PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rick Patton (ranked 4067 p4p, 382 weight class) and Finn Balor (ranked 2818 p4p, 282 weight class). Balor has chosen Monster as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Patton
vs
Balor

172 cm
40
155 lbs
20 - 20 - 0

172 cm
43
152 lbs
33 - 19 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

Zenith Nutrition (160q/225$)

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 20 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rick Patton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 33 - 19 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Finn Balor!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Daniel Cesar and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Patton throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Balor shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Patton is trying to defend but Balor finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Patton actively working from the bottom here.
Patton is pressing down on Balor's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Balor works over Patton with some ground and pound from guard.
Balor preventing the sweep.
Patton wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Balor trying to control the position from guard on top but Patton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Patton looking to hit a scissor sweep but Balor is one step ahead there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balor trying to control but Patton is working from the bottom.

Balor thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Balor cracks Patton with a solid left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Patton looking for a sweep. Not yet Patton, not yet.
Patton looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Balor puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Balor prevents Patton from improving his position.
Balor thows a huge punch but Patton dodges it nicely.
Patton wants to improve his position but Balor is controlling well.
Patton is pressing down on Balor's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Patton wants to sweep here but Balor controlling him for the moment.
Balor 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.
Patton trying to keep a closed guard but Balor is proving a slippery customer.
Balor 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.
Patton working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Balor.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Patton wants to hit a switch here but Balor passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Patton there!
Balor landing punches.
Balor sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Patton is looking to improve his position but Balor isn't that keen on the idea.
Balor trying to control but Patton is having none of it.
Balor has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Patton's face.
Patton tries to reverse the position but Balor maintains control.
Patton manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Patton trying to hold on to Balor's head to control him but Balor postures up.
Balor lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balor winds up and cracks Patton with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Balor perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Patton is trying to get back to full guard.

Patton is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Balor pulls his head out easily.
Nice strikes from Balor there.
Patton is trying to get back to full guard.
Balor is trying to control the action in half guard but Patton is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Balor uses his free foot to push down on Patton's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Patton.
Balor breaks from Patton's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Balor scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Patton?
Balor has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Patton can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balor scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Patton?
Balor content just to control the position here.
Balor lands a couple of good shots and Patton has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Patton rolls, trying to escape but Balor keeps control of the position.
Balor connects with a big shot to the side of Patton's head.
Well, with Balor on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Patton is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Balor trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Balor softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Patton trying to control the action but Balor just sinks the hooks in.
Patton is covering up but some of the strikes from Balor are getting through and doing damage.
Balor is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Patton up.

Balor tightening his grip on Patton, looking for the choke.
Balor trying to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Finn Balor dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Balor instigates a clinch.
Balor lands a body shot in the clinch.
Balor softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Balor tries a body shot but Patton blocks it.
Patton misses with a body punch.
A short right from Balor.

Balor is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Patton can't fight it off and eventually Balor manages to take the fight to the floor. Patton looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Balor postures up and lands a big shot to Patton's brow.
Balor missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Patton managing to control the position.
Patton wants to sweep here but Balor controlling him for the moment.
Balor trying to control the position from guard on top but Patton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Balor is fighting to break Patton's control of his arms but Patton is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Balor has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balor scoring with punches to the head and body.
Patton is adopting a defensive guard.
Balor slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Balor sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Patton's guard.
Balor is controlling the pace.
Balor seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Patton does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Balor is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Patton doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Balor.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Balor is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balor is trying to control the action in half guard but Patton is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Balor takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The fighters are battling for position here. Patton manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Patton keeping moving, preventing Balor from controlling successfully.
Balor 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.
Patton working a defensive guard here.
Balor's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Patton looking to hit a scissor sweep but Balor is one step ahead there.
Balor landing with the ground and pound.
Patton working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Patton is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Patton lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Balor pulls Patton in close to prevent any damage.
Balor is trying to keep Patton in close.

Balor escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Patton gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Balor is on top in guard.

Patton wants to sweep here but Balor controlling him for the moment.
Patton lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Patton looking to pass the guard.
Balor lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Patton wants to improve his position but instead Balor has moved into half guard.
Ground and pound from Balor.

Balor wants to work for an arm triangle but Patton is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The fighters are battling for position here. Patton manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Patton looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Balor controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Patton keeping moving, preventing Balor from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Finn Balor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Balor lands with a thumping leg kick.
Patton lands a right hook to the body.
Balor takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Patton fails to land the takedown.
Balor misses with a low kick.
Patton connects with a body shot.
Patton just misses with a punch to the body.
A cross from Patton lands.
Rick Patton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Balor looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Patton misses the shot to the body.
The fighters circle momentarily. Balor darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Patton fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Balor manages to avoid it.
Balor with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Patton displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Balor throws out the jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The fight stays on the outside here - Patton looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Balor throws a low kick but it's checked well by Patton.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Patton dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Patton takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Patton throws a nice looking combination but Balor bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Balor rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Patton moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Balor tests Patton's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Balor on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Patton gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Patton ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Balor moves away.
Balor pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
It looked like Patton was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Balor.
Balor throws a nice head kick!
A big left from Patton misses.
Patton is looking to wear down Balor with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Patton tries to clinch there but Balor circles away.

Balor gets a double leg takedown into Patton's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Patton is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Patton has momentary wrist control but Balor slips an elbow through the middle.
Rick Patton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Patton is on top in guard.

Balor is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Balor drops an elbow to the side of Patton's head.
Balor wants to pass the guard but Patton is defending well.
Patton works his way to full guard. Good work.
Balor controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Patton tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Balor pushing down on Patton's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Balor wants to lay and pray for a moment but Patton keeps working.
Finn Balor is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Patton wants to improve his position but Balor is controlling well.
Patton is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Balor is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Balor is thwarting Patton's attempts to control the position.
Still in half guard, Balor seems content to control.
Patton punching from the bottom.
Patton is not content to let Balor control the position.
Balor with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Patton wants to improve his position but Balor is controlling well.
Balor works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Patton is trying to escape the mount.
Balor controlling from mount.
Patton is working to get back to half guard.
Balor controlling his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Finn Balor comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Balor has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Finn Balor!
During a confident post fight interview, Finn Balor thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.