PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Joshua Blackshaw (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jesse Kauo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Blackshaw comes to the cage accompanied by Frank Sinatra - Ain't that a Kick in the Head. Kauo comes into a darkened arena with his song building. RAWR kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Blackshaw
vs
Kauo

165 cm
18
135 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

173 cm
26
137 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Joshua Blackshaw!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Jesse Kauo!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, James Atkins and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blackshaw scores with a jab.

It looks like Jesse Kauo has been cut.
Nice takedown defense from Blackshaw. No joy for Kauo on that attempt.
Kauo connects with a crisp jab.
Kauo fails to land the takedown.
A swing and a miss from Blackshaw.
Kauo shoots in for a double leg but Blackshaw sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Joshua Blackshaw has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jesse Kauo.
Blackshaw tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kauo throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Blackshaw's waist but Blackshaw gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kauo off to one side.
Some wild striking there from Blackshaw.
Blackshaw buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Blackshaw throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kauo fails to land the takedown.

Blackshaw clinches up with Kauo and pushes him back against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Blackshaw swings wildly with an uppercut but Kauo uses good head movement to avoid it.

Kauo is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Blackshaw can't fight it off and eventually Kauo manages to take the fight to the floor. Blackshaw looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Blackshaw doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Blackshaw looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kauo stopping the sweep attempt from Blackshaw.
Kauo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kauo trying to control the position from guard on top but Blackshaw is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kauo throwing strikes but missing.
Kauo tries to free his leg and advance position but Blackshaw is retaining full guard.
Blackshaw trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Kauo pushes down on Blackshaw's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Kauo thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Blackshaw's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blackshaw avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kauo.
Kauo thows a huge punch but Blackshaw dodges it nicely.
Blackshaw wants to control but Kauo is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Blackshaw wants to sweep but Kauo has passed to side control!
Blackshaw tries to improve position but can't.
Kauo throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Kauo scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Blackshaw to see if he's OK.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Blackshaw is looking to regain half guard here but Kauo keeps moving and retains side control.
Kauo landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Kauo working the ground and pound from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blackshaw tries to improve position but can't.
Kauo scores with a couple of short elbows.
Kauo creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Blackshaw knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kauo on the ground.
Kauo is putting a hurting on Blackshaw here, landing some big shots from side control.
Kauo is putting a hurting on Blackshaw here, landing some big shots from side control.
Blackshaw looks to move to half guard but instead Kauo has passed into mount! Damn!
Kauo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kauo prevents Blackshaw from getting the reversal.
Kauo punishing his opponent with strikes.
Kauo has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Blackshaw's face.
Kauo can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Blackshaw is looking to escape.
Kauo breaks from Blackshaw's wrist control and lands an elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kauo putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Kauo working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Blackshaw is looking to get to half guard.
Kauo postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Blackshaw looks a forlorn figure.
Kauo unloading with bombs!
Blackshaw is in all sorts of trouble here.
Kauo sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Blackshaw tries to lock up and control but Kauo gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kauo lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Kauo punishing his opponent with strikes.
Kauo landing strikes, looking to finish!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesse Kauo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jesse Kauo's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Blackshaw tries a head kick but it misses.
Blackshaw slaps away a takedown attempt from Kauo, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Blackshaw gets the takedown into side control.
An elbow from Blackshaw crashes against the mat.
Kauo manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Blackshaw wants to improve his position but Kauo is controlling well.
Jesse Kauo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kauo keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Kauo connects with a nice short shot to Blackshaw's temple.
Kauo trying to control the action but Blackshaw is working from the bottom.

Blackshaw is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kauo pulls his head out easily.
Blackshaw is looking for a sweep. Kauo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kauo not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kauo prevents Blackshaw from improving his position.
Kauo seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Kauo throwing shots but Blackshaw is blocking nicely.
Blackshaw wants to improve his position but Kauo is controlling well.
Kauo working over Blackshaw with some ground and pound. Blackshaw looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Kauo trying to control from half guard but Blackshaw is working away.
Kauo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kauo throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kauo trying to control from Blackshaw's half guard. Blackshaw has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Kauo trying to control the position from guard on top but Blackshaw is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kauo is in close to Blackshaw's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Kauo throwing strikes but missing.
Kauo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kauo content to stall in guard here.
Blackshaw utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Blackshaw is looking to sweep but instead, Kauo has passed into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kauo looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Blackshaw with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Blackshaw pushes Kauo off looking to stand but Kauo dives back in and keeps control.
Blackshaw is staying active underneath Kauo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kauo not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Blackshaw has a hand on Kauo's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Kauo takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Kauo landing strikes from the mount and Blackshaw is in trouble!
Kauo controlling the position easily from mount.
Kauo prevents Blackshaw from getting the reversal.
Kauo has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Blackshaw's face.
Blackshaw can't escape the position.
BOOM! Kauo connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Kauo sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Kauo prevents Blackshaw from getting the reversal.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kauo connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Kauo lands a big elbow.
Kauo breaks from Blackshaw's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Blackshaw working to try and regain half guard.
Kauo landing strikes from the mount and Blackshaw is in trouble!
Kauo lands a heavy elbow.
Blackshaw regains half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kauo moves into full mount! Blackshaw won't be happy about that!
Kauo with the ground and pound from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesse Kauo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jesse Kauo's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Blackshaw tries to bum rush Kauo with a series of wild strikes but Kauo uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Joshua Blackshaw seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kauo misses with a series of wild punches.
Kauo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Blackshaw circles away.
Horrible takedown by Kauo or perhaps it was just good defense by Blackshaw which made him look bad.

Kauo gets caught napping as Blackshaw dives in and scores a takedown. Kauo manages to retain guard.
Blackshaw tries to free his leg and advance position but Kauo is retaining full guard.
Blackshaw is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Blackshaw throws a big right hand that misses.
Blackshaw tries to free his leg and advance position but Kauo is retaining full guard.
Kauo throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Blackshaw won't allow Kauo to sweep him here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Blackshaw accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kauo keeping full guard, as Blackshaw tries to pass.

Blackshaw is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Kauo has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Blackshaw is looking to defend but Kauo has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Blackshaw! Kauo pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Blackshaw taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Jesse Kauo!