PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rusty Everson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sazh Blaskey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sazh Blaskey is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Everson
vs
Blaskey

187 cm
28
217 lbs
13 - 5 - 1

184 cm
26
205 lbs
10 - 5 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Rusty Everson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 1, fighting out of New York, Sazh Blaskey!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Bruno Lombardi and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blaskey rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Everson counters with a stiff right hand.
Blaskey misses with a wild combination.
Blaskey throws a right hand that misses
and Everson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Blaskey swings widly with a right hand
and Everson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Sazh Blaskey seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Everson dips to his left and cracks Blaskey with an uppercut!

Everson shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Blaskey's guard.
Everson won't allow Blaskey to sweep him here.
Everson is looking to work some ground and pound but Blaskey has wrist control.
Blaskey seems keen to control Everson's posture.
Everson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Everson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Everson looking to pass the guard.
Blaskey wants to sweep here but Everson controlling him for the moment.
Blaskey working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Everson with a nice head shot there.
Blaskey is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Everson with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Everson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Everson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Blaskey trying to control the position.
Blaskey bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Everson's guard.
Everson has his hands on Blaskey's head, controlling the position.

Everson is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Everson letting Blaskey take a breather here.
Everson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Blaskey fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Blaskey misses with an uppercut

and Everson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Blaskey keeping full guard, as Everson tries to pass.
Blaskey manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Everson manages to get himself to full guard.
Everson keeping full guard, as Blaskey tries to pass.
Blaskey trying to control the position from guard on top but Everson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Everson wants to get back to his feet but Blaskey is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blaskey trying to control the position from guard on top but Everson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Blaskey trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Blaskey loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Blaskey stopping the sweep attempt from Everson.
Blaskey trying to control the position from guard on top but Everson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Blaskey throwing strikes but missing.
Blaskey loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Everson is looking to stand up but Blaskey isn't so interested in that idea.
Blaskey throwing strikes but missing.
Everson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Blaskey looking to pass the guard.
Blaskey is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Blaskey trying to control the position from guard on top but Everson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Everson looking to control.
Blaskey trying to control but Everson is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rusty Everson dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Everson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Blaskey.
Blaskey misses with a left hand

and Everson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Everson stalling away here and it's allowed Blaskey to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Everson looking to pass the guard.
Blaskey wants to sweep here but Everson controlling him for the moment.
Blaskey controls Everson momentarily but Everson frees himself.
Everson throwing strikes from guard but Blaskey blocks nicely.
Blaskey wants to sweep here but Everson controlling him for the moment.
Blaskey trying to keep a closed guard but Everson is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blaskey pulls Everson in close to prevent any damage.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Everson trying to control but Blaskey is working from the bottom.
Everson works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Blaskey is trying to maintain the position but Everson is very close to passing his half guard.
Everson takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Blaskey trying to control from the bottom.
Everson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

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.
Everson thows a huge punch but Blaskey dodges it nicely.
Blaskey is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Everson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Everson's back!
Blaskey is trying to stick to Everson's back but Everson is turning into Blaskey. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Blaskey's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Everson.
Everson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Blaskey's head.
Blaskey is controlling Everson's posture.
Everson preventing the sweep.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Everson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Everson thows a big elbow that misses.
Everson throws a big right hand that misses.
Everson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Blaskey works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Blaskey trying to keep a closed guard but Everson is proving a slippery customer.
Everson won't allow Blaskey to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Everson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Everson throwing strikes from guard but Blaskey blocks nicely.
Everson trying to control the position from guard on top but Blaskey is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Blaskey trying to keep a closed guard but Everson is proving a slippery customer.
Blaskey wants to sweep here but Everson controlling him for the moment.
Everson is working Blaskey over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Blaskey manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Blaskey punching from mount but Everson doing a good job of avoiding damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Blaskey thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Blaskey postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Everson looks a forlorn figure.
Blaskey wants to control the pace but Everson is squirming around nicely.
Everson tries to hold on but Blaskey postures up.
Blaskey scoring with strikes but Everson is staying in there.
Everson tries to reverse the position but Blaskey maintains control.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Blaskey cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Blaskey looking to control but Everson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Everson tries to lock up and control but Blaskey gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Rusty Everson will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Decent striking displayed by Everson there.
Everson fails with the takedown
and Blaskey counters with a straight right hand.
Everson shoots in for a double leg but Blaskey sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Blaskey misses with a jab, cross combination.

Blaskey shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Everson's guard.
Everson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Blaskey is controlling him.
Everson pulls Blaskey in close to prevent any damage.
Blaskey loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Blaskey trying to control but Everson is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blaskey content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Blaskey has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Everson keeping full guard, as Blaskey tries to pass.
Blaskey looking to sit in guard and control but Everson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Blaskey is trying to keep Everson in close.
Everson postures up in Blaskey's guard and throws a big left but Blaskey blocks it.
Blaskey is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Blaskey wants to take a breather but Everson is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Everson tries to get to full guard but Blaskey has control of the leg.
Rusty Everson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Blaskey sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Everson defending well though.
Blaskey not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Blaskey trying to pass the guard but Everson defending well.

Blaskey seems to be looking for submissions.
Blaskey landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Everson works his way to full guard. Good work.
Blaskey throws a big right hand that misses.
Blaskey throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Everson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Blaskey with a nice head shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blaskey throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Blaskey trying to control the position from guard on top but Everson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Blaskey tries to free his leg and advance position but Everson is retaining full guard.
Blaskey trying to control but Everson is working from the bottom.
Everson keeping full guard, as Blaskey tries to pass.
Everson trying to control the position here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Blaskey misses with a right hand
and Everson counters with a two punch combo.
Sazh Blaskey has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nice uppercut lands for Blaskey. That snapped Everson's head back.
Everson throws a right hand that Blaskey ducks under and follows up with a left that Blaskey also avoids with ease.
Blaskey rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Everson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Blaskey won't be happy with that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Everson working away.
Everson working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
You can see the frustration on Blaskey's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Blaskey is trying to improve his position.
Blaskey wants to control but Everson postures up.

Everson decides to stand back up. Everson steps back and let's Blaskey get back to his feet.
Rusty Everson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Blaskey misses with a left hand

and Everson counters with a takedown into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Blaskey looking for a sweep but Everson has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Everson tries to control but Blaskey wriggling away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rusty Everson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Everson, 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:28
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rusty Everson!