PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tuan Blanchard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hawk Drako (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Blanchard
vs
Drako

216 cm
25
215 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

225 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

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 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Tuan Blanchard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Hawk Drako!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Wagner Zegers and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blanchard keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Drako forces Blanchard back against the cage and clinches.

Drako pulls guard successfully.
Drako 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.
Blanchard throws a big elbow that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Drako throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Drako holds on and takes a little breather.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blanchard wants to get up but he can't break Drako's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Blanchard 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.
Blanchard trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blanchard would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Blanchard decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Drako, up you get!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Drako is defended easily by Blanchard.
Blanchard is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Drako.
Blanchard throws out a powerful jab.
Drako steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Blanchard.

Drako clinches.
Blanchard wants a takedown.
Blanchard drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drako prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tuan Blanchard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Blanchard tries to pull guard but Drako won't allow it.
Drako is trying to break the clinch but Blanchard has him pressed against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Drako takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Blanchard has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Drako avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Drako prevents the takedown attempt.
Drako tries to stall but Blanchard uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Blanchard is trying to pull guard but Drako has him pressed against the cage.

Blanchard successfully pulls guard.
Blanchard is wriggling around but Drako manages to pass to half guard.
Blanchard is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drako trying to control the action but Blanchard is working from the bottom.
Blanchard is trying to stand back up but Drako is controlling him
Blanchard really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Drako with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Blanchard is trying to stand.

Drako decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
A head kick misses from Drako.

Drako closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Blanchard looking for a takedown.
Blanchard tries to pull guard but Drako won't allow it.

Blanchard drags the fight down to the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Drako accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Drako is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Drako throws a big right hand that misses.

Blanchard working for a triangle but Drako defends it easily.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Blanchard wants to stand up but Drako is controlling him.
Drako seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Blanchard is looking to stand up but Drako isn't so interested in that idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hawk Drako dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Drako shoots in for a double leg but Blanchard sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Blanchard gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Drako.
Drako has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Blanchard instigates a clinch.
Drako tries to score a body lock takedown but Blanchard shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Blanchard jumps guard but Drako turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Drako prevents a takedown attempt there.

Drako is fighting off a takedown attempt but Blanchard is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Drako to the mat. Drako regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Drako scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Hawk Drako seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Drako.
Tuan Blanchard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hawk Drako.
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 closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blanchard wants a takedown but no success here.

Blanchard gets control of Drako's arms and successfully pulls guard. Blanchard will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Drako stands up and waves to Blanchard to follow him.
Drako shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Blanchard as he jumps to the side.
Blanchard tries to clinch but Drako is having none of it.
And Drako tries to counter it with a takedown but Blanchard pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Some wild striking there from Drako.
Blanchard tries to clinch up but Drako circles away and keeps his distance.
Blanchard displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Drako.
Drako defending well as Blanchard loads up on a big left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drako shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Blanchard defends it nicely.
Drako keeps the fight on the outside.

Drako rushes Blanchard and presses him up against the cage.
Blanchard is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Drako is defending well.
Blanchard is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Drako to keep the fight standing.
Drako lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Drako gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Blanchard.
Drako lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Blanchard backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drako wants to break free but Blanchard has control.

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.

Blanchard working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Drako doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Drako manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Drako working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Drako drops back, looking for a kneebar! Blanchard looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Blanchard looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Blanchard!

Blanchard looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Blanchard working the body and head with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drako is trying to control Blanchard's posture but Blanchard avoids it.
Blanchard sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Drako is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Drako can't do much from the bottom here.

Blanchard goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Drako rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Blanchard's guard! Nice work there by Drako!
Drako trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Drako stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Blanchard swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Drako won't allow Blanchard to get back to his feet.
Blanchard is trying to keep Drako in close.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Hawk Drako will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Blanchard's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Drako throws a body kick that misses.
Drako shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Blanchard but Blanchard pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Blanchard tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Drako manages to circle out of the way.

Drako clinches up against the cage.
Blanchard is trying to pull guard but Drako turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Drako gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Blanchard.
Drako is trying to break the clinch but Blanchard has him pressed against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Drako is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Blanchard gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Blanchard changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Drako fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tuan Blanchard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Blanchard throws a hook but Drako avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Blanchard closes the distance and clinches.
Blanchard has Drako pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Drako manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Drako can't get the takedown.

Blanchard has clasped his hands together around Drako's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Drako throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Drako lands with a shot to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Drako shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Blanchard as he avoids it easily.
Hawk Drako is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Drako misses with a takedown attempt - Blanchard sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Drako closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drako pushes off an throws an elbow but Blanchard leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Hawk Drako seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Blanchard has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Drako uses from the top position.
Drako stops Blanchard from standing up.
Blanchard has his hands on Drako's head, controlling the position.
Drako wants to control from the top but Blanchard keeps moving.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Blanchard holds on and takes a little breather.
Drako is looking to work some ground and pound but Blanchard has wrist control.
Hawk Drako has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drako slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Blanchard wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Blanchard is looking to clinch.

Drako moves into the clinch.

Blanchard has hold of one of Drako's legs. Drako is fighting the takedown attempt but Blanchard gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Drako pushes Blanchard off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Blanchard drives through and clinches with Drako against the cage.
Drako dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

Blanchard works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Drako wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Blanchard manages to pass to side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Drako is defending against the submission attempts here by Blanchard.
Drako wants to improve his position but Blanchard is controlling well.
Blanchard slips a nice elbow through Drako's hands, connecting with Drako's forehead.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hawk Drako comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Drako winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hawk Drako!