PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between War Wick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Saku Blazha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saku Blazha has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Wick
vs
Blazha

179 cm
18
151 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

176 cm
18
153 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Knockout Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, War Wick!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Saku Blazha!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Jorge Garcia and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wick throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Blazha's waist but Blazha gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Wick off to one side.

Blazha closes the distance and clinches.
Blazha lands a knee to the head.
Blazha connects with a knee to the head.
Wick tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Blazha lands a knee to the head.
Wick looking for a takedown.
A bit of stalling here from Blazha.

Blazha successfully pulls guard.
Wick controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Blazha manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Wick manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wick managing to control the position.
Blazha wants to stand but Wick is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Wick pulls Blazha in close to his closed guard and prevents Blazha from doing any damage or advancing position.
Wick has a closed guard, preventing Blazha from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Blazha postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Wick is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Blazha, into his guard.
Blazha looking to control.
Wick stays in close to Blazha's body and controls the position.

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.
Wick looking to pass the guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Blazha clinches.

Blazha works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Wick pulls Blazha in close to prevent any damage.
Blazha trying to stand up but can't free himself from Wick's guard.
Blazha pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Wick is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wick trying to control the position here.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Wick is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Wick has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Blazha is proving hard to escape from.

Wick stands up from Blazha's guard - Wick perhaps looking for a knockout.

Blazha closes the distance and clinches.

Blazha has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Wick uses from the top position.
Wick works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blazha wants to improve his position but Wick is controlling well.

Wick is looking for a kimura but Blazha is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Wick to get the leverage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Blazha keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Wick wants to stand up but Blazha has a hold of him and won't allow it.

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.
Wick is trying to control. Blazha wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Blazha wants to get back to his feet.
Wick is keen to just control but Blazha is a slippery customer.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Blazha trying to control from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Blazha shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Wick manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saku Blazha 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!

Blazha tries to clinch up.
Blazha looks to land a right hand but Wick moved out of range.
Wick shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Wick circles away from the clinch attempt.
Blazha tries to close the distance and clinch but Wick swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Blazha looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Blazha moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wick stalling in the clinch but Blazha improves position.

Blazha breaks the clinch.
Blazha is looking to clinch.
Blazha tries to close the distance and clinch but Wick swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Blazha shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blazha avoids the head kick by Wick.
Blazha shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Wick as he jumps to the side.

Blazha looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Wick is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Wick looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blazha trying to control the position from guard on top but Wick is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Blazha wants to stand but Wick has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Wick tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wick controls Blazha momentarily but Blazha frees himself.
Blazha stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Wick swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Blazha wanted to stand there but Wick had control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A solid body kick from Wick.
Wick avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Blazha displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Wick.

Wick shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Wick was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Wick trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Saku Blazha just about did enough to take it.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Blazha tries to clinch there but Wick circles away.

Blazha has closed the distance and engaged Wick in a clinch.
Blazha pushes off an throws an elbow but Wick leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Blazha manages to pull guard.
Wick works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Wick thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Blazha's head.
Wick is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Blazha is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blazha wants to get back to his feet.
Well, if Wick 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.
Wick thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Wick trying to control the action but Blazha is working from the bottom.

Wick is looking for a kimura but Blazha is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Wick to get the leverage.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Blazha is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Blazha wants to clinch.
Wick gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Blazha counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Wick!
Wick tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wick is squirming around, avoiding Blazha's attempts to control the action.

Blazha stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Blazha fails in his attempt to clinch.

Blazha closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Blazha manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Wick is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Wick pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Blazha is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saku Blazha dominated that fourth round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Blazha tries to close the distance and clinch up but Wick swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Wick keeps the fight on the outside.
Blazha fails in his attempt to clinch.

Blazha moves into the clinch.
Blazha throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Wick blocks it with crossed arms.
Blazha scores a nice knee to the body.
Wick goes for a takedown in the clinch but Blazha prevents it.
Blazha lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Blazha gets control of Wick's arms and successfully pulls guard. Blazha will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Blazha 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.

Wick stands up and waves to Blazha to follow him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Blazha moves into the clinch.
Blazha prevents a takedown attempt there.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Come on Blazha - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Blazha comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Blazha has Wick pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Blazha manages to pull guard.
Wick won't allow Blazha to sweep him here.
Wick forces his way into half guard.
Blazha is staying active underneath Wick, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Blazha is looking to control Wick's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Blazha avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wick is working for a submission of some sort.
Wick controlling the action here.
Wick tries to pass to full mount but Blazha defends it.

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.
Wick stops Blazha from getting back to his feet.
Saku Blazha has got the better of the ground game so far.
Wick tries to pass to full mount but Blazha defends it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Blazha shoots in for a double leg but Wick sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Saku Blazha comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Blazha winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 46:50
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 45:50
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 46:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Saku Blazha!
Saku Blazha is the new featherweight champion!