PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kenny Blankenship (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Del Estep (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Blankenship
vs
Estep

183 cm
18
210 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

171 cm
18
205 lbs
2 - 3 - 1

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Nature's Edge Nutrition

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kenny Blankenship!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Del Estep!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Summer Carpenter and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Estep tries to close the distance and clinch up but Blankenship swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Estep moves in looking to clinch but Blankenship pushes him off.
Estep lunges at Blankenship with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Blankenship's hand.
Blankenship takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Estep lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

It looks like Kenny Blankenship has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Blankenship sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.

Estep scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Blankenship is breathing heavily.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Estep is looking to take a break and control but Blankenship is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Estep is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Blankenship is defending against the submission attempts here by Estep.
Estep is trying to control the action in half guard but Blankenship is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Estep thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Blankenship's head.
Estep wants to lay and pray for a moment but Blankenship keeps working.
Estep controlling the action here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Del Estep hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Estep tries to clinch up.
Blankenship scores with a punch to the head.
Blankenship fails with the takedown

and Estep counters with a takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Estep works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Estep trying to control the action but Blankenship is working from the bottom.

Estep has hold of Blankenship's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Blankenship tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Estep cranks the arm and Blankenship screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Blankenship, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:37 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Del Estep!