PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Clarence Blanchard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Zajcev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Blanchard
vs
Zajcev

216 cm
24
140 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

177 cm
25
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Clarence Blanchard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Zajcev!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Valeri Chadov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blanchard displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Zajcev.
Zajcev fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Blanchard rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Zajcev moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Blanchard closes the distance and clinches.
Zajcev goes for a takedown attempt but Blanchard pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Clarence Blanchard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Zajcev.
Blanchard slaps away a takedown attempt from Zajcev, before circling back to the center of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blanchard tries to clinch but Zajcev moves away

and Zajcev counters with a shoot takedown. Blanchard fights it but they end up in guard.
Blanchard throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Blanchard is on top in guard.

Zajcev throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Blanchard escapes and throws Zajcev's legs to the side, diving into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zajcev tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Blanchard presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Zajcev looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Zajcev really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Blanchard. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Zajcev is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Blanchard pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Blanchard breaks from Zajcev's wrist control and lands an elbow.
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.
Blanchard working Zajcev over with strikes here.
Blanchard prevents Zajcev from getting the reversal.
Blanchard landing strikes from the mount.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Zajcev can do anything to dispel that myth.
Blanchard looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zajcev tries to lock up and control but Blanchard gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Zajcev is trying to escape the mount.

Blanchard has hold of Zajcev's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Zajcev manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zajcev is desperately trying to improve his position but Blanchard has a good base and remains in mount.
Zajcev is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Zajcev is working to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zajcev really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Zajcev keeps trying to improve his position.
Blanchard working Zajcev over with strikes here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zajcev tries to reverse the position but Blanchard maintains control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zajcev wants to control but Blanchard is having none of it.
Zajcev is in all sorts of trouble here.
Zajcev really wants to buck Blanchard off and get back to his feet.
Blanchard avoids the attempt from Zajcev to control.
Blanchard raining down shots from the mount!

Blanchard working for a submission but Zajcev is keeping him at bay.
Zajcev tries to reverse the position but Blanchard maintains control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Clarence Blanchard dominated that round.
That's time! Blanchard's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Zajcev fails to land the takedown.
Blanchard is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Horrible takedown attempt by Zajcev or perhaps it was just good defense by Blanchard, which made it look bad.
Zajcev throws a nice looking combination but Blanchard bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Blanchard stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Blanchard wants it to stay on the feet.
Clarence Blanchard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Zajcev.
Blanchard tries to clinch there but Zajcev circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blanchard tries to clinch but Zajcev moves out of range.
Zajcev tries to counter with a clinch but Blanchard shakes him off and moves away.
Nice sprawl there from Blanchard as Zajcev shoots in.
Zajcev fails with the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blanchard tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zajcev swats him away and circles back towards the center.
No luck for Zajcev with that takedown attempt.
Blanchard throws a series of punches but Zajcev moves out of range.

Blanchard moves into the clinch.
Zajcev has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Blanchard after a bit of a struggle.
Blanchard gets underhooks to prevent Zajcev's takedown attempt.
Blanchard lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Blanchard misses with a short punch on the inside.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Blanchard holding his opponent close, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blanchard tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Blanchard prevents a takedown attempt there.
Zajcev is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Blanchard is defending well.
Blanchard has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Zajcev avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Blanchard gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Zajcev.
Blanchard is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zajcev can do to turn this around?
Blanchard misses with a punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zajcev drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Blanchard swings wildly with an uppercut but Zajcev uses good head movement to avoid it.
Blanchard is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Zajcev tries for a takedown. No joy.
Zajcev has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Blanchard is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Zajcev has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Blanchard is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Blanchard tries to stall but Zajcev uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Zajcev wants a takedown.
Blanchard tries to break free but Zajcev pushes him back against the cage.
Blanchard misses with a hook to the ribs.
Zajcev has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Blanchard avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Zajcev jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Blanchard walks away with a smile on his face. Zajcev gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Horrible takedown attempt by Zajcev or perhaps it was just good defense by Blanchard, which made it look bad.
Clarence Blanchard is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zajcev is breathing heavily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Blanchard tries to clinch but Zajcev is having none of it.
Blanchard is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Clarence Blanchard dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Zajcev swats away the attempt to clinch by Blanchard.
Blanchard wants to clinch up but Zajcev keeps it at a distance.

Zajcev rushes Blanchard and presses him up against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Zajcev goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zajcev is working for takedown but Blanchard is calmly controlling the position for now.
Blanchard tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Zajcev stalling against the cage.
Zajcev pushes Blanchard back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zajcev is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Blanchard to keep the fight standing.
Zajcev can't get the takedown.
Clarence Blanchard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Zajcev.

Zajcev escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Blanchard tries to clinch up but Zajcev circles away and keeps his distance.
Blanchard is looking to clinch.
Zajcev shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Blanchard seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Ivan Zajcev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Blanchard is looking to clinch.
Zajcev with the counter takedown but Blanchard avoids it easily.
Clarence Blanchard is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Blanchard has managed to clinch.
Zajcev is trying to drag Blanchard to the mat but Blanchard just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Zajcev is working for takedown but Blanchard is calmly controlling the position for now.
Zajcev takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zajcev fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Zajcev is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Blanchard tries to pull guard but Zajcev holds him up against the cage and eventually Blanchard drops back down to his feet.
Blanchard is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Zajcev is keeping busy.
Blanchard tries to circle away but Zajcev has him pinned against the cage.
Zajcev wants a takedown but no success here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blanchard jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Zajcev walks away with a smile on his face. Blanchard gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Blanchard tries to clinch but Zajcev is having none of it.
Blanchard tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Zajcev paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Blanchard tries to clinch but Zajcev is having none of it.
Zajcev avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Zajcev moves into the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Zajcev as Blanchard tries to tie him up.
Zajcev is trying to drag Blanchard to the mat but Blanchard just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Zajcev wants a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zajcev is looking for a takedown.
Blanchard working aggressively here.
Zajcev tries for a takedown. No joy.
Blanchard is pressed up against the cage. Zajcev has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Blanchard down to the mat. Blanchard avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Blanchard tries to clinch but Zajcev moves out of range.
Zajcev tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Blanchard looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
It seemed like Zajcev was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Zajcev fails to land the takedown.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zajcev fails with a takedown attempt.

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 Clarence Blanchard.
Well Blanchard has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27

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