PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Cleveland Blanchard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tupi Caqui (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tupi Caqui has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Blanchard
vs
Caqui

207 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
135 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Cleveland Blanchard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tupi Caqui!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Ben Hemmingworth and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Caqui darts in looking for a takedown but Blanchard gets double underhooks and turns Caqui into the cage.
Caqui's coach down at Finch Farm was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Caqui's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Caqui tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Blanchard smiles and moves away.
Tupi Caqui seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Caqui looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Cleveland Blanchard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tupi Caqui.
Caqui looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Jab from Blanchard.

Caqui takes the fight into the clinch.
Blanchard taking a breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Caqui tries to score a body lock takedown but Blanchard shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Blanchard breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Blanchard drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Blanchard decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Caqui misses with a takedown
and Blanchard cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Caqui looks winded!
Blanchard tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Caqui manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Blanchard throws a head kick that Caqui semi-blocks.
Blanchard tries to land a front kick but Caqui steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Caqui shoots in and drives through. Blanchard sprawls well.

Caqui has taken the fight to the clinch.
Blanchard tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Blanchard jumps into guard, dragging Caqui to the mat.
Blanchard has control of Caqui's left arm, preventing Caqui from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Blanchard preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Caqui has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Caqui pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Blanchard is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blanchard working a defensive guard here.
Caqui seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Cleveland Blanchard.
Nice body kick from Blanchard.
Caqui throws a sloppy head kick and Blanchard moves out of range easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blanchard throws a head kick that misses.
Blanchard stuffs the takedown attempt from Caqui. Caqui gets slowly back to his feet.
Blanchard tries to close the distance and clinch up but Caqui swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Caqui has his takedown stuffed
and Blanchard counters with a good low kick that Caqui was not able to check.

Caqui clinches with his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cleveland Blanchard dominated that round.
That's time! Blanchard's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Blanchard closes the distance and clinches.
Blanchard tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Caqui smiles and moves away.

Caqui moves into range and clinches up with Blanchard.
Blanchard is looking to break free of the clinch but Caqui has double underhooks.

Blanchard breaks from the clinch.
Blanchard avoids the head kick by Caqui.
Blanchard tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters circling a little - Blanchard finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Caqui tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Blanchard swivels and escapes.
Caqui fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Blanchard avoids it really well and circles away.
Caqui is breathing heavily.
Blanchard misses with a low kick.
Caqui shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Blanchard sprawls well. Blanchard wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Caqui gets slowly back to his feet.
Cleveland Blanchard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tupi Caqui.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Caqui shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Blanchard pinned against the cage. Blanchard gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Blanchard fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Blanchard takes a swing at Caqui's ribcage but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Caqui pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A good leg kick by Blanchard.
Blanchard with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Caqui shoots in for a double leg but Blanchard sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Caqui changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Blanchard tries to avoid it but Caqui manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Blanchard to the ground. Blanchard escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Blanchard looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Blanchard misses with an attempted mid kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blanchard throws a leg kick but Caqui sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Caqui pivots, looking for a leg kick but Blanchard is out of range and Caqui settles back down.
Blanchard keeps Caqui at a distance using the push kick.
Nice body punch from Blanchard.
Blanchard lands with a nice body punch.
Caqui does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cleveland Blanchard dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Caqui pushes Blanchard up against the cage in a clinch.
Blanchard jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Caqui walks away with a smile on his face. Blanchard gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Decent striking displayed by Blanchard there.
Blanchard misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Caqui.
Blanchard looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Caqui shoots for a takedown but Blanchard saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Caqui moves into the clinch successfully.
Caqui takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Blanchard fails to pull guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blanchard tries to pull guard but Caqui holds him up against the cage and eventually Blanchard drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cleveland Blanchard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Blanchard blocks an elbow strike from Caqui.

Caqui has clasped his hands together around Blanchard's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Blanchard is trying to control Caqui's posture but Caqui avoids it.
Caqui sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Blanchard is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
I wouldn't like to be where Blanchard is right now.
Blanchard is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Caqui tries to advance to mount but Blanchard denies him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Caqui wants to lay and pray for a moment but Blanchard keeps working.
Caqui is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Caqui working the body and head with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Caqui is trying to get an arm triangle but Blanchard is defending well.
Caqui working away.
Blanchard regains half guard there - taking advantage of Caqui's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Blanchard keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blanchard keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Blanchard trying to control but Caqui postures up.
Caqui wants to take a breather but Blanchard is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Caqui in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Blanchard tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Caqui!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Tupi Caqui!