PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sandro Bala (ranked 3271 p4p, 378 weight class) and Karelin Pripyat (ranked 2279 p4p, 269 weight class). Bala comes to the cage accompanied by Southpaw- Bone Thugs. Sandro Bala could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Karelin Pripyat's chin.

Bala
vs
Pripyat

200 cm
20
265 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

193 cm
20
265 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

Urban Fighter
Real Men Supplements

Real Men Supplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sandro Bala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Karelin Pripyat!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Stewart Dunkirk and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pripyat throws a shot from downtown. Bala moves away and avoids it.
Bala throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

It looks like Karelin Pripyat has been cut.

Pripyat moves into the clinch.
Bala stops a takedown attempt from Pripyat.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Pripyat has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Bala lands a right hand that snaps the head of Pripyat backwards.
Bala is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Bala.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Bala creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Bala misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Bala swings away with an uppercut that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bala misses with a short punch on the inside.

Bala breaks from the clinch.

Pripyat has Bala up against the cage in a clinch.
Bala tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pripyat prevents a body shot from Bala.
Still in the clinch, Bala scores with a nice short uppercut.
Bala tries a body shot but Pripyat blocks it.
Bala works on Pripyat's body with a couple of short punches.
Pripyat blocks a body shot from Bala.
Bala misses with a hook to the ribs.
Bala misses with a punch on the inside.
Bala fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Bala goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Bala tries to work over Pripyat's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Bala.
Bala misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bala is trying to push Pripyat away but Pripyat has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Bala misses with a punch to the body.
Pripyat has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Bala is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
A short uppercut from Bala.
Bala tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Nice body punch from Bala.
Pripyat is trying to drag Bala to the mat but Bala just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Sandro Bala has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Karelin Pripyat.

Bala escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bala tries to clinch up but Pripyat circles away and keeps his distance.
Pripyat fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Bala on the side of the head.

Pripyat rushes Bala and presses him up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Bala.
Bala doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Pripyat goes for a takedown attempt but Bala pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Pripyat throws a right hand that misses
and Bala counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Bala throws a nice head kick!

That has opened up Karelin Pripyat's cut even more.
Karelin Pripyat seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pripyat is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bala.

Bala clinches.
Bala tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Pripyat's elbow.
Bala lands a left hand that snaps the head of Pripyat backwards.
Bala misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Bala is fighting off a takedown attempt but Pripyat is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Bala to the mat. Bala regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Pripyat makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Bala looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Bala throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Pripyat's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Bala is looking for a triangle but Pripyat pushes his legs off easily.
We've been hearing good reports from Bala's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

Bala working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Pripyat doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Pripyat manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Pripyat trying to control the position from guard on top but Bala is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Pripyat got a little sloppy there for a moment and Bala has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Pripyat has managed to get both his arms back between Bala's legs - danger averted.

Bala working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Pripyat doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Pripyat manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sandro Bala dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Karelin Pripyat's cut.
That's time! Bala's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Pripyat bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Bala's head.

Pripyat fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Bala, pushing him back against the cage.
Bala goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Bala is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Pripyat can do to turn this around?
Bala swings wildly with an uppercut but Pripyat uses good head movement to avoid it.
Pripyat looking for a takedown.
A short right from Bala on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bala misses with a punch on the inside.
Bala tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Bala misses with a short punch on the inside.
Bala lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pripyat gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Pripyat distracts Bala with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Pripyat is in close to Bala's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Bala throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Pripyat working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Bala's head.
Pripyat is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Bala is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Bala is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Pripyat stands up over Bala, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Bala is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Pripyat must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bala working a defensive guard here.
Pripyat with a nice head shot there.
Bala is trying to keep Pripyat in close.

Bala looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Pripyat passes into side control.
Check out the look on Pripyat's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pripyat trying to control the action but Bala is working from the bottom.

Pripyat wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Bala, who protects the arm well.
Bala is trying to control Pripyat's posture but Pripyat avoids it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pripyat lands a strong strike to the head of Bala. That's dazed him! Pripyat looking to finish here. Bala is waving his arms around trying to block but he's hurt badly - Pripyat lands more strikes and the referee steps in to end the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:23 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Karelin Pripyat!
Karelin Pripyat made sure to mention his sponsor, Real Men Supplements in his post fight interview.