PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jackson Blanco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Winston Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jackson Blanco looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Blanco
vs
Smith

178 cm
20
180 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

189 cm
21
192 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite 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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jackson Blanco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Winston Smith!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Robert Twigg and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blanco shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Smith but Smith pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Smith tries to clinch but Blanco is having none of it.
Blanco tries to score a power double leg takedown but Smith sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Blanco somewhat.

Smith shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Smith showed some decent athleticism there.
Blanco wants to control but Smith is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Smith looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Smith seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Blanco does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Blanco might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Blanco trying to hold on to Smith's head to control him but Smith postures up.
Blanco is doing well to control the position and prevent Smith from advancing to side control.
Blanco wants to control but Smith is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blanco wants to get back to his feet.
Blanco is breathing heavily.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Blanco shoots and misses
and Smith counters with a lovely straight right hand!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jackson Blanco. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Smith shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Blanco napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Blanco on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Blanco tries to get out of the position.

Smith tries for a kimura but Blanco is defending well.
Blanco is not content to let Smith control the position.

Smith is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Blanco knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
You can see the frustration on Blanco's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith trying to control the position but Blanco is working away.
Blanco gets back to half guard.
Smith wants to pass to mount but Blanco is defending the position.
Blanco is looking to improve his position.
Smith working over Blanco with some ground and pound. Blanco looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Blanco is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Smith scores with a couple of nice shots.
Blanco trying to control but Smith postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Smith seems to be looking for submissions.
Blanco is looking to improve his position.
Blanco missing with punches from the bottom.
Blanco is refusing to be controlled, as Smith sits in half guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Smith tries to score with a low kick but Blanco moves his leg out of the way.
Jackson Blanco seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Smith gets caught flat footed, as Blanco shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Smith looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blanco trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Blanco controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Smith wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Blanco from controlling successfully.
Blanco won't allow Smith to get back to his feet.
Blanco trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Winston Smith dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Blanco misses with a takedown attempt

and Smith counters with a takedown into side control.
Blanco taking punishment in the form of punches.
Smith controls the position from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Smith stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Smith looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Smith tries to stand and escape but Blanco is controlling the position.
Smith missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Blanco manages to get to full guard.
Smith has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Blanco is proving hard to escape from.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blanco keeping full guard, as Smith tries to pass.
Smith trying to control but Blanco is working from the bottom.
Blanco trying to control the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Smith swats away the attempt to clinch by Blanco.
Blanco fails with the takedown
and Smith counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Smith throws the kick towards the body but Blanco avoids it.

Blanco gets the takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith is trying to buck Blanco off.
Blanco lands a few punches from side control.
Smith is not content to let Blanco control the position.
Smith parries the strikes from Blanco easily there. Blanco is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Smith to escape.
Blanco throws a strike aimed at the side of Smith's head but Smith avoids it well.
Blanco trying to control the action but Smith is working from the bottom.
Blanco throws a strike aimed at the side of Smith's head but Smith avoids it well.
Smith manages to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blanco missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Blanco scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Blanco just content to control the position.
Blanco landing strikes.
Blanco wants to lay and pray for a moment but Smith keeps working.
Smith manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Smith trying to control here.
Blanco is trying to control the action in half guard but Smith is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith is trying to stand up here but Blanco is controlling him well.
Well, if Blanco is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Smith trying to control from the bottom.
Smith landing strikes from the bottom.
Smith makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Smith.
Smith bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Blanco's guard.
Blanco controls Smith momentarily but Smith frees himself.
Smith looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Winston Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Smith wants to clinch but Blanco slips to the side

and Blanco counters by clinching up.
Smith is pressed up against the cage. Blanco has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Smith down to the mat. Smith avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Blanco with a lazy takedown attempt

and Smith counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Smith.
Smith looking for a takedown.
Smith has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Blanco is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Blanco drops down looking for an ankle pick but Smith pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jackson Blanco. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Smith shoots in and bounces Blanco off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Smith is looking to stand up but Blanco won't let him.
Smith throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Blanco looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smith is one step ahead there.
Blanco is trying to control the position but Smith postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blanco looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smith is one step ahead there.
Blanco is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Smith is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Blanco has his feet on Smith's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Smith is looking to clinch but Blanco is avoiding it.
Blanco with a lazy takedown attempt

so Smith counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Blanco looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smith is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blanco trying to control the position.
Smith lands a couple of elbows.
Smith trying to control but Blanco is working from the bottom.
Blanco bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Smith's guard.
Blanco's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Smith bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Blanco's guard.
Blanco controls Smith momentarily but Smith frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blanco throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Blanco controls Smith momentarily but Smith frees himself.
Winston Smith is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Blanco looking to control but Smith passes into half guard.
Smith lands with a punch from half guard.
Smith tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Blanco.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Blanco misses with a takedown attempt

and Smith counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Smith.
Blanco is trying to keep Smith in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blanco wants to hit a switch here but Smith passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Blanco there!
Blanco tries to lock up and control but Smith gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Smith controlling the pace for now.
Blanco tries to hold on but Smith pushes him away.

Smith wants to finish this one by submission but Blanco is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Smith.
Blanco regains half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Winston Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Smith 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Winston Smith!