PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Reynold Blanco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Smith
vs
Blanco

220 cm
24
280 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

220 cm
25
278 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent knees
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Michael Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Reynold Blanco!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Sam Margolis and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith throws a series of punches but Blanco moves out of range.

Blanco clinches.

Blanco breaks from the clinch.
Smith tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Blanco counters by moving into the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Blanco.
Blanco landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Smith lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Blanco.
Smith working hard to break the clinch.

Blanco pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Blanco throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Smith tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Blanco is in Smith's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Blanco is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Blanco working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Blanco loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Blanco in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Smith is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith being controlled here, momentarily.
Blanco slips nicely into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Blanco with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Blanco throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any 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.
Blanco keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Smith is looking to escape.
Blanco looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Blanco has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Reynold Blanco hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Smith gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Blanco to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Blanco engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blanco sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Smith's guard.
Blanco with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Blanco passes to side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Smith gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Blanco thowing shots but they're missing.
Blanco in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Blanco unloading with bombs!

Blanco is controlling this nicely and is looking to make no mistakes. Smith is trying to wiggle out of this horrible position. Smith flips to his side and attempts to get a leg in for half guard. Blanco anticipates the leg and manages to get behind Smith and secures both hooks! This could be bad! Blanco slips an arm under Smith chin and tries to position for a rear naked choke. Blanco has worked the choke in now and it looks tight. Blanco is squeezing on Smith like an anaconda would it's prey. Smith fails to tap and has fallen unconscious! We've got ourselves a winner by way of a rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Reynold Blanco!