PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Bernardo Blake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenny Florian (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.

Blake
vs
Florian

190 cm
23
151 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

170 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bernardo Blake!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kenny Florian!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Cecil Peabody and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Blake looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Florian!
Blake working the ground and pound but Florian is defending the strikes.
Blake tries to score with some ground and pound. Florian controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Blake knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Florian on the ground.
Florian can't do much from the bottom here.
Florian tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Blake wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Florian is trying to control Blake's posture but Blake avoids it.
Blake will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Florian manages to get back to half guard.
Florian tries to roll over but Blake keeps him under control.
Blake scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Florian looking for submissions off his back.
Florian slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Blake stops Florian from standing up.
Florian is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Blake avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Blake got a little sloppy there for a moment and Florian has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Blake has managed to get both his arms back between Florian's legs - danger averted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Florian looking for a sweep. Not yet Florian, not yet.
Florian is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Blake won't allow Florian to sweep him here.
Blake content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Florian looking to control.
Blake cracks Florian with a solid left hand.
Blake postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Blake landing with the ground and pound.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Blake working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Florian is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Blake dives into side control.
Florian looks winded!
Florian manages to get back to half guard.
Florian is trying to stand up here but Blake is controlling him well.
Florian blocking the ground and pound attempt from Blake.
Florian has hold of Blake's hands but Blake slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Blake missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Blake really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Florian tries to roll over but Blake keeps him under control.
Florian is looking to escape.
Blake slips a nice elbow through Florian's hands, connecting with Florian's forehead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Blake lands a nice short elbow.
Blake is nestled in close to Florian, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Blake thows a huge punch but Florian dodges it nicely.
Blake is thwarting Florian's attempts to control the position.
Blake working over Florian with some ground and pound. Florian looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Blake looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Florian with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Blake looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Florian with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Blake missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Florian is trying to control but can't.
Blake working the head and body with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Bernardo Blake will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Blake instigates a clinch.

Florian manages to break the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Blake looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Florian shoots in looking for a takedown. Blake tries to sprawl out of it but Florian keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Blake manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Blake tries to clinch but Florian moves out of range.
Blake checks a leg kick.
Florian throws a head kick that misses
and Blake counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Florian thinking.
Florian with a poor takedown
and Blake counters with a nice body shot.
Florian is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Florian doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Blake counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Bernardo Blake has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kenny Florian.

Florian shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Blake is controlling Florian's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Blake is looking to control Florian's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Blake avoid being mounted?
Blake moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Blake trying to keep a closed guard but Florian is proving a slippery customer.
Blake pulls Florian in close to his closed guard and prevents Florian from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Blake keeping moving, preventing Florian from controlling successfully.
Florian won't allow Blake to sweep him here.
Florian wants to control from the top but Blake keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Florian shoots in for a double leg but Blake sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Florian tries to clinch
and Blake counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Florian shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Blake counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Blake has taken the fight to the clinch.
Blake jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Florian walks away with a smile on his face. Blake gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Florian throws a right hand that Blake ducks under and follows up with a left that Blake also avoids with ease.
Florian with a lazy takedown attempt
and Blake counters with a three punch combo that has Florian backing up. Florian nods at Blake to acknowledge the strikes.
Blake shoots in for a takedown but Florian shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Florian tries to clinch
and Blake counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Florian thinking.

Blake shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Florian napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Blake grinds an elbow into Florian's temple.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Florian tries to buck Blake off but Blake is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Florian is still trying to improve position.
Florian takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Blake working the ground and pound.
Blake lands an elbow.
Florian tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Blake gets his hands free as Florian looks to control.
Bernardo Blake overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Blake scores with punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bernardo Blake dominated that second round.
That's time! Blake's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Blake has his takedown stuffed

and Florian counters with a nice double leg into side control. Blake won't be happy with that.
Florian fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Blake is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Florian is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Florian can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Blake is looking to escape.
Blake wants to hold on but Florian pushes him away.
Florian lands with some strikes.
Blake is desperately trying to improve his position but Florian has a good base and remains in mount.
Blake avoids a series of strikes thrown by Florian.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Florian looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Florian takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Florian scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Blake?
Florian controlling the pace for now.
Florian lands a big shot there that rocks Blake but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Blake is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Florian moves to back control.

Florian has managed to slip his arm under Blake's chin. This could be all over... yep, Blake is tapping out! Submission win for Florian.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Kenny Florian!