PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Johnson Blu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Charleston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that James Charleston was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Blu
vs
Charleston

190 cm
24
190 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

187 cm
27
195 lbs
8 - 16 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Johnson Blu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 16 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, James Charleston!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Charleston lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

It looks like Johnson Blu has been cut.
Blu tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Charleston throws a head kick that half lands.

Charleston darts in and clinches Blu up against the cage.
Charleston manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Charleston pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Charleston fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Blu avoids it really well and circles away.
Blu tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Blu misses with a straight right.

Charleston takes the fight into the clinch.

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

Charleston gets a clinch.
Charleston misses with a knee to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Charleston dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Charleston throws an elbow but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Charleston breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Charleston uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Blu.
Nice shot by Blu.

It looks like James Charleston has been cut.
Blu throws a big shot that misses.
Charleston lands a head kick!
Johnson Blu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Charleston scores with a knee to the head.
Charleston pushes off an throws an elbow but Blu leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Charleston throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Blu blocks it with crossed arms.
Charleston misses with an elbow over the top.
Blu is trying to drag Charleston to the mat but Charleston just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Blu tries to score a body lock takedown but Charleston shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Blu takes an elbow to the temple.
Blu takes a knee to the side of the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Charleston connects with a nasty looking knee right to Blu's face.
A knee to the head by Charleston.
Blu takes a knee to the side of the body.
Charleston throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Blu blocks it with crossed arms.
Charleston lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Blu is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnson Blu. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Charleston jumps guard.

Charleston wriggles free and stands up.
Charleston lands a head kick!
Charleston uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Blu.

Blu tries to keep at a distance but Charleston has taken the fight into the clinch.
Charleston content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Charleston is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Charleston using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Blu has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Charleston breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blu throws a lazy right hand but Charleston sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Charleston avoids the head kick by Blu.
Blu is breathing heavily.

Charleston rushes Blu and presses him up against the cage.
Charleston misses with a knee strike.

Charleston's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Charleston misses with a wild combination.

Charleston clinches up with Blu and pushes him back against the cage.
A knee to the head by Charleston.
Charleston throws an elbow that misses.
Blu tries for a takedown. No joy.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Charleston takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Blu avoids a wild elbow strike from Charleston.
Blu tries for a takedown. No joy.

Charleston pulls guard.
Charleston has a closed guard, preventing Blu from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Charleston keeping full guard, as Blu tries to pass.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Charleston can do anything to dispel that myth.
Blu tries to stand but Charleston is controlling from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Charleston is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Blu is controlling him.

Charleston uses the cage to get back to his feet.
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!
Blu missing with a left hand there. Charleston was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Charleston bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Charleston dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Charleston lands with a slapping head kick.
Blu tries to bum rush Charleston with a series of wild strikes but Charleston uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Blu tests Charleston's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Blu scores with a sloppy right hand. Charleston should have avoided that one.

Charleston moves into the clinch.
Charleston stalls.
Charleston lands a knee to the head.

Charleston jumps guard and drags Blu to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Blu controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Blu stands and steps away. Charleston gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Charleston closes the distance and clinches.
Charleston throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Blu blocks it with crossed arms.
Charleston misses with a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Charleston.

Charleston pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Charleston closes the distance and clinches.
Blu goes for a takedown in the clinch but Charleston prevents it.
Blu goes for a takedown in the clinch but Charleston prevents it.

Charleston manages to break the clinch.
A telegraphed right hand from Blu misses the target.

Charleston moves into the clinch.

Charleston breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Charleston tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Blu defends well and Charleston ends up having to push Blu into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blu rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Charleston moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Charleston clinches up with Blu and pushes him back against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Blu letting Charleston take a breather here.
Blu tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnson Blu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Charleston with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Charleston scores with a knee to the head.

Johnson Blu's cut is getting worse.
Charleston is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Charleston has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Charleston breaks the clinch.

Charleston clinches up against the cage.
Charleston lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Blu wants a takedown but no success here.
Charleston lands a good knee to the midsection. Blu won't want to take too many of those.

Charleston gets control of Blu's arms and successfully pulls guard. Charleston will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Charleston wants to get back to his feet but Blu is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Charleston wriggles free and stands up.

Charleston closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Blu wants a takedown.
Charleston using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Blu has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Charleston crunches a lovely knee into Blu's ribcage.
Charleston is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Blu pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Charleston jumps guard.
Charleston wants to get back to his feet but Blu is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Charleston being controlled here, momentarily.
Blu is looking to stand up but Charleston won't let him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Charleston showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Charleston darts in and clinches Blu up against the cage.
Charleston connects with a knee to the head.
Blu drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Charleston gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A knee to the head by Charleston.
Charleston unloads a knee to the mid-section.

Charleston pulls guard.
Blu won't allow Charleston to get back to his feet.
Blu would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blu not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Charleston wants to stand and escape but Blu is having none of it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Charleston clinches up with Blu and pushes him back against the cage.
Charleston prevents a takedown attempt there.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Charleston is stalling here.
Charleston continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.

Charleston manages to break the clinch.

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.

Charleston drives through and clinches with Blu against the cage.
James Charleston seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Charleston avoiding damage.
The referee calls for Charleston to work.
Charleston working Blu over with knees to the body.
Charleston slows down the pace here.

Charleston breaks from the clinch.
Charleston displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Blu throws out the jab.
Despite the aggression on Charleston's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

Charleston closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Blu is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Charleston pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnson Blu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Charleston leaning his opponent against the cage.
Charleston connects with a nasty looking knee right to Blu's face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Charleston creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Charleston dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Charleston creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Blu's defenses.
Blu dodges an elbow strike from Charleston.
Blu has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Charleston avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Charleston with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Blu is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Charleston pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Charleston prevents a takedown attempt there.
A knee to the head by Charleston.
Johnson Blu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Charleston lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Knees to the body from Charleston.
A knee to the head by Charleston.
Charleston connects with a nasty looking knee right to Blu's face.

Johnson Blu's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.

Charleston escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Charleston connects with a nasty looking knee right to Blu's face.
Charleston has Blu pushed against the cage.

Charleston breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Blu throws a right and a left that Charleston avoids nicely.

Charleston moves into the clinch.

Charleston pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A big right from Blu misses.
Nice takedown defense from Blu. No joy for Charleston on that attempt.
Charleston fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Charleston bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Blu is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

Charleston clinches up with Blu and pushes him back against the cage.
Charleston connects with a nasty looking knee right to Blu's face.
James Charleston is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Blu swings away with an uppercut that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Charleston comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Charleston 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Charleston!