PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between war machine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bart Blackman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

machine
vs
Blackman

185 cm
19
250 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

189 cm
20
255 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, war machine!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bart Blackman!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blackman throws a head kick that half lands.

It looks like war machine has been cut.
machine stuffs the takedown.
Blackman shoots in for a double leg but machine sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Blackman tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but machine swivels and escapes.
war machine has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bart Blackman.

machine takes the fight into the clinch.
Blackman keeps control of machine as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Blackman tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
machine misses with a knee strike.
machine has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Blackman is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
machine throws an elbow but it's blocked.
machine fails to pull the fight into his 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!

Blackman breaks the clinch.
machine could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Blackman slips a jab and a cross from machine.
Nice takedown defense from machine. No joy for Blackman on that attempt.
A slapping leg kick lands for Blackman.

Blackman shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in machine's guard.
machine tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Blackman trying to control the position from guard on top but machine is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Blackman trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

machine pushes Blackman off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Blackman.
machine is breathing heavily.
machine misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Blackman avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
machine leaves Blackman with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nice body kick from Blackman.

Blackman closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Blackman lands a nice short elbow.
Blackman trying to pass the guard but machine defending well.
Blackman is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Blackman working machine over with strikes.

Blackman seems to be looking for submissions.
machine is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blackman not doing much here.
machine wants to control but Blackman is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Blackman looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Blackman is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, machine has managed to free his arm - good work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
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!
machine is refusing to be controlled, as Blackman sits in half guard.
Blackman landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Blackman thows a huge punch but machine dodges it nicely.
machine tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Blackman throwing shots but machine is blocking nicely.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Blackman fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

machine shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Blackman napping and manages to drive through into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blackman struggling a bit here.
machine trying to control the action but Blackman is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
You can see the frustration on Blackman's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Blackman is looking for a sweep.
machine scoring with punches and elbows.
Blackman gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Blackman wants to improve his position but machine is controlling well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Blackman fails with the takedown.

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.
machine lands a jab.
Blackman wants to clinch.

machine feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Blackman throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Blackman trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Blackman is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
machine postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
machine wants to control from the top but Blackman keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bart Blackman dominated that round.
The cut man is working on war machine's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

machine takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

machine drives through and clinches with Blackman against the cage.
Blackman stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Blackman pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A slow jab from Blackman misses its intended target.
Blackman with a poor takedown

and machine counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by machine.
Blackman is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
machine is trying to break free.

machine's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Blackman fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Bart Blackman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Blackman uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
A solid body kick from Blackman.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
machine misses with a jab, cross combination.
Blackman shoots in but no luck this time.
war machine has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bart Blackman.

That's one minute gone in the round.

machine is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Blackman's half guard.
Blackman flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Blackman has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
machine trying to mount his opponent but Blackman defends it.
machine wants to stand up but Blackman has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Blackman is staying active underneath machine, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Blackman striking from half guard on the bottom.
Blackman is trying to stand back up but machine is controlling him
Blackman has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. machine is working away from the top position though.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Blackman with a jab.
Blackman shoots and misses

and machine moves into the clinch.
A knee to the head by Blackman.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

machine breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Blackman scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

Blackman moves into range and clinches up with machine.
Blackman with a knee to the head.
machine fails to pull the fight into his guard.
machine misses with some punches.
machine wants a takedown but no success here.

Blackman breaks the clinch.
Blackman throws a nice head kick!
Blackman tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
machine dodges the punch combination from Blackman.
machine throws a leg kick but Blackman checks it.
Blackman lands a head shot.
Blackman tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but machine swivels and escapes.
Blackman tries to clinch but machine is having none of it.
machine throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Blackman.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blackman shoots in but no luck this time.
machine tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Blackman counters with a shoot takedown. machine fights it but they end up in guard.
machine manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Blackman manages to get himself to full guard.
machine wants to control from the top but Blackman keeps moving.
machine is looking to work some ground and pound but Blackman has wrist control.
Blackman is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Blackman is working for a kimura but machine is defending it quite comfortably.
Blackman uses his free foot to push down on machine's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for machine.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
machine is in all sorts of trouble here.
Blackman has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of machine's face.
Blackman breaks from machine's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Blackman lands with some strikes.
machine tries to hold on but Blackman pushes him away.

Blackman working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
machine tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Blackman lands a big elbow.
Blackman lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Blackman lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bart Blackman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on war machine's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Blackman shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. machine defends it nicely.
machine keeps the fight on the outside.
The fight stays on the outside here - machine looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A head kick misses from Blackman.
Blackman tries to clinch up but machine circles away and keeps his distance.
machine throws a nice looking combination but Blackman bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Blackman throws a head kick that half lands.
machine tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
machine tries to clinch up.
Blackman shoots in for a takedown but machine shows good takedown defense.
machine looks for a takedown but Blackman sprawls well.

Blackman pushes machine up against the cage in a clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Blackman escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blackman shoots in for a takedown but machine shows good takedown defense.
war machine has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bart Blackman.

machine closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Blackman to the mat! Blackman manages to get full guard.
machine postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
machine wants to get up but he can't break Blackman's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Blackman lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for machine!
machine is wriggling around trying to escape.
machine tries to hold on but Blackman pushes him away.

machine bucks Blackman off and manages to get back to his feet!
Blackman shoots in for a takedown but machine shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Blackman tries to clinch but machine moves out of range.
Blackman circles away from the clinch attempt.
Blackman misses with a takedown

and machine counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Blackman!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blackman throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Blackman tries to hold on but machine pushes him away.
machine controlling the position easily from mount.
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!
Blackman is looking to get to half guard.
Bart Blackman has got the better of the ground game so far.
machine looking to control but Blackman is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
machine misses with a head shot.
machine sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
machine avoids the attempt from Blackman to control.
Blackman is working to get back to half guard.
Blackman is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
machine landing strikes, looking to finish!
Blackman regains half guard.
machine drops an elbow to the side of Blackman's head.
machine stops Blackman from getting back to his feet.
Well, if machine 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.
machine is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

machine wants to work for an arm triangle but Blackman is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Blackman trying to control but machine postures up.
Blackman flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Blackman moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Blackman has his foot on machine's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. machine works his way back into a safe position though.

Blackman working for a triangle but machine defends it easily.
Blackman striking from his own guard.
machine distracts Blackman with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

machine stands up and waves to Blackman to follow him.
war machine has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
machine walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Bart Blackman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Blackman fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but machine avoids it really well and circles away.
Blackman throws a sloppy head kick and machine moves out of range easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
war machine showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Blackman has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bart Blackman!