PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Joe Angelo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pedro Blanka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Blanka has chosen Shinedown - Devour as his entrance music. Pedro Blanka has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Angelo
vs
Blanka

182 cm
23
170 lbs
4 - 8 - 1

180 cm
25
182 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joe Angelo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Pedro Blanka!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Frank Dennis and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blanka shoots for a takedown but Angelo saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Angelo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Blanka shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Blanka is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Angelo is refusing to be controlled, as Blanka sits in half guard.
Blanka is thwarting Angelo's attempts to control the position.
Blanka wants to take a breather but Angelo is having none of it.
Blanka works his foot free and advances to mount.
Angelo's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Angelo trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

Blanka goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Angelo is on top in guard.
Blanka throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Blanka is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Angelo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Blanka had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Angelo defends it easily.
Blanka looks gassed!
Angelo is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Angelo trying to stand up but can't free himself from Blanka's guard.
Angelo won't allow Blanka to sweep him here.
Blanka keeping moving, preventing Angelo from controlling successfully.
Angelo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Angelo has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Blanka looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Blanka working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Angelo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Angelo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Angelo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Blanka is keeping the position for now.
Angelo with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Angelo scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Angelo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Blanka looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Angelo puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

Angelo seems to be working for a kimura but Blanka defends the submission attempt.
Blanka avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Angelo.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Angelo connects with a nice short shot to Blanka's temple.
Angelo thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Blanka's head.
Blanka wants to control but Angelo is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Angelo not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Blanka moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Angelo trying to control the position from guard on top but Blanka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Angelo stands and throws Blanka's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Angelo creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

Angelo stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Angelo scores with a head kick.
Pedro Blanka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Angelo throws a head kick that misses.
Angelo scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Nice body punch from Angelo.
Angelo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Blanka looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blanka shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Joe Angelo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pedro Blanka.
Angelo stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Angelo wants it to stay on the feet.
Angelo looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Angelo throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Angelo changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Angelo throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Blanka tries for a takedown but Angelo sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Angelo lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Angelo keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Angelo takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Angelo scores with a sloppy right hand. Blanka should have avoided that one.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Angelo stalks Blanka and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Blanka's face. Blanka staggers backwards, shaken.
A head kick from Angelo lands but Blanka takes it in his stride.
Blanka avoids a punch combination nicely.
Angelo lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Angelo dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Angelo misses with an uppercut. Blanka saw that one coming.
A punch combination from Angelo misses.

Blanka bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Blanka tries to advance to mount but can't.
Blanka trying to control the position but Angelo is working away.

Blanka thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Angelo wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
You can see the frustration on Angelo's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blanka misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Angelo lands with a good body shot.
Angelo with a nice cross.
Angelo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Blanka closes this distance looking for a takedown but Angelo circles away.
Angelo goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Blanka takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Angelo connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Blanka's hands.
Angelo cracks Blanka with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Angelo misses with a two punch combination.

Blanka fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Angelo sprawls well initially but Blanka persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Angelo wants to get back to his feet.
Blanka is keen to just control but Angelo is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Blanka seems to be working for a kimura but Angelo defends the submission attempt.
Angelo is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Blanka's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Blanka's back!
Blanka trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Angelo has Blanka flattened out and is raining down punches.
Blanka is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Angelo is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Angelo gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Angelo gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Angelo apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Angelo swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Blanka.
Angelo throws a combination. Blanka tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Blanka takes a kick to the side of the head.
Blanka fails with the takedown.
Good leg kick by Angelo there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Angelo cracks the inside of Blanka's front leg.
A solid leg kick lands there for Angelo.
Angelo lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Angelo leaves Blanka with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Joe Angelo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pedro Blanka.
A punch lands to the side of Blanka 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Blanka shoots for a double leg takedown but Angelo sprawls well. He's pushed Blanka's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Angelo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Blanka shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Angelo as he avoids it easily.
Angelo scores with a one two! Blanka had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Blanka slips a jab and a cross from Angelo.
Blanka shoots in looking for a takedown. Angelo tries to sprawl out of it but Blanka keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Angelo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Angelo closes the distance and lands a one-two.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Angelo with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Blanka misses with a takedown attempt - Angelo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Blanka doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Blanka avoids the head kick by Angelo.
A combination from Angelo does no damage.
Blanka closes this distance looking for a takedown but Angelo circles away.
Angelo sizes up Blanka with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

Blanka closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Blanka throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Blanka controls the position from side control.
Blanka fails to land a wild elbow strike.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Angelo is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Blanka asserts his dominance and retains side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Angelo dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Angelo lands a jab.
Angelo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Blanka fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Angelo sprawls well initially but Blanka persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Blanka is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Angelo sees it coming and defends easily.
Angelo looks like he's trying to stand up.
Blanka perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Blanka frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Angelo is squirming around, avoiding Blanka's attempts to control the action.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Angelo is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

Blanka goes for an armbar but Angelo turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Angelo.
Angelo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Angelo throwing strikes but missing.
Blanka avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Angelo throws a big right hand that misses.
Angelo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Blanka controls Angelo momentarily but Angelo frees himself.
Angelo with a flurry of punches that miss.

Blanka has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. Angelo doesn't defend quickly enough and Blanka has managed to lock this one up! Can Angelo escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to Blanka on a fantastic submission victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:18 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Pedro Blanka!