PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Bladen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jamil Baliw (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jamil Baliw has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Thomas Bladen's chin.

Bladen
vs
Baliw

185 cm
18
168 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
19
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thomas Bladen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jamil Baliw!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Cecil Peabody and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bladen scores with a sloppy right hand. Baliw should have avoided that one.
Baliw looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Bladen throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Bladen looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Baliw is fending him off so far but Bladen persists. Nope, Baliw circles away and we're back to standing.
Bladen slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Bladen tries for a takedown but Baliw sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Bladen 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.
Baliw is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Bladen is controlling him.
Bladen wants to get up but he can't break Baliw's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bladen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Bladen wants to get up but he can't break Baliw's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Bladen stands up and waves to Baliw to follow him.

Bladen has closed the distance and engaged Baliw in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bladen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bladen pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Bladen has closed the distance and engaged Baliw in a clinch.
Baliw tries for a takedown. No joy.
Bladen tries to pull guard but Baliw holds him up against the cage and eventually Bladen drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thomas Bladen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Bladen drags the fight down to the ground.
Bladen is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Bladen working for a triangle but Baliw defends it easily.
Bladen manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Baliw manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baliw wants to stand but Bladen is controlling the position.
Baliw avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bladen thows a big elbow that misses.
Bladen scoring with punches to the head and body.
Bladen wants to get up but he can't break Baliw's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Bladen is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bladen trying to control the position from guard on top but Baliw is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bladen wants to stand but Baliw has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A cross from Bladen lands.
Baliw takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Bladen is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Baliw walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Bladen lands a head kick. Baliw smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Jamil Baliw seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bladen scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Bladen lands a nice looking body kick.
Bladen scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Bladen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Baliw tries to clinch but Bladen moves out of range.
Bladen misses with a head kick.

Bladen decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baliw wants to get back to his feet.
Bladen working the head and body with strikes.

Bladen decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Baliw ducks right into an uppercut from Bladen.

Bladen gets the takedown into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bladen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Baliw keeps working.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Baliw is pushing Bladen's head away, looking to escape. Bladen manages to hold on to the position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Bladen is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Baliw's half guard.
Baliw wants to get back to his feet.
Bladen thows a huge punch but Baliw dodges it nicely.

Bladen decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Bladen tries to land a front kick but Baliw steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Baliw throws a combination that misses
and Bladen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Bladen tries to bum rush Baliw with a series of wild strikes but Baliw uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bladen scores with a three punch combo!
A head kick from Bladen lands but Baliw takes it in his stride.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Bladen.
Bladen thuds a left hand into Baliw's body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Baliw misses with a double jab
and Bladen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baliw circles away from the clinch attempt.
A left and a right from Bladen both land. Nice combination.
Bladen tries to bum rush Baliw with a series of wild strikes but Baliw uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Baliw misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bladen is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
No joy there for Bladen, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Bladen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bladen lands a nice hook to Baliw's body. Baliw takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Jab by Bladen.
Bladen throws a shot to the body.
Baliw misses with a hook to the body
and Bladen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Baliw avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bladen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Baliw misses with a combination
and Bladen counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Baliw thinking.

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.
Bladen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Baliw circles away quickly and effectively.
Baliw lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Bladen scores with a crisp jab that stopped Baliw in his tracks.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Bladen.
Baliw takes a shot to the body in his stride.

Bladen closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Baliw did well to prevent Bladen getting side control.
Baliw pushes Bladen off looking to stand but Bladen dives back in and keeps control.

Bladen decides to stand up.
Baliw closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Bladen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A right-left combo lands from Bladen.
Baliw throws a left and a right that both miss
and Bladen counters with a stiff right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bladen wants to clinch up but Baliw keeps it at a distance.
Baliw throws a head kick that misses
and Bladen counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Bladen blocks a low kick nicely.

Baliw gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Bladen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Bladen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bladen trying to stand up but can't free himself from Baliw's guard.
Thomas Bladen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Baliw wants to get back to his feet but Bladen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bladen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Baliw works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Baliw wants to stand but Bladen is controlling the position.
Baliw is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bladen displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Bladen uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Baliw has time to react.
Bladen with a jab.
Thomas Bladen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Baliw takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Bladen throws a head kick that misses.
Left hook, right uppercut from Bladen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Bladen dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Bladen tries a head kick but it misses.
Bladen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Bladen closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Bladen lands in his opponent's guard.

Bladen gets to his feet. Baliw looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Baliw throws a left and a right that both miss
and Baliw takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Bladen rushes Baliw and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Baliw keeps control of Bladen as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A frustrated look appears on Bladen's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Bladen breaks from the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bladen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Baliw has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Baliw is looking to clinch.
Baliw fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Bladen.
Baliw lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bladen circles away quickly and effectively.
Bladen scores with a punch to the head.
Nice takedown defense from Baliw. No joy for Bladen on that attempt.
Baliw scores with a one two! Bladen had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Baliw misses with a takedown
and Bladen counters with a three punch combo that has Baliw backing up. Baliw nods at Bladen to acknowledge the strikes.

Bladen gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Baliw misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Bladen is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Bladen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Baliw throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Bladen counters with a stiff right hand.
Baliw fails to land with a series of punches.
Bladen scores with a three punch combo!
Baliw on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Bladen tries to clinch but Baliw moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baliw will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Bladen jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Baliw showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bladen.
Baliw throws a sloppy head kick

and Bladen counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Baliw breaks the clinch.
Bladen tries a head kick but it misses.
Bladen lands with a cross.
Bladen shoots in for a takedown but Baliw shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thomas Bladen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bladen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Bladen swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Baliw.
Bladen throws a nice looking combination but Baliw bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nice shot lands for Bladen.
Bladen scores with a decent looking hook.
Baliw misses with a jab to the body

and Bladen counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Bladen.
Baliw keeping moving, preventing Bladen from controlling successfully.
Bladen will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Baliw manages to escape and get back to his feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Baliw keeps control of Bladen as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Bladen.
Bladen has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Baliw drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bladen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Baliw can do to turn this around?
Bladen wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

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.

Bladen manages to pull guard.
Bladen working a defensive guard here.
Bladen keeping full guard, as Baliw tries to pass.
Baliw throws a strike but Bladen rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Bladen is looking to work some ground and pound but Baliw has wrist control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thomas Bladen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Bladen has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas Bladen!