PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Frank Farinola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Peaky Blinder (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Farinola kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Eye of the Tiger. This should be a great matchup!

Farinola
vs
Blinder

176 cm
21
160 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

180 cm
19
168 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Determined

Machiavelli Boutique

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Frank Farinola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Peaky Blinder!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, David Schapiro and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Farinola moves in looking to clinch but Blinder pushes him off.
Blinder connects with a leg kick. Farinola looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Farinola shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Blinder defends it nicely.
Frank Farinola seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Blinder stuffs the takedown.
Blinder doesn't manage to clinch there - Farinola circles away.
Blinder tries to close the distance and clinch up but Farinola swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Blinder wants to clinch up but Farinola keeps it at a distance.
Blinder looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Farinola closes the distance and pushes Blinder back into the cage.
Blinder putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Farinola in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Farinola.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blinder slows down the pace here.

Farinola pulls guard successfully.
Farinola 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Farinola pulls Blinder in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Farinola looking to hit a scissor sweep but Blinder is one step ahead there.
Farinola is adopting a defensive guard.
Farinola working a defensive guard here.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Farinola has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Farinola checks the leg kick.
Farinola uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Blinder.
Farinola shoots for a takedown but Blinder saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Farinola. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Blinder tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Farinola manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Blinder connects with an inside leg kick.
Blinder misses with a leg kick

and Farinola counters with a single leg into guard. Blinder didn't expect that.
Farinola passes into half guard.
Farinola thows a huge punch but Blinder dodges it nicely.
Farinola passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Blinder!
Farinola throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Farinola looking to finish with strikes here!
Farinola with shots to the head and body - Blinder looks very uncomfortable down there.
Blinder blocking the ground and pound.
Farinola content just to control the position here.
Farinola lands a couple of good shots and Blinder has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Blinder covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Blinder rolls, trying to escape but Farinola keeps control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blinder finds himself mounted whilst avoiding strikes.
Blinder working to try and regain half guard.
Farinola trying to control but Blinder is having none of it.
Farinola controlling the position easily from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Farinola trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Farinola throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Farinola dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Farinola throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Blinder looks for the body kick but Farinola saw that one coming.
Farinola moves in looking to clinch but Blinder pushes him off.
Farinola is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Blinder can do to turn this around?
Farinola shoots in for a takedown but Blinder shows good takedown defense.
As Farinola backs off Blinder throws a huge counter combo but Farinola manages to avoid it all.

Farinola pushes Blinder up against the cage in a clinch.
Farinola can't break the clinch.
Farinola fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Farinola wants to take the fight to the mat but Blinder manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Our sources have told us that Farinola has been working on his elbows in the gym.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Farinola. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Farinola tries to pull guard but Blinder forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Blinder takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Blinder with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Blinder lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blinder is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Blinder prevents a takedown attempt there.
Farinola fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Farinola lands a nice shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Farinola fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Farinola tries to work over Blinder's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Farinola goes for a takedown in the clinch but Blinder prevents it.
Blinder looking to throw knees to the head but Farinola is blocking nicely.
Farinola is looking for a takedown.
Blinder working aggressively here.
Blinder lands a knee to the head.
Blinder can't find room to land a body shot as Farinola controls the action.
Blinder connects with a knee to the head.
Farinola blocks a body shot from Blinder.
Blinder makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Farinola is trying to pull guard but Blinder has him pressed against the cage.
Blinder misses with the head strike.
Blinder taking a breather.
Farinola tries to work over Blinder's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Blinder is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Farinola is keeping busy.
Farinola blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Farinola can't get the takedown.
A shot in the inside from Blinder.
Farinola jumps guard but Blinder turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Farinola has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Blinder avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Blinder struggles to land a body shot inside as Farinola controls his hands.
Farinola drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Blinder is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Blinder tries a body shot but Farinola blocks it.
Farinola tries to throw a body punch but Blinder avoids it by throwing Farinola back against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Blinder misses with a short punch on the inside.

Farinola gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Blinder regains guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Farinola wanted to stand there but Blinder had control of the position.
Blinder utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blinder utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Blinder working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Farinola.
Farinola scoring with some ground and pound.
Farinola wants to control from the top but Blinder keeps moving.
Farinola wanted to stand there but Blinder had control of the position.
Blinder 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.
Blinder keeping moving, preventing Farinola from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Frank Farinola is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Farinola manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Blinder on his heels. He'll look to pass Blinder's guard now, I'm sure.
Farinola looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Blinder preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Blinder keeping moving, preventing Farinola from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Blinder is pulling down on Farinola's head to control his posture.
Farinola throws a big elbow that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Peaky Blinder showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Blinder misses with a double jab.

Blinder clinches up with Farinola and pushes him back against the cage.
Blinder tries a knee to the head but Farinola blocks it.
Blinder is trying to stall.
Blinder looking to stall.
Blinder is persisting with his attempts to control the action in the clinch, rather than do any real damage.
Farinola tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Blinder just stands there and leans against the cage.
Blinder putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Farinola in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Farinola creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Farinola is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Blinder gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Farinola fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Farinola. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Farinola avoiding damage as Blinder throws knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blinder with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Farinola prevents a body shot from Blinder.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Blinder.

Farinola ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Farinola no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Farinola controls Blinder momentarily but Blinder frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Farinola 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.
Farinola has control of Blinder's left arm, preventing Blinder from doing any damage.
Farinola controls Blinder momentarily but Blinder frees himself.
Farinola is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Blinder is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Blinder being controlled here momentarily.
Farinola is trying to control the position but Blinder postures up.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Farinola is looking to stand up but Blinder isn't so interested in that idea.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Farinola darts in looking for a takedown but Blinder gets double underhooks and turns Farinola into the cage.
Farinola looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Blinder is fending him off so far but Farinola persists. Nope, Blinder circles away and we're back to standing.
Farinola looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Blinder rushes Farinola and presses him up against the cage.
Blinder throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Farinola blocks it with crossed arms.
Farinola tries for a takedown. No joy.
Blinder misses with a hook to the ribs.
Blinder lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Blinder is pressed up against the cage. Farinola has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Blinder down to the mat. Blinder avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Blinder.
Farinola avoids the body shot from Blinder.
Farinola circles away from the clinch attempt.
Farinola is looking to clinch but Blinder is avoiding it.
Farinola dives in and grabs Blinder's left leg, looking for a takedown. Blinder pushes down on Farinola's head and hops out.
Farinola shoots and misses
and Blinder counters with an inside leg kick.
Farinola motions for Blinder to come forward. Farinola throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Blinder defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Farinola.

Blinder fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Farinola, pushing him back against the cage.
Blinder landing knees to the body.
Blinder misses with a punch to the body.
Blinder is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Blinder using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Farinola has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Blinder goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Farinola is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Blinder is defending well.
Farinola tries to pull guard but Blinder won't allow it.
Blinder landing knees to the head.
Blinder using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Farinola has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Blinder working aggressively here.
Farinola tries to break free but Blinder pushes him back against the cage.
Blinder misses with a hook to the ribs.
Blinder is pushing Farinola up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Blinder misses with a knee to the head.
Farinola jumps guard but Blinder turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Farinola's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Farinola steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Blinder. That one must have hurt.
Peaky Blinder is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Farinola blocks a jab.
Blinder is looking to clinch but Farinola is avoiding it.
Farinola shoots in for a takedown but Blinder shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Peaky Blinder comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Blinder 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Peaky Blinder!
The defeated Frank Farinola had this to say: 'I would like to thank my fight club and my fans for the support and look forward to coming back even better.'.