PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tinashe Chukwuma (ranked 130 p4p, 180 weight class) and Billy Blank (ranked 15 p4p, 21 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Chukwuma
vs
Blank

190 cm
34
254
23 - 10 - 0

225 cm
32
265
21 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Furnace Performance 🔥
Gatoroids

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 23 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tinashe Chukwuma!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Billy Blank!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Paulo Santos and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chukwuma lands a really nice looking cross but Blank seems unphased.
Blank throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
letting Chukwuma counter with a right hand.
Blank looks to land a combination. Chukwuma sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

It looks like Tinashe Chukwuma has been cut.
Blank misses with a two punch combination.
Blank's jab looks to have found its range, popping Chukwuma under the eye.
Chukwuma throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Blank 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.
Chukwuma moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Blank misses with a wild combination.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Blank jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
The fighters circling - Chukwuma throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Blank misses with an uppercut. Chukwuma saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blank looks to land a left hand but Chukwuma moved out of range nicely.
Blank throws an off balance right hand
and Chukwuma counters with a low kick, right behind Blank 's knee.
Blank dips to his left and cracks Chukwuma with an uppercut!
Chukwuma keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Blank throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Chukwuma sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Chukwuma throws a quick counter kick to the body but Blank avoids it.
Blank lands a jab.
Blank throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Chukwuma counters with a slapping leg kick.
Billy Blank is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Blank misses with a left hand
and Chukwuma connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
No joy there for Blank, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Blank swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Chukwuma.
A nice leg kick from Chukwuma, right into the meat of the thigh.
Chukwuma slips a straight right by Blank.
Billy Blank seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Chukwuma moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Blank looks winded!
Nice defenses there by Blank.
A countering left hand to the body from Blank misses.
Chukwuma lands a lovely overhand right.
Blank misses with a right hand
and Chukwuma counters with a straight right hand.

Chukwuma shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Blank napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Blank is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Chukwuma trying to control the action but Blank is working from the bottom.
Chukwuma lands a decent elbow from side control.
Chukwuma throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Blank works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Blank is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Chukwuma looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blank trying to control but Chukwuma postures up.
Chukwuma scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Blank looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Blank is doing well to control the position and prevent Chukwuma from advancing to side control.

Blank looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Chukwuma is nestled in close to Blank, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Chukwuma throwing shots but Blank is blocking nicely.
Blank is trying to maintain the position but Chukwuma is very close to passing his half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Chukwuma thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Blank wants to control but Chukwuma is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Still in half guard, Chukwuma seems content to control.
Chukwuma drops an elbow to the side of Blank's head.

Blank looking for submissions off his back.
Blank is looking to control Chukwuma's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Blank avoid being mounted?
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tinashe Chukwuma dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tinashe Chukwuma's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Jab from Chukwuma.
Chukwuma moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Blank throws a big shot that misses.
Chukwuma shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Blank as he avoids it easily.
Blank looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Blank misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Chukwuma takes one on the button.
Blank looks to land a left hand but Chukwuma moved out of range nicely.
Chukwuma drops down looking for a counter takedown but Blank sprawls and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blank throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Blank throws a looping overhand right but Chukwuma ducks down to avoid it.
Blank connects with a crisp jab.

Tinashe Chukwuma's cut is getting worse.
Blank looks to land a right hand but Chukwuma moved out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Blank.
Chukwuma tried to counter with a leg kick but Blank avoided it.
Chukwuma avoids the body shot from Blank.
Blank throws a big shot that misses.
A lazy left from Blank finds it's target.
Chukwuma fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Chukwuma drops his hands momentarily and Blank takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Blank throws a poor cross that misses

and Chukwuma counters with a series of strikes that sends Blank to the canvas! Chukwuma follows down into guard, looking to finish the fight!
Blank keeping moving, preventing Chukwuma from controlling successfully.
Chukwuma connects with a couple of short punches.
Chukwuma might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blank utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Chukwuma wants to control from the top but Blank keeps moving.
Chukwuma stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Blank swivels though and keeps the full guard.
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!
Blank keeping moving, preventing Chukwuma from controlling successfully.
Chukwuma passes Blank's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Still in half guard, Chukwuma seems content to control.
Chukwuma is trying to control the action in half guard but Blank is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Blank looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Blank looking for submissions off his back.
Chukwuma looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Blank wants to control but Chukwuma is keeping busy.

Blank looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Chukwuma stalling.
Blank blocking the ground and pound attempt from Chukwuma.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Blank trying to control here.
Blank is staying active underneath Chukwuma, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Blank throws out a loose jab but Chukwuma uses good head movement to avoid it.
Blank throws a hook to the side of Chukwuma's head but Chukwuma sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Chukwuma attempts a counter takedown but Blank avoids it well and moves away.
Blank might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Blank fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Chukwuma manages to avoid it.
Chukwuma misses with an uppercut. Blank saw that one coming.
Chukwuma throws a lazy uppercut
and Blank counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Blank takes one to the chin there.
Chukwuma swings for the body but Blank moves out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Blank showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Tinashe Chukwuma's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Chukwuma throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Chukwuma ducks under a wild hook from Blank.
Blank dips to his left and cracks Chukwuma with an uppercut!
Blank is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
A telegraphed right hand from Blank misses the target.
Billy Blank seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Chukwuma shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Chukwuma was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Blank defending against the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Chukwuma wants to lay and pray for a moment but Blank keeps working.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blank trying to control but Chukwuma flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Chukwuma avoiding Blank 's attempts to control his hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blank manages to reverse the position and now he's in Chukwuma's guard. Nice work there by Blank.
Blank working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Blank throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Chukwuma pulls Blank in close to prevent any damage.
Blank is looking to work some ground and pound but Chukwuma has wrist control.
Chukwuma has Blank pulled in close to control his posture.
Blank wants to control from the top but Chukwuma keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blank throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Chukwuma avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Blank throws a big elbow that misses.
Chukwuma is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Chukwuma is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Blank looking to sit in guard and control but Chukwuma gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Blank working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chukwuma is pushing down on Blank's leg trying to pass to half guard. Blank is fighting to maintain full guard but Chukwuma has managed to sneak the leg through.
Blank has hold of Chukwuma's hands but Chukwuma slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Chukwuma with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Blank tries to roll over but Chukwuma keeps him under control.
Chukwuma working the head and body with strikes.

Blank actively working from the bottom here.
Blank trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chukwuma throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Blank to regain full guard.
Blank wants to sweep but no luck.
Chukwuma throws a big elbow that misses.

Chukwuma avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Chukwuma connects with a couple of short punches.
Chukwuma chips away with some ground and pound.
Chukwuma is in close to Blank's body, working some short punches and elbows.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Chukwuma wants to control from the top but Blank keeps moving.
Chukwuma postures up in Blank's guard and throws a big left but Blank blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tinashe Chukwuma showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Chukwuma 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tinashe Chukwuma!
Tinashe Chukwuma thanked the fans post fight for their support.
The defeated Billy Blank had this to say: 'I lost focus and i paid for it. it was a great fight and i am coming back much better.'.