PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Paulo Blikstein (ranked 4289 p4p, 23635 weight class) and Israel Adesanya (ranked 504 p4p, 706 weight class). Israel Adesanya is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Blikstein
vs
Adesanya

187 cm
20
200
1 - 2 - 0

193 cm
23
185
3 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Paulo Blikstein!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Israel Adesanya!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Frank Dennis and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Adesanya ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Blikstein looks to land a right hand but Adesanya moved out of range.
Blikstein misses with a wild body shot.
We've been told by Blikstein's head coaches at UnderGround BJJ & MMA that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Adesanya takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Blikstein takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Adesanya jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Blikstein fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Adesanya manages to avoid it.
Blikstein tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Adesanya was well out of range. Poor timing from Blikstein.
A jab from Adesanya misses.
Adesanya misses with a hook

and Blikstein counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Blikstein.
Adesanya wants to sweep here but Blikstein controlling him for the moment.
Blikstein slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Adesanya keeping moving, preventing Blikstein from controlling successfully.
Adesanya looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Adesanya is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Blikstein has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Adesanya avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Blikstein throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Adesanya works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Adesanya trying to control the position here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Adesanya scores with a three punch combo!
Adesanya misses with a wild body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blikstein takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Adesanya takes a swing at Blikstein's ribcage but misses.
Blikstein sizes up Adesanya with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Blikstein uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Adesanya.
Adesanya takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Blikstein fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Adesanya manages to avoid it.

Blikstein closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Adesanya quickly recovers to half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Adesanya manages to get to full guard.
Adesanya preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Blikstein loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Blikstein content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Adesanya is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blikstein is looking to work some ground and pound but Adesanya has wrist control.
Blikstein is looking to work some ground and pound but Adesanya has wrist control.
Blikstein throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Blikstein throwing strikes from guard but Adesanya blocks nicely.
Blikstein throws a big right hand that misses.
Blikstein with a nice head shot there.
Blikstein throws a big right hand that misses.
Blikstein throws a strike but Adesanya rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Blikstein keeping moving, preventing Adesanya from controlling successfully.
Blikstein wants to stand but Adesanya is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blikstein is trying to keep Adesanya in close.
Blikstein is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Adesanya is controlling him.
Adesanya is fighting to break Blikstein's control of his arms but Blikstein is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Adesanya is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Blikstein working for submissions but it's allowed Adesanya to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Paulo Blikstein will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Adesanya lands with a straight right. Blikstein didn't see that one coming.
Adesanya ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Adesanya throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Blikstein punishes Adesanya's body with a nice straight punch.
Adesanya closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Blikstein thows a left - swing and a miss!
Blikstein with a nice cross.
Paulo Blikstein is winning the standup battle so far.
Adesanya misses with an uppercut
and Blikstein connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Blikstein looking to score a takedown here. Adesanya is defending well but Blikstein drives through and ends up in Adesanya's guard.
Adesanya 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.
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!
Blikstein postures up in Adesanya's guard and throws a big left but Adesanya blocks it.
Blikstein is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Blikstein trying to control the position from guard on top but Adesanya is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Blikstein is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Adesanya can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blikstein throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Adesanya works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Adesanya wants to sweep but no luck.
Adesanya controls Blikstein momentarily but Blikstein frees himself.
Blikstein postures up in Adesanya's guard and throws a big left but Adesanya blocks it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Blikstein accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Blikstein postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Blikstein throws a strike but Adesanya rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Blikstein has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Adesanya is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Blikstein.
Blikstein bucks up and tries to throw Adesanya off but instead Adesanya has got his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Adesanya controlling well, preventing Blikstein from escaping the position.
Blikstein wants to get back to his feet.
Blikstein is trying to break free.
Adesanya has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Blikstein's body.
Blikstein is trying to get back to his feet but Adesanya has full control of the position and if anything, Blikstein has just worked his way into a worse spot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blikstein staying busy and making it hard for Adesanya to control.
Blikstein looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
I would not like to be Blikstein right now.
Blikstein is trying to stand back up.
Adesanya is looking to control Blikstein but Blikstein is wriggling around and keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Adesanya keeps control of the position as Blikstein tries to break free.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Blikstein trying to get back to his feet but Adesanya is in full control for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Adesanya avoiding Blikstein 's attempts to control his hands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Paulo Blikstein will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Adesanya scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Adesanya slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Adesanya looks to land a combination but Blikstein avoids it well.
Blikstein dodges the punch combination from Adesanya.
Jab from Adesanya.

Blikstein dives in and scores a takedown into Adesanya's guard.
Adesanya trying to control the position here.
Blikstein postures up and lands a big shot to Adesanya's brow.
Blikstein working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Blikstein landing with the ground and pound.

It looks like Israel Adesanya has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Adesanya keeping moving, preventing Blikstein from controlling successfully.
Blikstein loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Adesanya 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.
Blikstein trying to control but Adesanya is working from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Adesanya is on top in guard.

Blikstein wants to control the position but Adesanya says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blikstein is looking for a sweep. Adesanya is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Blikstein trying to control but Adesanya postures up.
Paulo Blikstein overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Blikstein tries to get to full guard but Adesanya has control of the leg.
Adesanya wants to lay and pray for a moment but Blikstein keeps working.
Adesanya is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Blikstein!
Blikstein is desperately trying to improve his position but Adesanya has a good base and remains in mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blikstein is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Blikstein tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Adesanya sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Adesanya tries to control but Blikstein wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Blikstein tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Adesanya sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Blikstein working to try and regain half guard.
Blikstein tries to buck Adesanya off but he can't manage it.
Israel Adesanya has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Paulo Blikstein is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Blikstein tries to hold on but Adesanya postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Israel Adesanya comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Blikstein has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paulo Blikstein!