PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Wanderlei Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenny Blankenship (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Blankenship has chosen Dead Man's Party as his entrance music. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Silva
vs
Blankenship

185 cm
28
193 lbs
12 - 10 - 0

186 cm
27
196 lbs
12 - 9 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Wanderlei Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kenny Blankenship!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Thiago Cunha and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Blankenship drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Blankenship stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Silva swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Blankenship from controlling successfully.
Blankenship wants to pass the guard but Silva is keeping the position.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Blankenship from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Blankenship wants to pass the guard but Silva is keeping the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Blankenship looking to sit in guard and control but Silva gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Silva wants to control from the top but Blankenship keeps moving.
Silva pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Blankenship is keeping the position for now.
Silva forces his way into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blankenship has a hand on Silva's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Silva takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Silva avoids the attempt from Blankenship to control.
Blankenship is in all sorts of trouble here.
Blankenship is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Silva looking to control but Blankenship is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Blankenship tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Silva throwing strikes here but Blankenship is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

Silva is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Blankenship can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Silva punching from mount but Blankenship doing a good job of avoiding damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Silva jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Blankenship manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Blankenship tries to buck Silva off but Silva is having none of it.
Silva creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Blankenship tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Silva is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Blankenship knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Silva postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blankenship tries to improve position but can't.
Silva advances nicely into full mount.
Blankenship tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Silva working for a submission but Blankenship is keeping him at bay.

Silva working for a submission but Blankenship is keeping him at bay.
Blankenship tries to hold on but Silva postures up.
Blankenship is squirming around, avoiding Silva's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blankenship is desperately trying to improve his position but Silva has a good base and remains in mount.

Silva goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Blankenship turns into him and now he's in Silva's guard.
Silva avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Blankenship wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Blankenship distracts Silva with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Blankenship is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wanderlei Silva dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Blankenship shoots in but no luck this time.
Blankenship fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Silva works Blankenship's body with a nice hook.
Blankenship throws a series of punches but Silva avoids them all with ease.
Blankenship shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Silva as he avoids it easily.
Silva scores with a hook to the body. Blankenship takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Silva thuds a left hand into Blankenship's body.
Blankenship tries to clinch there but Silva circles away.
No joy there for Blankenship, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Silva cracks Blankenship with a good jab.
Blankenship is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Blankenship gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Good standup being displayed there by Silva as he connects with a hook.
Blankenship throws a hook but Silva avoids it easily.
Silva punishes Blankenship's body with a nice straight punch.
Silva throws a series of strikes that have Blankenship backpedaling.
Blankenship has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Blankenship there as he acknowledges the shot.
Silva scores with a decent looking hook.
Blankenship is breathing heavily.
Silva lands with a nice body punch.
Silva throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Silva bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Blankenship's head backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Blankenship 's head but he takes it in his stride.
A big right from Silva misses.

Silva closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Blankenship did well to prevent Silva getting side control.
Blankenship has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Silva is working away from the top position though.

Silva is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Blankenship has managed to free his arm - good work.
Blankenship wants to get back to full guard.
Silva passes to full mount!
Silva is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Blankenship can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Blankenship is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Blankenship tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silva scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Blankenship wants to hold on but Silva pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Silva is working for a guillotine from mount but Blankenship frees his head quite easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Blankenship tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Silva lands a heavy elbow.
Silva in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Blankenship is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Silva prevents Blankenship from getting the reversal.

Silva is working for a guillotine from mount but Blankenship frees his head quite easily.
Silva with a couple of short strikes.
Wanderlei Silva overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silva working for a submission but Blankenship is keeping him at bay.
Silva prevents Blankenship from getting the reversal.

Silva quickly switches position and commits to an armbar! It's a big risk for Silva but it's paid off an Blankenship is forced to tap! Nice work by Silva.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:45 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Wanderlei Silva!