PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Frank Blackman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Byron Long (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Long has chosen Ai Se Eu Te Pego as his entrance music. 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.

Blackman
vs
Long

195 cm
26
197 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

183 cm
22
188 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Frank Blackman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Byron Long!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Alexandre Firmino and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Long on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Long throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Long shoots in but no luck this time.
Long looks to score with a jab to the body but Blackman is just out of range.
Blackman pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A solid leg kick lands there for Long.
Long lands an overhand right.

Long shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Long looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Long sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Let's hope that Long has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Long throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Long working Blackman over with strikes.
Blackman won't allow Long to pass to mount.
Long is trying to control the action in half guard but Blackman is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Long thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Blackman is trying to stand.
Long missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Long escapes and gets back to his feet.
Blackman fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Long.
Blackman looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Long lands a two punch combo.

It looks like Frank Blackman has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Long is looking to clinch.

Long clinches up against the cage.
Long throws a knee to the head but misses.

Blackman has Long pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Blackman pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Long tumbling to the mat - Blackman dives into Long's guard.
Long utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Long keeping full guard, as Blackman tries to pass.
Blackman throws a big right hand that misses.
Blackman looking to pass the guard.

Long looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Blackman is defending well. Long quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Blackman has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Long celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:41 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Byron Long!
Byron Long seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.