PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chad Harkleroad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shane Blankenship (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Harkleroad comes to the cage accompanied by I am a real American. Blankenship has chosen Crazy Train as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Shane Blankenship will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Harkleroad
vs
Blankenship

165 cm
19
208 lbs
9 - 9 - 0

183 cm
19
210 lbs
2 - 12 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Chad Harkleroad!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Shane Blankenship!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Damien Edna and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blankenship gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Harkleroad counters with a single leg into guard. Blankenship didn't expect that.
Harkleroad slips nicely into half guard.

Harkleroad is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Blankenship doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Harkleroad.

Harkleroad is working for a kimura but Blankenship is defending it quite comfortably.
Blankenship keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harkleroad is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Harkleroad goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Blankenship is on top in guard.
Harkleroad is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Harkleroad is pulling down on Blankenship's head to control his posture.
Blankenship wants to stand but Harkleroad is controlling his posture from full guard.
Blankenship is in close to Harkleroad's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Harkleroad seems keen to control Blankenship's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harkleroad looking to control.

Blankenship avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Blankenship wanted to stand there but Harkleroad had control of the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Blankenship slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Harkleroad looking to hit a scissor sweep but Blankenship is one step ahead there.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Blankenship fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harkleroad shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Blankenship but Blankenship pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Harkleroad shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Blankenship as he avoids it easily.

Blankenship rushes Harkleroad and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Harkleroad really is a fat lump.
Blankenship goes for a takedown attempt but Harkleroad pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Chad Harkleroad has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shane Blankenship.
Blankenship fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Harkleroad fails with the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blankenship shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Harkleroad sprawls well. Harkleroad wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Blankenship gets slowly back to his feet.
Blankenship looks for a takedown but Harkleroad sprawls well.
Harkleroad closes the distance and clinches up with Blankenship, looking for a takedown. Harkleroad pushes Blankenship against the cage but Blankenship circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Harkleroad shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Blankenship as he avoids it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Harkleroad shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Blankenship but Blankenship pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Harkleroad misses with a takedown attempt - Blankenship sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chad Harkleroad dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Harkleroad doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Blankenship counters by clinching up.

Blankenship breaks from the clinch.
Blankenship tries to clinch there but Harkleroad circles away.
Shane Blankenship seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Blankenship tries to clinch but Harkleroad moves out of range.

Blankenship changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Harkleroad looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Harkleroad is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Blankenship's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Blankenship working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Blankenship tries to stand but can't do so whilst Harkleroad controls his leg.
Harkleroad trying to hold on to Blankenship's head to control him but Blankenship postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harkleroad wants to get back to his feet.
Harkleroad regains full guard. Nicely done.
Blankenship looking to pass the guard.
Harkleroad keeping moving, preventing Blankenship from controlling successfully.
Harkleroad trying to control the position here.
Harkleroad is trying to keep Blankenship in close.
Blankenship is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Harkleroad blocks a head kick by Blankenship.

Blankenship closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Harkleroad misses with an elbow strike.
Harkleroad tries for a takedown. No joy.
Blankenship is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Blankenship drops down looking for an ankle pick but Harkleroad pulls his leg out and moves away.
Harkleroad shoots in looking for a takedown. Blankenship tries to sprawl out of it but Harkleroad 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.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chad Harkleroad. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Blankenship changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Harkleroad tries to avoid it but Blankenship manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Harkleroad to the ground. Harkleroad escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blankenship stuffs the takedown attempt from Harkleroad. Harkleroad gets slowly back to his feet.
Harkleroad shoots in looking for a takedown. Blankenship tries to sprawl out of it but Harkleroad 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.
Blankenship shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Harkleroad but Harkleroad pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Blankenship shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Harkleroad counters with a shoot takedown. Blankenship fights it but they end up in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harkleroad wants to control from the top but Blankenship keeps moving.
Harkleroad sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Blankenship's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Blankenship is trying to get back to full guard.
Harkleroad is keen to just control but Blankenship is a slippery customer.
Harkleroad content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Blankenship misses with some strikes from the bottom.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Harkleroad wants to work for an arm triangle but Blankenship is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Harkleroad wants to control but Blankenship is keeping him busy.
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 Chad Harkleroad will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Blankenship fails with an attempt to clinch.
Harkleroad defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Blankenship.
Harkleroad fails with a takedown attempt.

Harkleroad drives through with a takedown into guard.
Blankenship really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Harkleroad. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Blankenship keeping moving, preventing Harkleroad from controlling successfully.
Harkleroad not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Chad Harkleroad has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Harkleroad looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Blankenship wants to clinch.
Blankenship tries to clinch but Harkleroad moves out of range.
Blankenship slaps away a takedown attempt from Harkleroad, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chad Harkleroad. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice sprawl there from Harkleroad as Blankenship shoots in.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blankenship dives in and grabs Harkleroad's left leg, looking for a takedown. Harkleroad pushes down on Blankenship's head and hops out.
Harkleroad shoots for a double leg takedown but Blankenship sprawls well. He's pushed Harkleroad's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Blankenship tries to close the distance and clinch up but Harkleroad swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Blankenship doesn't manage to clinch there - Harkleroad circles away.

Harkleroad bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Blankenship is trying to get back to half guard.
Harkleroad wants to control but Blankenship is keeping him busy.
Harkleroad is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Blankenship is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blankenship is trying to escape the position but Harkleroad is controlling the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Chad Harkleroad wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Blankenship lands with a nice body kick.
Blankenship will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Chad Harkleroad is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Harkleroad shoots in and bounces Blankenship off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Harkleroad gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Blankenship enables Harkleroad to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Blankenship manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Blankenship can't keep his opponent in guard - Harkleroad advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Blankenship is not content to let Harkleroad control the position.

Harkleroad is working for a kimura here but Blankenship manages to reverse the position and he's now in Harkleroad's guard.
Harkleroad manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Blankenship manages to get himself to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Harkleroad won't allow Blankenship to get back to his feet.
Blankenship keeping moving, preventing Harkleroad from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chad Harkleroad clearly takes that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Blankenship lands a body shot.
Harkleroad stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Harkleroad wants it to stay on the feet.
Blankenship moves to clinch but Harkleroad breaks away

so Harkleroad counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Harkleroad might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Blankenship is trying to control the position but Harkleroad postures up.
Harkleroad stays in close to Blankenship's body and controls the position.
Blankenship tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Harkleroad trying to control the position from guard on top but Blankenship is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Chad Harkleroad has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Harkleroad fails to land the takedown.
Blankenship looks to clinch

and Harkleroad counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Harkleroad.
Blankenship not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Harkleroad passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Blankenship is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.

Harkleroad 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 - Harkleroad 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 2:58 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Chad Harkleroad!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Chad Harkleroad made sure he mentioned Nature's Edge Nutrition, along with how happy he was to win his fight.