PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rio Denardo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Blaze Seagrave (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Denardo's entrance music is Bodies - Drowning pool. A fine choice. The crowd seem to be enjoying Seagrave's choice of entrance music: Waitin on Hank - Dry County. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Denardo
vs
Seagrave

187 cm
23
170 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

181 cm
21
170 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Valhalla War Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rio Denardo!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Blaze Seagrave!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Arvi Lind and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Denardo moves away from the strike by Seagrave.

Seagrave closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Denardo to the mat! Denardo manages to get full guard.
Seagrave pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Denardo is keeping the position for now.
Seagrave chips away with some ground and pound.
Seagrave wanted to stand there but Denardo had control of the position.

Seagrave gets to his feet. Denardo looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Denardo tries to clinch up but Seagrave circles away and keeps his distance.
Seagrave avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Denardo wants to clinch up but Seagrave keeps it at a distance.

Seagrave bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Seagrave has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Seagrave lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Seagrave rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Denardo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Denardo tries to clinch but Seagrave is having none of it.
Seagrave keeps the fight on the outside.
Denardo takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Seagrave fails with a takedown attempt.
Seagrave looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Denardo doesn't manage to clinch there - Seagrave circles away.
Seagrave throws a sloppy head kick and Denardo moves out of range easily.
Denardo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Seagrave swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Denardo avoids the head kick by Seagrave.

Seagrave moves into the clinch successfully.
Denardo gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Seagrave.
Denardo creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Seagrave tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Denardo smiles and moves away.
Rio Denardo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Blaze Seagrave.
Denardo wants to clinch but Seagrave slips to the side

and Seagrave counters with a shoot takedown. Denardo fights it but they end up in guard.

Seagrave has gone for a leg lock! Denardo slips out almost immediately though and dives into Seagrave's guard.
Seagrave is trying to keep Denardo in close.
Denardo passes Seagrave's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Seagrave looking for subs from the bottom but Denardo mounts him!
Denardo wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Seagrave tries to hold on but Denardo pushes him away.
Seagrave is squirming around, avoiding Denardo's attempts to control the action.
Seagrave tries to hold on but Denardo pushes him away.
Denardo wants to take Seagrave's back here but Seagrave is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Seagrave tries to hold on but Denardo postures up.
Seagrave can't escape the position.
Seagrave slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Denardo is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Denardo is breathing heavily.
Denardo is looking to advance position but Seagrave won't allow it.
Seagrave punching from the bottom.
Seagrave is trying to maintain the position but Denardo is very close to passing his half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Seagrave tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Seagrave wants to control but Denardo is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Denardo is looking for a kimura here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Seagrave misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Seagrave is looking to land body kicks.

Seagrave scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Seagrave not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Seagrave stops Denardo from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Denardo manages to get to full guard.
Seagrave not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Seagrave is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Seagrave works over Denardo with some ground and pound from guard.
Seagrave passes into half guard.

Seagrave is trying to work for a kimura but Denardo is defending well.
Denardo works his way to full guard. Good work.

Seagrave drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Denardo manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Seagrave has Denardo in his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Seagrave is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Seagrave keeping moving, preventing Denardo from controlling successfully.
Seagrave throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Denardo prevents Seagrave from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Seagrave has his foot on Denardo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Denardo works his way back into a safe position though.
Seagrave is looking to stand up but Denardo isn't so interested in that idea.
Seagrave looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Denardo wants to pass the guard but Seagrave is keeping the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Denardo darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Seagrave won't allow Denardo to pass to mount.
Seagrave wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Seagrave is trying to maintain the position but Denardo is very close to passing his half guard.
Seagrave is trying to get back to full guard.
Seagrave has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Denardo is working away from the top position though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Seagrave is pressing down on Denardo's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Seagrave throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Blaze Seagrave will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Seagrave shoots in looking for a takedown. Denardo tries to sprawl out of it but Seagrave keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Denardo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Seagrave misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Seagrave stuffs the takedown.
Denardo wants to clinch but Seagrave slips to the side
and Seagrave counters with a good, hard body kick but Denardo shrugs it off.
Seagrave throws a nice looking combination but Denardo bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Seagrave darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Denardo has hold of Seagrave's hands but Seagrave slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Seagrave is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Seagrave decides to stand and escape the position.
Denardo darts in trying to clinch

and Seagrave counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Seagrave decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Denardo gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Denardo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Seagrave can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Seagrave is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Seagrave wants to control from the top but Denardo keeps moving.
Seagrave pushes down on Denardo's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Seagrave wants to work for an arm triangle but Denardo is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Blaze Seagrave has got the better of the ground game so far.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Denardo tries to roll over but Seagrave keeps him under control.

Seagrave stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Denardo showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Seagrave.
Seagrave misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rio Denardo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Denardo takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Blaze Seagrave seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Seagrave tries for a takedown but Denardo sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Denardo darts in trying to clinch

and Seagrave decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Denardo's guard.
Seagrave trying to control but Denardo is working from the bottom.
Denardo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Seagrave is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Seagrave scoring with some ground and pound.
Seagrave stopping the sweep attempt from Denardo.
Seagrave working some strikes from top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Blaze Seagrave comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Seagrave has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Blaze Seagrave!
Blaze Seagrave is the new welterweight champion!