aggressively here.
Tucker softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Tucker lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Ballinger backwards.
Ballinger can't get the takedown.
Ballinger can't break the clinch.
Tucker scores with a shoulder strike.
Tucker with a knee to the head.
Ballinger misses with a hook to the ribs.
Tucker 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.
Tucker comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Tucker lands a body punch in the clinch.
Tucker utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A short left from Tucker.
Ballinger tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Ballinger has a couple of punches blocked by Tucker.
Ballinger trying to stall but Tucker improves his position.
Tucker scores a nice knee to the body.
Tucker has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Tucker lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ballinger has a couple of punches blocked by Tucker.
Tucker gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Tucker lands a left hand that snaps the head of Ballinger backwards.
Ballinger wants to get back to striking at distance but Tucker won't allow it.
A nice left hand lands by Tucker.
Tucker lands with a right to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tucker.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tucker lands with a short shot to the head.
Tucker manages to break the clinch.
Ballinger misses with a head kick.
Tucker throws a series of punches but Ballinger moves out of range.
Tucker lands the left hand.
Tucker scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Tucker.
Ballinger pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ballinger throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Tucker scores with a head kick.
Ballinger throws a jab but it's blocked by Tucker.
Tucker connects with a crisp jab.
Tucker moves out of range as Ballinger strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ballinger misses with a combination
and Tucker counters with a straight right hand.
Ballinger tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The fighters circling - Ballinger throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
JJ Tucker showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!
Tucker lands a nice looking body shot.
Tucker bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Tucker scores with a leg kick.
Tucker goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Tucker lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Tucker.
Ballinger misses with a left hand
and Ballinger takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ballinger is rocked!
Tucker throws a leg kick which misses Ballinger's front leg but catches the back leg as Ballinger tries to avoid it.
Ballinger on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Oh Ballinger is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
The fight stays on the outside here - Tucker looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ballinger seems to have got his legs back now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ballinger scores with a nice right hand.
Tucker uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ballinger.
Ballinger is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Ballinger misses the jab.
Tucker has closed the distance and engaged Ballinger in a clinch.
A body shot lands from Tucker.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Tucker is trying to drag Ballinger to the mat but Ballinger just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Tucker lands a body punch.
Tucker lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Ballinger.
Still in the clinch, Tucker scores with a nice short uppercut.
JJ Tucker seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Tucker works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Tucker breaks from the clinch.
Ballinger takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Ballinger shoots in for a double leg but Tucker sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ballinger looks to land a right hand but Tucker moved out of range.
Ballinger looks to land a combination but Tucker avoids it well.
Tucker fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Tucker uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ballinger.
Ballinger misses with a takedown
and Tucker counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Tucker connects with a solid leg kick.
Jo Ballinger has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Tucker.
Tucker cracks Ballinger with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Good shot there by Tucker.
Tucker clinches up against the cage.
Tucker gets through Ballinger's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Tucker breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tucker darts in and clinches Ballinger up against the cage.
Tucker lands a left hand.
Tucker connects with a knee to the head.
Tucker breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ballinger ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tucker moves away.
Ballinger closes the distance and clinches up with Tucker, looking for a takedown. Ballinger pushes Tucker against the cage but Tucker circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jo Ballinger. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ballinger throws a head kick that misses
letting Tucker counter with a right hand.
Ballinger throws a leg kick but Tucker moved away.
Tucker darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Ballinger pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Tucker shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tucker throwing strikes but missing.
Tucker working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ballinger seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Tucker avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Tucker throws a big right hand that misses.
Ballinger preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Tucker throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Tucker is looking to advance position but Ballinger has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Tucker tries to get back to half guard but can't.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tucker throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Tucker tries to hold on but Ballinger postures up.
Ballinger throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Ballinger working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Ballinger looking for a guillotine from mount but Tucker is having none of it.
JJ Tucker is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Tucker slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Ballinger is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Tucker moves into full guard.
And that's the end of the fight!
JJ Tucker comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Tucker 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... JJ Tucker!
An out of breath JJ Tucker thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
Jo Ballinger was interviewed post fight and said 'You must defeat Sheng Long to stand a chance!'.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
79% |
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