PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rich Downs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carl Blackburn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Carl Blackburn has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Rich Downs's chin.

Downs
vs
Blackburn

199 cm
18
214 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

196 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rich Downs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Carl Blackburn!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Yves DeLean and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blackburn misses with a jab, cross combination.
Blackburn tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Downs swivels and escapes.

Blackburn rushes Downs and presses him up against the cage.
Downs throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Blackburn blocks it with crossed arms.
Downs is pressed up against the cage. Blackburn has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Downs down to the mat. Downs avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Blackburn avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Blackburn moves into the clinch successfully.
Blackburn wants to break free but Downs has control.
A head punch on the inside from Blackburn fails to land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Blackburn breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Blackburn rushes Downs and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Downs gets through Blackburn's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Blackburn is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Downs gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Rich Downs has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carl Blackburn.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Blackburn has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Downs uses from the top position.
Blackburn tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Downs postures up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Downs accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Downs postures up in Blackburn's guard and throws a big left but Blackburn blocks it.
Downs has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Downs lands a couple of digs.
Downs postures up.
Blackburn tries to strike from the bottom.
Blackburn is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Downs throws an elbow that misses. Blackburn uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Downs's guard. Nice move by Blackburn!

Downs throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Downs looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Downs is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Downs will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Downs lands some strikes from the bottom.

Downs working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Blackburn has passed into half guard!
Downs flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Blackburn sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Downs defending well though.
Downs tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blackburn seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Blackburn is trying to control. Downs wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Downs actively working from the bottom here.
Downs misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Downs tries to kick Blackburn off but Blackburn keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Blackburn misses with a takedown attempt - Downs sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Blackburn shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Blackburn showed some decent athleticism there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Downs is trying to stand back up but Blackburn is controlling him

Downs manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Blackburn keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Blackburn is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Blackburn looks winded!
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Blackburn creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Downs's defenses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Downs missing with knees to the body.
Blackburn tries to circle away but Downs has him pinned against the cage.
Downs is trying to break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carl Blackburn dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Blackburn closes the distance and pushes Downs back into the cage.
Downs with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Blackburn is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Blackburn breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Downs darts in and clinches Blackburn up against the cage.
Blackburn tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Blackburn breaks the clinch.

Downs gets a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blackburn is trying to pull guard but Downs has him pressed against the cage.
Downs is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Blackburn's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Downs closes the distance but Blackburn moves to the side
and Blackburn counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

It looks like Rich Downs has been cut.
Downs displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Blackburn.
Rich Downs has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carl Blackburn.
Blackburn misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Downs attempts a counter takedown but Blackburn avoids it well and moves away.

Blackburn closes the distance and clinches.
Downs misses with some punches.
Downs is struggling to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Downs working aggressively here.
Blackburn misses with a hook from the clinch.
Downs is pushing Blackburn up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Downs wants to break the clinch but can't.

Blackburn escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Downs blocks a head kick by Blackburn.

Downs rushes Blackburn and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Blackburn's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Downs lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Blackburn has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Blackburn and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Blackburn clinches with his opponent.
Blackburn has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Blackburn manages to break the clinch.
Blackburn shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Downs sprawls well. Downs wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Blackburn gets slowly back to his feet.
Blackburn tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Blackburn throws an overhand right that lands on Downs's shoulder, as Downs tries to avoid the shot.
Blackburn throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Blackburn is breathing heavily.
Downs displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Blackburn.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Downs is looking to chop away at Blackburn's legs.
Blackburn wants to clinch.
Blackburn misses with an attempted mid kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Downs looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Blackburn! But no joy.
Downs avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Blackburn.
Downs seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Blackburn tries to clinch but Downs moves out of range.
Downs is looking for a counter combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Carl Blackburn will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Rich Downs's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Blackburn tries for a takedown but Downs sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
As Blackburn looks to move away, Downs throws a big counter combo bu Blackburn just gets out of the way.

Blackburn moves into the clinch.
Downs gets underhooks to prevent Blackburn's takedown attempt.

Blackburn breaks from the clinch.
Downs takes a kick to the side of the head.
Downs tries to close the distance and clinch up but Blackburn swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Downs swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Downs.
Downs looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Blackburn is avoiding damage well.
Downs throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Downs creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Blackburn sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Downs working the ground and pound from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Blackburn takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Downs working away.
Downs throws a strike aimed at the side of Blackburn's head but Blackburn avoids it well.
Check out the look on Downs's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

Downs working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Blackburn takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Blackburn really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Downs. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Downs tries for a kimura but Blackburn is defending well.

Downs working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Rich Downs overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Downs looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Blackburn tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Downs wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Downs tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Downs has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Downs is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Blackburn is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blackburn manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Blackburn is trying to get back to full guard.
Blackburn trying to control from the bottom.

Downs is working for a submission of some sort.
Downs thows a huge punch but Blackburn dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Downs thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Blackburn's head.
Downs not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Blackburn avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Downs.
Blackburn is looking for a sweep. Downs is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Downs not landing any meaningful shots this time.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Blackburn scores with a one two! Downs had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Downs shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Blackburn's guard.
Rich Downs has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Carl Blackburn is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Blackburn wants to get back to his feet but Downs is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rich Downs showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Blackburn has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Carl Blackburn!