PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Derrick Ryan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shane Blankenship (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Blankenship's choice of entrance music: Crazy Train. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Ryan
vs
Blankenship

180 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Derrick Ryan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Shane Blankenship!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Steve Erwin and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ryan shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ryan shoots in looking for a takedown. Blankenship tries to sprawl out of it but Ryan keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Blankenship manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Ryan tries to keep at a distance but Blankenship has taken the fight into the clinch.
Ryan has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Blankenship avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Derrick Ryan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Blankenship tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Blankenship wants a takedown.

Blankenship's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ryan misses with a takedown attempt

and Blankenship counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Ryan!
Ryan could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Ryan is trying to escape the mount.
Blankenship connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Blankenship scoring with strikes but Ryan is staying in there.
Blankenship with the ground and pound from mount.

Blankenship working for a guillotine from mount but Ryan is in no mood to give up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blankenship landing strikes from the mount.
Blankenship prevents Ryan from getting the reversal.
Ryan throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Blankenship really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ryan. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Ryan is squirming around, avoiding Blankenship's attempts to control the action.
Blankenship might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Ryan kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Blankenship jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Ryan is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Ryan and Blankenship has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Blankenship thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blankenship is looking to take a break and control but Ryan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Blankenship remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
You can see the frustration on Ryan's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Ryan is looking to regain half guard here but Blankenship keeps moving and retains side control.
Ryan is not content to let Blankenship control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ryan manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Ryan kicks Blankenship off and gets back to his feet.

Blankenship gets the takedown into side control.
Ryan gets back to half guard.
Blankenship is keen to just control but Ryan is a slippery customer.
Blankenship looks gassed!
Ryan makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Ryan.
Blankenship throws a big right hand that misses.

Ryan looking for a triangle here. Blankenship is fighting it but it looks tight! Ryan pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Blankenship is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:03 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Derrick Ryan!