GBP: Yves Ulysse, Jr. vs. Ismael José Barroso Bernay & D'Mitrius Ballard vs. Yamaguchi Falcão RBR

6th edged by Falcão; 7th to Big Meech.

 

Power stats in round seven:

Ballard 10 of 21, 48%
Falcão 4 of 19, 21%

 

Dougie Fischer has Falcão up by three points, but acknowledges it could be closer, even level (although he thinks Ballard certainly ought to need to sweep the rest of the rounds to have a chance).

 

Falcão looked hurt by a counter uppercut downstairs at one point, and by an overhand right past a lulling jab during another nice display of counter timing on Ballard's part, but the Brazilian is more the ring general in round eight, not so much landing effectively but controlling terrain and positioning Ballard where he likes with the constantly pumping right jab and jab-feints. Super close round.

 

Fischer gave Ballard round eight (with the caveat that it easily could've gone the other way) and has it 77-75 Falcão.

 

Punches thrown after eight:

Ballard 294
Falcão 311

 

The lazy double left jab and looping right hand worked nicely for Ballard a couple of times, but you can only surprise an opponent so many times with that. Falcão starting to get wise and now slinking away from the first jab, taking away Ballard's target and denying him the follow-up. Ballard, to his credit, makes the adjustment by now looping the right hand into the body with an extra step inside, digging hard into Falcão's ribs.