PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kenny Blankenship (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Victor Sagat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Blankenship comes to the cage accompanied by Dead Man's Party. Sagat has chosen His own theme music as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Blankenship
vs
Sagat

186 cm
23
196 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

194 cm
24
193 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kenny Blankenship!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Victor Sagat!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Alexandre Firmino and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sagat throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sagat throws a head kick but Blankenship moves out of range.
Blankenship listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Sagat cracks the inside of Blankenship's front leg.
Blankenship misses with a body kick.
Blankenship lands a slapping body shot.
Blankenship throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Blankenship misses with a two punch combination.
Blankenship throws a leg kick that misses.
Blankenship swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sagat tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sagat misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sagat looks gassed!
Sagat tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Blankenship was well out of range. Poor timing from Sagat.
Blankenship throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sagat dodges the punch combination from Blankenship.
Blankenship lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
A punch combination from Blankenship misses.
Sagat throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A bone on bone clash there as Blankenship blocks the leg kick.
Blankenship throws a lazy right hand but Sagat sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Sagat chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Blankenship scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sagat ducks under a wild hook from Blankenship.
Blankenship lands a slapping body shot.
Sagat lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Sagat connects with a high kick.
No joy there for Blankenship, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Sagat throws a front kick aimed at Blankenship's knee but Blankenship avoids it well.
Blankenship checks a leg kick.
Blankenship stalks Sagat and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Sagat's face. Sagat staggers backwards, shaken.
Blankenship throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Sagat counters with a slapping leg kick.
Blankenship misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sagat misses with a series of wild punches.
Blankenship takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Blankenship swings for the body but Sagat moves out of range.
Blankenship scores with a nice right hand.
Sagat feints and then cracks Blankenship's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Blankenship down.
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!
Blankenship misses the shot to the body.
Sagat throws a leg kick which misses Blankenship's front leg but catches the back leg as Blankenship tries to avoid it.
Blankenship moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Blankenship misses with the combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sagat takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Sagat lets loose with a powerful body kick. Blankenship will feel that in the morning.
Sagat throws a nice inside leg kick.
Sagat connects with a high kick.

Sagat fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Blankenship, pushing him back against the cage.
Sagat misses with a knee strike.
Sagat working Blankenship over with knees to the body.
Blankenship looking to slow down the pace here.
Sagat scores a nice knee to the body.
Sagat lands a damaging elbow.
Sagat is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
A knee to the head by Sagat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sagat scores with a knee to the head.
Sagat putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Blankenship in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Blankenship takes an elbow to the forehead.
Blankenship avoiding damage as Sagat throws knees to the body.
Sagat creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
A bit of stalling here from Sagat.
Sagat lands an elbow that stopped Blankenship in his tracks for a moment.
Sagat tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Blankenship avoids it.
Sagat crunches a lovely knee into Blankenship's ribcage.
Sagat creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Blankenship's defenses.
Sagat is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Sagat comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Blankenship tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Blankenship wants to break the clinch but can't.
Sagat comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Sagat dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Sagat trying to land knees to the body.
Sagat prevents Blankenship from breaking the clinch.
Sagat throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Blankenship blocks it with crossed arms.
Blankenship wants to break the clinch but can't.
Sagat scores a nice knee to the body.
Sagat lands an elbow inside that Blankenship shrugs off.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Sagat.
Sagat scores a nice knee to the body.
Sagat with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Blankenship wants to break the clinch but can't.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sagat crunches a lovely knee into Blankenship's ribcage.
Sagat content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Sagat comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Sagat crunches a lovely knee into Blankenship's ribcage.
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 Kenny Blankenship will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Blankenship thumps Sagat with a low kick.
Kenny Blankenship is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Blankenship walks forward, straight into a front kick from Sagat.
Sagat delivers a nice body kick.
Blankenship steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Sagat. That one must have hurt.
Sagat comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Sagat chopping away at his opponent's legs.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sagat throws a front kick that sends Blankenship stumbling back into the cage.
Sagat lands with a kick to the temple. Blankenship shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Sagat tries to close the distance and clinch but Blankenship swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sagat throws a head kick that misses.
Sagat with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Sagat lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Sagat moves into the clinch successfully.
Sagat prevents Blankenship from breaking the clinch.
Sagat is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Sagat stalling the fight.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Blankenship fails to pull guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sagat throws an elbow but it's blocked.
With the fighters up against the cage, Sagat throws an elbow but misses.
Blankenship stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Blankenship is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Sagat gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Blankenship is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Sagat is keeping busy.
Sagat lands an elbow inside that Blankenship shrugs off.
Sagat lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Sagat pressing his opponent against the cage.
Sagat comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Blankenship can't break the clinch.
Sagat leaning his opponent against the cage.
Sagat crunches a lovely knee into Blankenship's ribcage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Sagat is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Blankenship is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Blankenship wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sagat has him pressed against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Sagat leaning against his opponent.
Sagat receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Sagat with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Sagat just misses with a elbow thrown towards Blankenship's brow.
Sagat lands an elbow just above Blankenship 's eye.
Sagat misses with a knee strike.
Blankenship has had enough of the clinch but Sagat keeps him there for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blankenship wants to break free but Sagat has control.
Sagat throws an elbow but it misses.
Blankenship is trying to break the clinch but Sagat has him pressed against the cage.
Sagat putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Blankenship in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Sagat is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Sagat with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Blankenship breaks from the clinch.
Sagat fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Blankenship.
Sagat attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
A combination from Blankenship does no damage.
Sagat throws a head kick that misses.
Blankenship keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Victor Sagat seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sagat is looking to slow Blankenship down with leg kicks.
Sagat scores with a push kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sagat looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sagat lands with a kick to the temple. Blankenship shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blankenship throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sagat throws a head kick that half lands.
Sagat checks the leg kick nicely there.
Sagat lands a high kick!
Blankenship lands a right hook to the body.
Sagat scores with a head kick.
Sagat fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sagat misses with a head kick.
Blankenship throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sagat.
Blankenship tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Blankenship avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Sagat gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Blankenship on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Sagat. Sagat obviously looking to wear him down.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Blankenship swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sagat uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Blankenship.
Nice uppercut lands for Sagat. That snapped Blankenship's head back.
Victor Sagat seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sagat moves away from the strike by Blankenship.
Sagat throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Blankenship's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Victor Sagat 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!

Sagat throws a nice outside leg kick.
Blankenship throws a shot to the body.
Blankenship lunges at Sagat with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Sagat's hand.
Sagat looks to land a left hand but Blankenship moved out of range nicely.
A chopping leg kick lands by Sagat.
Blankenship throws a leg kick
and Sagat counters with a three punch combo that has Blankenship backing up. Blankenship nods at Sagat to acknowledge the strikes.
Blankenship is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Sagat misses the shot to the body.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Sagat checks a leg kick.
Some bone on bone action there as Blankenship checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Blankenship lands a two punch combo.
Sagat misses with a wild body shot.
Blankenship throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sagat keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A punch combination from Blankenship misses.
Blankenship takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Sagat is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Blankenship rather than just go for the knockout.
Blankenship thows a left - swing and a miss!
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Blankenship crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Sagat - the referee stops the clock and Blankenship gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Sagat. Blankenship manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Blankenship avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sagat is looking to chop away at Blankenship's legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sagat throws a head kick that misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Blankenship rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sagat moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sagat lands a head kick. Blankenship smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Blankenship lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sagat circles away quickly and effectively.
Sagat turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A punch combination from Blankenship misses.
Blankenship tries to bum rush Sagat with a series of wild strikes but Sagat uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Blankenship will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Sagat lands a nice looking body shot.
Sagat throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Sagat fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Blankenship.
Blankenship bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Sagat's head backwards.
Sagat chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Blankenship has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Sagat.
Sagat fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Blankenship checks it well.
Sagat takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Blankenship thows a body shot but no joy.
Sagat plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blankenship lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Sagat turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A bone on bone clash there as Blankenship blocks the leg kick.
Blankenship throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Sagat throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Sagat, right into the meat.
Blankenship dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Blankenship throws a left and a right that both miss
and Sagat counters with a nice leg kick.
Blankenship throws a body kick the misses
and Sagat counters with a nice kick to the body.
Sagat feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Blankenship's calf.
Sagat misses with a wild body shot.
Sagat is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Blankenship.
Sagat ducks under a wild hook from Blankenship.
Sagat tries a head kick but it misses.
Blankenship lands a jab-cross combination.
Sagat scores with a kick to the body.
Sagat throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Blankenship fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Sagat looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sagat doesn't manage to clinch there - Blankenship circles away.
Sagat looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Sagat moves away from the strike by Blankenship.
Blankenship stalks Sagat and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Sagat's face. Sagat staggers backwards, shaken.
A thudding body kick lands there by Sagat!
Sagat plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Blankenship throws a series of punches but Sagat moves out of range.
A chopping leg kick lands by Sagat.
Blankenship misses with a two punch combination.
Sagat is looking to slow Blankenship down with leg kicks.
Sagat throws a low kick but it's checked well by Blankenship.
Sagat throws a head kick but Blankenship moves out of range.
Blankenship throws a right and a left that Sagat avoids nicely.
Sagat throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Blankenship misses with a wild combination.
Sagat lands a head kick. Blankenship smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Sagat avoids the body shot from Blankenship.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sagat scores with a head kick.
Sagat throws a leg kick but Blankenship sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Blankenship fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Sagat moves out of range of the strikes.
Sagat throws a nice outside leg kick.
Sagat misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Blankenship misses the shot to the body.
Blankenship will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Blankenship avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sagat lands a head kick. Blankenship smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Sagat checks the leg kick.
Sagat is looking to score with low kicks.
Good shot there by Blankenship.
Sagat misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sagat takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Blankenship misses with a wild combination.
Blankenship walks into a stiff left hand from Sagat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Victor Sagat comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sagat 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Victor Sagat!