PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Blackhill (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rousimar Palhares Skywalker (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.

Blackhill
vs
Palhares Skywalker

199 cm
27
246 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

185 cm
29
249 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, James Blackhill!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rousimar Palhares Skywalker!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Shirou Masuda and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blackhill looks to land a right hand but Skywalker moved out of range.
Blackhill throws a right hand that misses

so Skywalker counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Blackhill controlling the position.
Skywalker in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Skywalker is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Skywalker tries to free his leg and advance position but Blackhill is retaining full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Skywalker accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Blackhill is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Skywalker sitting in guard here, content to control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Blackhill trying to keep a closed guard but Skywalker is proving a slippery customer.

The ref stands the fighters back up because James Blackhill just wasn't active enough.
Blackhill throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blackhill misses with a hook. Skywalker ducked under it nicely.
Skywalker shoots for a takedown but Blackhill saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Blackhill throws a right and a left that Skywalker avoids nicely.
Blackhill scores with a nice strike.
Blackhill misses with a body punch

and Skywalker counters with a takedown into side control.
Skywalker scoring with punches and elbows.
Skywalker is trying to ground and pound but Blackhill uses the momentary lack of control by Skywalker to regain half guard.
Blackhill tries to get to full guard but Skywalker has control of the leg.
Skywalker has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Skywalker thows a huge punch but Blackhill dodges it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skywalker trying to control from half guard but Blackhill is working away.
Skywalker prevents Blackhill from improving his position.
Skywalker thows a huge punch but Blackhill dodges it nicely.
Skywalker landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Ground and pound from Skywalker.
Skywalker wants to take a breather but Blackhill is having none of it.
Blackhill is looking to improve his position.
Skywalker trying to control from half guard but Blackhill is working away.
Blackhill controlling the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blackhill has hold of Skywalker's hands but Skywalker slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Skywalker is just content to waste time from the top position. Blackhill takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Blackhill manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Blackhill wants to control the pace but Skywalker is squirming around nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Blackhill is really struggling to control Skywalker but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skywalker tries to reverse the position but Blackhill maintains control.
Blackhill takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Skywalker tries to hold on but Blackhill postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Blackhill is in the full mount, landing strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rousimar Palhares Skywalker dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Skywalker moves to clinch but Blackhill breaks away
and Blackhill counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Skywalker.
Blackhill tries for a takedown but Skywalker circles away easily

and Skywalker counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Blackhill's guard now.
Blackhill preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Skywalker stopping the sweep attempt from Blackhill.
Blackhill striking off his back but it's not causing Skywalker any problems.
Skywalker working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Blackhill will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Skywalker throws a big right hand that misses.
Skywalker scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skywalker wants to control from the top but Blackhill keeps moving.
Blackhill wants to sweep but no luck.
Blackhill looking to control.
Skywalker postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Skywalker throws a strike but Blackhill rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Skywalker holds on and takes a little breather.
Skywalker keeping moving, preventing Blackhill from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blackhill looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Blackhill throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Skywalker looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Blackhill!
Blackhill wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Skywalker.
Skywalker thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blackhill is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Blackhill bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Skywalker keeping moving, preventing Blackhill from controlling successfully.
Blackhill passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Blackhill is looking to take a break and control but Skywalker is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skywalker tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Skywalker is not content to let Blackhill control the position.
Skywalker being controlled for a moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Blackhill trying to control the position but Skywalker is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rousimar Palhares Skywalker will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Skywalker fails with the takedown.

Skywalker closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Blackhill to the mat! Blackhill manages to get full guard.
Skywalker looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Skywalker throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Skywalker throws an elbow that misses. Blackhill uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Skywalker's guard. Nice move by Blackhill!

Skywalker is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rousimar Palhares Skywalker has got the better of the ground game so far.
Blackhill trying to control but Skywalker is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skywalker trying to control the position.
Blackhill stopping the sweep attempt from Skywalker.
Blackhill trying to control the position from guard on top but Skywalker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Blackhill accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Skywalker will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blackhill won't allow Skywalker to get back to his feet.
Blackhill tries to free his leg and advance position but Skywalker is retaining full guard.
Blackhill trying to control the position from guard on top but Skywalker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Blackhill is in close to Skywalker's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Blackhill is stalling in the full guard.
Blackhill postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Skywalker tries for a takedown but Blackhill sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Blackhill stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Blackhill wants it to stay on the feet.
James Blackhill has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
James Blackhill has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rousimar Palhares Skywalker.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skywalker slips under a jab from Blackhill.
Blackhill scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Blackhill takes a swing at Skywalker's ribcage but misses.
Blackhill misses with a lunging right hand
and Skywalker counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Skywalker pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Blackhill back to the cage. Skywalker follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Skywalker fails with an attempt to clinch.
Blackhill throws the left hand but Skywalker avoids the punch easily.
Blackhill lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Skywalker circles away quickly and effectively.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Blackhill!

It looks like Rousimar Palhares Skywalker has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Blackhill throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Skywalker counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Skywalker steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Blackhill.
Blackhill misses with a straight right.
A punch combination from Blackhill misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skywalker slips a jab and a cross from Blackhill.
Blackhill swings for the body but Skywalker moves out of range.

Skywalker moves into the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Blackhill fails to land.
Blackhill is trying to break the clinch but Skywalker has him pressed against the cage.
Skywalker has Blackhill pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Blackhill manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Blackhill wants to get back to striking at distance but Skywalker won't allow it.
Blackhill is trying to break the clinch but Skywalker is controlling him.
Skywalker doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Skywalker working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Skywalker lands with a right to the head.
A right handed body shot lands from Skywalker.
Skywalker lands with a short punch from the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to James Blackhill.
I think Skywalker has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... James Blackhill!
During a confident post fight interview, James Blackhill thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.