PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Brian Blessed (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Swadge (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Swadge has chosen The adventures of Huckleberry Finn as his entrance music. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Blessed
vs
Swadge

175 cm
23
130 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

178 cm
26
135 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Brian Blessed!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Tom Swadge!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Paul Tew and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blessed is looking to clinch but Swadge is avoiding it.
Blessed moves in looking to clinch but Swadge pushes him off.
Blessed tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Swadge paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Blessed showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Swadge.
Blessed misses with a few strikes there.

Swadge drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Swadge trying to control but Blessed is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Swadge slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Swadge wants to control from the top but Blessed keeps moving.
Blessed really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Blessed is pulling down on Swadge's head. It's preventing any offense from Swadge, at least for the moment.
Swadge trying to control the position from guard on top but Blessed is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Tom Swadge wasn't active enough on the ground.
Swadge has a takedown stuffed.
Blessed is looking to clinch but Swadge is avoiding it.
Swadge circles away from the clinch attempt.
Swadge looks to clinch
and Blessed counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Blessed closes the distance but Swadge moves to the side

and Swadge counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Swadge wants to control from the top but Blessed keeps moving.
Blessed controlling Swadge's posture.
Swadge wants to control from the top but Blessed keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blessed is looking to stand up but Swadge isn't so interested in that idea.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Swadge drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Swadge jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Blessed is pulling down on Swadge's head. It's preventing any offense from Swadge, at least for the moment.
Swadge prevents Blessed from getting back to his feet.
Swadge trying to control the position from guard on top but Blessed is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Swadge shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Blessed as he avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blessed is looking to clinch but Swadge is avoiding it.
Swadge takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Blessed leaves Swadge with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Brian Blessed has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tom Swadge.

Blessed closes the distance and pushes Swadge back into the cage.
Blessed will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Swadge up against the cage.
Blessed is leaning against Swadge and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Swadge jumps guard but Blessed stands there with Swadge around his waist. Swadge gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Blessed breaks from the clinch.
Blessed tries to clinch there but Swadge circles away.

Blessed darts in and clinches Swadge up against the cage.
Blessed throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Swadge is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Blessed pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Blessed is looking to clinch but Swadge is avoiding it.
Swadge keeps the fight on the outside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swadge keeps the fight on the outside.
Swadge circles away from the clinch attempt.
Swadge will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Blessed drives through and clinches with Swadge against the cage.
Blessed lands a body punch.
Blessed throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Blessed managing to block the knees to the body from Swadge.
Blessed pushes Swadge back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Swadge tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Blessed just stands there and leans against the cage.
Blessed throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Blessed pressing his opponent against the cage.
Blessed lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Still in the clinch, Blessed scores with a nice short uppercut.
Blessed lands a body shot in the clinch.
Blessed digs a right hand into Swadge's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Swadge's gas tank.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Blessed manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Blessed breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Blessed 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.

Blessed stuffs the takedown attempt from Swadge. Swadge gets slowly back to his feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Swadge is defended easily by Blessed.
Swadge misses with a few strikes there.
Swadge with a lazy takedown attempt

and Blessed holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Brian Blessed has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tom Swadge.
A short left from Blessed.

Blessed manages to break the clinch.
Swadge shoots for a takedown but Blessed saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Blessed wants to clinch up but Swadge keeps it at a distance.
Swadge tries to clinch but Blessed is having none of it.
Blessed doesn't manage to clinch there - Swadge circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blessed on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
A left lands for Swadge.
Swadge fails in his attempt to clinch.
Blessed doesn't manage to clinch there - Swadge circles away.
Blessed tries to clinch there but Swadge circles away.
Swadge looks to clinch

and Blessed counters by moving into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swadge misses with a hook from the clinch.
Blessed works on Swadge's body with a couple of short punches.
Blessed lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Swadge or not.
Nice body punch from Blessed.
Swadge is breathing heavily.
A right hand to the body from Blessed.
Blessed lands a body shot in the clinch.
Blessed stalling in the clinch.
Blessed lands a body shot in the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Blessed.
Swadge tries to pull guard but Blessed won't allow it.
Blessed lands a shot to the body.
Blessed stalling against the cage.
Blessed gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Swadge tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Blessed breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Blessed tries to clinch but Swadge is having none of it.

Blessed rushes Swadge and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Blessed lands a nice shot to the body.
Swadge tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Blessed smiles and moves away.
Blessed moves into range and connects with a jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Swadge slips under a jab from Blessed.
Blessed stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Blessed wants it to stay on the feet.
Blessed moves in looking to clinch but Swadge pushes him off.
Brian Blessed is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Swadge closes the distance but Blessed moves to the side

and Blessed counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Blessed.
Come on Blessed - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Blessed seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Swadge tries to pull guard but Blessed won't allow it.

Blessed escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Blessed is looking to clinch but Swadge is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swadge takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Blessed falls off balance throwing a combination

and Swadge counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Swadge being controlled here momentarily.
Swadge trying to control the position from guard on top but Blessed is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Blessed is looking to stand up but Swadge isn't so interested in that idea.
Swadge won't allow Blessed to sweep him here.
Swadge tries to free his leg and advance position but Blessed is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Swadge is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Swadge trying to control the position from guard on top but Blessed is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Swadge tries to free his leg and advance position but Blessed is retaining full guard.
Swadge is pushing down on Blessed's leg trying to pass to half guard. Blessed is fighting to maintain full guard but Swadge has managed to sneak the leg through.
Blessed is trying to stand up here but Swadge is controlling him well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Swadge moves nicely into side control.
Swadge misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Blessed dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Swadge lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Swadge.
Blessed circles away from the clinch attempt.

Blessed pushes Swadge up against the cage in a clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Blessed for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Blessed lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Swadge or not.
Swadge tries to pull guard but Blessed holds him up against the cage and eventually Swadge drops back down to his feet.
Swadge tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Blessed smiles and moves away.
Nice takedown defense from Blessed. No joy for Swadge on that attempt.
Brian Blessed has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tom Swadge.
Swadge misses with a low kick as Blessed jumps back.
Swadge wants to clinch up but Blessed keeps it at a distance.
Blessed tries to clinch up.
Swadge throws a combination that misses

and Blessed counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Blessed.
Nice body punch from Blessed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blessed content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Swadge tries to pull guard but Blessed holds him up against the cage and eventually Swadge drops back down to his feet.
Brian Blessed has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Swadge tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Blessed just stands there and leans against the cage.
Blessed stalls.
Swadge throws a punch but it's blocked by Blessed.
Blessed scores with a shoulder strike.

Swadge pulls Blessed into guard.
Blessed wants to stand and escape but instead Swadge has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Blessed wants to sweep here but Swadge controlling him for the moment.
Blessed knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Swadge on the ground.
Swadge in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Swadge wants to control from the top but Blessed keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blessed is looking to stand back up but Swadge counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Blessed.
Blessed is trying to stand.
Swadge is trying to control. Blessed wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Swadge trying to mount his opponent but Blessed defends it.
Blessed pushes Swadge off looking to stand but Swadge dives back in and keeps control.

Swadge is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Blessed is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swadge not doing much here.
Tom Swadge has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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

Swadge is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Swadge is trying to control. Blessed wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Blessed wants to improve his position but Swadge is controlling well.
Blessed is trying to stand.
Blessed blocking the ground and pound attempt from Swadge.
Swadge throwing shots but Blessed is blocking nicely.

Swadge escapes and gets back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Swadge swinging wildly here.
Nice sprawl there from Blessed as Swadge shoots in.
Swadge takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Blessed has taken the fight to the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brian Blessed showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Blessed, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brian Blessed!