PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ted Blank (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bill Dance (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bill Dance has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Blank
vs
Dance

175 cm
22
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
153 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Good takedowns
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ted Blank!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Bill Dance!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Skip Squint and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blank misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Blank fails to land with a series of punches.
Nice defenses there by Dance.

Blank gets caught flat footed, as Dance shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Blank looking to control.

Dance postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Blank is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Dance, into his guard.

Dance working for a triangle but Blank defends it easily.
Dance manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dance jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Blank is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Blank and Dance has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Blank is looking for a sweep.
Dance trying to control the action but Blank is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Blank is trying to control Dance's posture but Dance avoids it.
Blank is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Dance stands up and beckons Blank to his feet.
Blank really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Blank pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Dance changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Blank looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Dance looks gassed!
Blank tries to buck Dance off but Dance is having none of it.
Dance slows the pace down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blank tries to bench press Dance off him but Dance keeps the position.
Blank is working hard here to advance position.
Dance avoids the strikes from the bottom by Blank.
Blank gets back to half guard.
Dance trying to pass the guard but Blank defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Blank wants to improve his position but Dance is controlling well.
Blank makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Blank.
Blank lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Dance!
Dance really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Blank looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bill Dance dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Blank tries to close the distance and clinch but Dance swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Blank rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Dance moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Blank fails with the takedown

so Dance counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Dance stops Blank from standing up.
Blank wants to improve his position but instead Dance has moved into half guard.
Blank is trying to get back to full guard.
Blank wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dance is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Blank sees it coming and defends easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Blank wants to improve his position but Dance is controlling well.

Blank is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Dance pulls his head out easily.
Dance wants to pass to mount but Blank is defending the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Dance displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Blank throws out the jab.

That's two 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.
Dance uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Blank.

Blank closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Blank lands in his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Blank throwing strikes but missing.
Blank wants to control from the top but Dance keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dance is looking for a triangle but Blank pushes his legs off easily.
Blank working some strikes from top position.
Blank wants to control from the top but Dance keeps moving.
Blank stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dance swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Dance looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Dance is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Blank trying to control the position from guard on top but Dance is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Blank with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

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

and Blank counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Dance!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ted Blank dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Blank doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Dance counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Blank slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Blank wants to stand but Dance is controlling the position.
Blank keeping moving, preventing Dance from controlling successfully.
Dance stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Blank swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Blank is trying to control the position but Dance postures up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blank wants to stand but Dance is controlling the position.

Blank escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Dance gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Blank keeping moving, preventing Dance from controlling successfully.

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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Dance takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

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

Dance is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Blank defends well.
Blank connects with a couple of short punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dance has a closed guard, preventing Blank from standing up.
Dance working a defensive guard here.
Blank sitting in guard here, content to control.
Blank sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Dance's guard.
Blank is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Blank wants to control but Dance is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Blank missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Blank is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Dance is just riding it out for now. Blank eventually gives up the hold.
Dance tries to get to full guard but Blank has control of the leg.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ted Blank.
Well Blank 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 29:28
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 29:28
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ted Blank!