PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Oscar Blaydes (ranked 1987 p4p, 1931 weight class) and Jacques Swanson (ranked 244 p4p, 238 weight class). Blaydes comes to the cage accompanied by Black Sunshine - White Zombie. Swanson has chosen Gorillaz- Clint Eastwood as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Blaydes
vs
Swanson

171 cm
26
158
4 - 1 - 1

166 cm
27
158
7 - 7 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 4 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Oscar Blaydes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Jacques Swanson!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Andrew Berry and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blaydes tries to close the distance and clinch up but Swanson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Swanson misses with a body kick.
Blaydes thumps Swanson with a low kick.

Swanson clinches up with Blaydes and pushes him back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Swanson.
Swanson throws a head punch that misses.
A short right from Blaydes on the inside.
Swanson lands a left hand.
Blaydes misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Swanson fails to land.
Blaydes blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Blaydes misses with a hook to the ribs.
Blaydes has a couple of punches blocked by Swanson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Swanson is trying to break the clinch but Blaydes has him pressed against the cage.
A short right from Blaydes on the inside.
Swanson blocking some punches.
Still in the clinch, Blaydes scores with a nice short uppercut.
Blaydes misses with a body punch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Blaydes swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swanson struggles to land a body shot inside as Blaydes controls his hands.

Blaydes manages to break the clinch.
Blaydes misses the shot to the body.
Blaydes scores with a jab.
Blaydes jabs Swanson right on the nose. Swanson blinks but takes it well.
Blaydes jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Blaydes tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Swanson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
An inside leg kick lands from Blaydes.
Swanson has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Swanson connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Blaydes avoids the head kick by Swanson.
An attempted straight right counter from Blaydes misses the target.
Swanson misses with an attempted mid kick.
Blaydes lands with a nice body punch.
That kick from Swanson tenderised Blaydes's leg. Blaydes is trying to keep his angry face on.
Swanson blocks a head kick by Blaydes.
Blaydes checks the leg kick.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Blaydes lunges at Swanson with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Swanson's hand.
Swanson sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Swanson with a nice calf kick.
Swanson moves in looking to clinch but Blaydes pushes him off.
Blaydes wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blaydes throws a head kick that misses.
Blaydes avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Swanson misses with a body kick.
Blaydes cracks a nice hook into Swanson's ribs.
Blaydes checks a leg kick nicely.
As Swanson backs away, Blaydes returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Swanson attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Blaydes jabs at Swanson's body.
A slapping leg kick lands for Blaydes.
Blaydes fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Blaydes looks to score with a jab to the body but Swanson is just out of range.
Blaydes doesn't manage to clinch there - Swanson circles away.
Blaydes avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Swanson throws a half hearted mid kick.
Swanson needs to keep his hands up - Blaydes had a free shot at his head there.
Blaydes misses with a leg kick.
Blaydes tried to score with a low kick but Swanson checks it.
Swanson tries to work over Blaydes's front leg with a kick but Blaydes checks it.
Swanson dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Blaydes. That did some damage!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Blaydes looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Blaydes fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Swanson, pushing him back against the cage.
Blaydes working aggressively here.
Swanson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Blaydes swings wildly with an uppercut but Swanson uses good head movement to avoid it.

Blaydes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Blaydes swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Swanson throws a lazy right hand but Blaydes sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Blaydes misses with a kick to the body
letting Swanson counter with a right hand.
Swanson tries to land a front kick but Blaydes steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Swanson throws a leg kick which misses Blaydes's front leg but catches the back leg as Blaydes tries to avoid it.
A jab from Blaydes finds it's way through Swanson's defenses.
A leg kick checked by Blaydes.

Blaydes clinches up with Swanson and pushes him back against the cage.

Swanson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Swanson is looking to land body kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swanson throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Blaydes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Swanson throws a leg kick
and Blaydes counters with a solid body kick.
Blaydes thuds his right hand into Swanson's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Blaydes checks the leg kick.
Blaydes is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Swanson attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Swanson misses with a hook to the ribs.
Blaydes misses with a punch on the inside.
Swanson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Blaydes tries a body shot but Swanson blocks it.
Blaydes scores with a shoulder strike.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Swanson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Swanson slows down the pace here.
Swanson misses with a short punch on the inside.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Oscar Blaydes dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Blaydes takes a swing at Swanson's ribcage but misses.
Swanson takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Oscar Blaydes is winning the standup battle so far.
Swanson tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Blaydes is able to avoid easily.
Blaydes slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Blaydes scores with a push kick.
Swanson drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Blaydes scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
A solid leg kick lands there for Blaydes.
Blaydes jabs Swanson to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Swanson looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Blaydes tries to clinch but Swanson is having none of it.
Swanson motions for Blaydes to come forward. Swanson throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Blaydes is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Swanson can do to turn this around?
Swanson throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Blaydes's head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Blaydes on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Swanson. Swanson obviously looking to wear him down.
Swanson misses with an attempted mid kick.
Swanson wants to slow Blaydes down by chopping away at his legs.
Swanson takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Blaydes ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Swanson moves away.
Swanson misses with a low kick.
Blaydes tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Swanson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swanson throws a right and a left that Blaydes avoids nicely.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Swanson pivots, looking for a leg kick but Blaydes is out of range and Swanson settles back down.
Blaydes blocks a leg kick.
Blaydes scores with a nice head shot.
Blaydes lands a nice shot to the body.
A nice leg kick lands there from Blaydes.
Blaydes avoids the head kick by Swanson.
Blaydes scores with a nice strike.
Swanson takes one to the chin there.
Blaydes tries to clinch but Swanson is having none of it.
Swanson throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Blaydes lands a really nice looking cross but Swanson seems unphased.
Swanson throws a wild body kick that Blaydes sees coming a mile off.
A leg kick checked by Blaydes.
Blaydes was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Blaydes lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Swanson looks to land a right hand but Blaydes moved out of range.
Blaydes is looking to counter punch.
Blaydes lands with a kick to the ribs.
Swanson throws a leg kick but Blaydes moved away.
Swanson takes one to the chin there.
Blaydes tries to clinch up but Swanson circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blaydes fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Swanson on the side of the head.
Swanson thows a leg kick but Blaydes checks it
and Blaydes counters with an inside leg kick.
A thudding body kick lands there by Blaydes!
Blaydes pushes Swanson away with a front kick.
Swanson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Blaydes.

Blaydes rushes Swanson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Blaydes misses with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Blaydes.
Blaydes cracks Swanson with a nice body shot.
Blaydes lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Swanson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Swanson throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Blaydess head.
Blaydes goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Blaydes misses with a punch to the body.
Swanson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Blaydes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Blaydes lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
That kick from Swanson tenderised Blaydes's leg. Blaydes is trying to keep his angry face on.
Swanson is looking to land body kicks.
As Swanson backs away, Blaydes returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Swanson attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Swanson takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Swanson throws a body kick that misses.
Blaydes lands with a hook. Swanson tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

Blaydes gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Swanson manages to break the clinch.
Blaydes moves out of range of the leg kick from Swanson.
Blaydes keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Swanson walks forward, straight into a front kick from Blaydes.
Swanson avoids a kick to the body.
A nice leg kick lands there from Blaydes.

Blaydes forces Swanson back against the cage and clinches.
Swanson tries to work over Blaydes's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Swanson prevents a body shot from Blaydes.
Blaydes takes a shot to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A short left from Swanson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blaydes misses with a hook from the clinch.
Blaydes goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Swanson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Swanson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Swanson just leaning against Blaydes, taking a breather.
Blaydes blocks an uppercut.
Swanson softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Blaydes misses with a short punch on the inside.
Swanson blocks an uppercut.
Blaydes doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Swanson has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Blaydes.
Swanson lands a body punch in the clinch.
Swanson wants to break the clinch but can't.
Swanson is trying to push Blaydes away but Blaydes has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Blaydes lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Swanson prevents a body shot from Blaydes.
Swanson blocks an uppercut.
Blaydes lands an uppercut.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Oscar Blaydes dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

A jab from Blaydes finds it's way through Swanson's defenses.
Blaydes missing with a left hand there. Swanson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Oscar Blaydes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sloppy strikes from Swanson. Those never looked like landing.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Swanson lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Blaydes has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Blaydes and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Swanson tried to score with a low kick but Blaydes checks it.
Blaydes scoring well with a low kick there.
Blaydes moves in looking to clinch but Swanson pushes him off.
Blaydes pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Swanson scores with a leg kick.
Blaydes checks a leg kick nicely.
A little feinted left hand from Blaydes on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Blaydes is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Swanson throws a chopping leg kick but Blaydes manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Blaydes fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Swanson, pushing him back against the cage.
Swanson scores with a shot to the side of Blaydes's head.
Blaydes struggles to land a body shot inside as Swanson controls his hands.
Blaydes lands a left hand that snaps the head of Swanson backwards.
Blaydes blocking some punches.

Swanson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blaydes lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Swanson has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Blaydes throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Blaydes lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Blaydes throws a leg kick which misses Swanson's front leg but catches the back leg as Swanson tries to avoid it.
Blaydes moves in looking to clinch but Swanson pushes him off.
Blaydes checks a leg kick.
It looks like Blaydes has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Swanson throws out a loose jab but Blaydes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Blaydes catches Swanson with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Blaydes connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Swanson on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Swanson.
Blaydes thows a body kick. Swanson tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Blaydes thumps Swanson with a low kick.
Good work by Blaydes as he checks the leg kick.
Blaydes tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Swanson misses with a leg kick
and Blaydes makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Swanson really felt that one!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Swanson misses with a straight left.
Blaydes feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Blaydes with a nice calf kick.
Swanson throws a leg kick which misses Blaydes's front leg but catches the back leg as Blaydes tries to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blaydes dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Swanson. That did some damage!
Blaydes checks a leg kick.
Swanson misses with an attempted mid kick.
Swanson takes one to the chin there.
Nice uppercut there from Blaydes.
Swanson throws a front kick aimed at Blaydes's knee but Blaydes avoids it well.
Swanson will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Blaydes checks the leg kick.
Swanson takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Swanson stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Blaydes.
Swanson throws a wild body kick that Blaydes sees coming a mile off.
Blaydes checks the leg kick nicely there.
Blaydes jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Blaydes connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Blaydes throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Swanson looks to land a body kick but Blaydes moved away.
Swanson throws a solid leg kick but Blaydes takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Swanson.
Swanson misses with a leg kick.

Blaydes darts in and clinches Swanson up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swanson trying to control the position but instead, Blaydes has worked for underhooks and has pushed Swanson into the cage.
Swanson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Blaydes misses with some punches.
Blaydes misses with a body punch.
Blaydes lands a left hand that snaps the head of Swanson backwards.
Blaydes working aggressively here.
Swanson taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Blaydes lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Swanson.
Blaydes tries to throw a body punch but Swanson avoids it by throwing Blaydes back against the cage.
Blaydes working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Swanson misses with some punches.
Blaydes misses with a punch to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Swanson.
Blaydes tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swanson swings wildly with an uppercut but Blaydes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Blaydes pushes Swanson back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Blaydes misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Swanson swings wildly with an uppercut but Blaydes uses good head movement to avoid it.
A nice right hand lands inside from Swanson.
Blaydes blocks a body shot from Swanson.

Swanson manages to break the clinch.
Nice body kick there by Swanson.
Jacques Swanson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
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!
Blaydes lands a body shot.
Swanson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Blaydes drives through and clinches with Swanson against the cage.
Swanson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Blaydes lands a right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Oscar Blaydes showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Blaydes has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 William Gold scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Oscar Blaydes!
A very excited looking Oscar Blaydes made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.
The defeated Jacques Swanson had this to say: 'I don't think I have what it takes right now. I'm going to sit down and have a long talk with my family. See which way I want to go in life.'.