PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between One Arm John (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Grey Blanchard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Arm John
vs
Blanchard

225 cm
25
260 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
255 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, One Arm John!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Grey Blanchard!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Winston Alpacca and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blanchard throws a series of strikes that have John backpedaling.

Blanchard gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Blanchard ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Blanchard no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Blanchard keeping moving, preventing John from controlling successfully.
John tries to free his leg and advance position but Blanchard is retaining full guard.
Blanchard pulls John in close to his closed guard and prevents John from doing any damage or advancing position.
John passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
John wants to take a breather but Blanchard is having none of it.
John wants to pass the guard but Blanchard is defending well.
John thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blanchard tries to roll over but John keeps him under control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Blanchard trying to control but John postures up.
Blanchard is trying to get back to full guard.
John is keen to just control but Blanchard is a slippery customer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Blanchard blocks a head kick by John.
John throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
John tries to clinch there but Blanchard circles away.
John fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

John fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Blanchard sprawls well initially but John persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Blanchard looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Blanchard wants to control but John is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Blanchard wants to get back to full guard.

John is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Blanchard avoiding damage under a succession of punches from John.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blanchard wants to improve his position but John is controlling well.
John working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Blanchard's thigh. Blanchard counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Blanchard controls John momentarily but John frees himself.
Blanchard thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Blanchard tries to land a sweep but no joy.
John cracks Blanchard with a solid left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Blanchard is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Blanchard manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Blanchard breaks the clinch.
John tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Blanchard defends well and John ends up having to push Blanchard into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Blanchard is trying to pull guard but John has him pressed against the cage.
John fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for One Arm John. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Blanchard is trying to pull guard but John has him pressed against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Blanchard can't get the takedown.
Blanchard looks winded!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Blanchard tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. John just stands there and leans against the cage.
John looking to throw knees to the head but Blanchard is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Grey Blanchard will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

John misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
John tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
One Arm John is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Blanchard gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Blanchard is working for takedown but John is calmly controlling the position for now.

John pulls guard successfully.
Blanchard controlling from the top position.
Blanchard stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. John swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Blanchard trying to control but John is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blanchard controlling from the top position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Grey Blanchard.
Nice sprawl there from John as Blanchard shoots in.
Blanchard avoids a punch combination nicely.
Blanchard throws a hook but John avoids it easily.
John tries to score a power double leg takedown but Blanchard sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten John somewhat.
Blanchard doesn't manage to clinch there - John circles away.
John looking to land some kicks to the body here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blanchard shoots in but no luck this time.
One Arm John has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Grey Blanchard.
John swats away the attempt to clinch by Blanchard.
John tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Blanchard lands a high kick!
Blanchard throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Blanchard is breathing heavily.
John fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Blanchard is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in John's half guard.
John wants to control but Blanchard is keeping busy.
John slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

John is looking for a triangle but Blanchard pushes his legs off easily.
Blanchard is on the wrong end of a couple of strikes there.
Blanchard stopping the sweep attempt from John.
John trying to control the position.
Blanchard wants to control from the top but John keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blanchard is stalling in the full guard.
John keeping moving, preventing Blanchard from controlling successfully.
Blanchard must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Grey Blanchard.
Blanchard shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as John sprawls well. John wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Blanchard gets slowly back to his feet.
Blanchard throws a poor cross that misses

and John holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
John wants a takedown.
Blanchard tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
John trying to stall but Blanchard improves his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grey Blanchard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Blanchard moves out of range of the body kick from John.

Blanchard looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Blanchard is trying to control the action in half guard but John is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Blanchard is thwarting John's attempts to control the position.
John is looking for a sweep. Blanchard is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Blanchard works his way into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blanchard tries to advance to mount but John denies him.
Blanchard working the head with strikes.
Blanchard working away.

Blanchard is trying to get an arm triangle but John is defending well.
Blanchard trying to control the action but John is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Blanchard stands up.
Blanchard takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Blanchard gets caught napping as John dives in and scores a takedown. Blanchard manages to retain guard.
John trying to control but Blanchard is working from the bottom.
John tries to stand but Blanchard is controlling from the bottom.
Blanchard can't keep his opponent in guard - John advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
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!

Blanchard is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but John pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

John is working for a submission of some sort.
Blanchard wants to improve his position but John is controlling well.
Blanchard is refusing to be controlled, as John sits in half guard.
Blanchard is trying to maintain the position but John is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
John lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Blanchard is trying to control but can't.
John tries to pass the half guard into mount. Blanchard knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
John lands with a punch from half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
John is trying to control. Blanchard wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
One Arm John has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Grey Blanchard is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
John missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

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 One Arm John.
Well Blanchard 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 Dirk Anderson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Grey Blanchard!