PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Wayne Roach (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Davey Blackburn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Roach
vs
Blackburn

182 cm
18
278 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

200 cm
25
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Wayne Roach!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Davey Blackburn!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, James Glass and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Blackburn gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Blackburn wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Roach keeps control of Blackburn as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Roach breaks the clinch.
Davey Blackburn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Blackburn changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Roach looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The strikes coming from Blackburn are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Roach might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Blackburn decides to take the fight back to the feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Roach.

Blackburn shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Roach is trying to defend but Blackburn finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Blackburn throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blackburn looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Blackburn stands up out of the half guard.
Blackburn throws a head kick but Roach moves out of range.
Roach fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Blackburn avoids it really well and circles away.
Roach tries to clinch up
and Blackburn makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Roach could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Roach gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Blackburn throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blackburn controlling from the top position.
Roach is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Blackburn is stalling in the full guard.
Blackburn pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Roach is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blackburn throws a strike but Roach rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Blackburn looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Blackburn utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
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.
Blackburn seems keen to control Roach's posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Blackburn manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Blackburn instigates a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Blackburn's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Nice body punch from Blackburn.
Blackburn is trying to force a seperation but Roach has the dominant position.
Roach is trying to pull guard but Blackburn has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wayne Roach. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Blackburn ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Blackburn no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Roach is fighting to break Blackburn's control of his arms but Blackburn is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Blackburn wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Davey Blackburn dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Blackburn is looking to score with low kicks.

Blackburn manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Roach on his heels. He'll look to pass Roach's guard now, I'm sure.
Roach is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Blackburn dives into side control.

Blackburn is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Roach knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Blackburn stands up and we're back to a striking position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Blackburn closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Blackburn pulls guard effortlessly.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blackburn seems keen to control Roach's posture.
Roach wants to get up but he can't break Blackburn's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
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.
Roach in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Roach wants to get up but he can't break Blackburn's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Blackburn pulls Roach in close to prevent any damage.
Davey Blackburn has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Blackburn pushes Roach off and scrambles back to his feet.

Blackburn has Roach up against the cage in a clinch.
Blackburn has had enough of the clinch but Roach keeps him there for the moment.
A frustrated look appears on Blackburn's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Blackburn tries to land a knee to the head but Roach blocks with his arms.
Roach has Blackburn pressed against the cage, preventing Blackburn from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Roach tries to pull guard but Blackburn holds him up against the cage and eventually Roach drops back down to his feet.
Blackburn slows down the pace here.

Blackburn manages to pull guard.
Blackburn trying to control the position.

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.
Blackburn thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Blackburn has an active guard here but Roach has managed to pass into half guard.
Blackburn has his hands clasped together around Roach's back. He's all about the action.
Blackburn makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Blackburn.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Blackburn is on top in guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Davey Blackburn showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Blackburn's jab looks to have found its range, popping Roach under the eye.

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

Blackburn is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Blackburn is looking for a kimura but Roach is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Blackburn to get the leverage.
Roach knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Blackburn on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roach is trying to control but can't.
Blackburn tries to pass the half guard into mount. Roach knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Roach trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Blackburn manages to pass to mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blackburn controlling his opponent.
Roach is wriggling around trying to escape.
Roach is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Roach is trying desperately to improve position.
Blackburn controlling his opponent.
Blackburn throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Roach because Blackburn loaded up on that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Roach defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Blackburn.
Blackburn thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Blackburn tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Blackburn looking to finish with strikes here!
Blackburn controlling from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blackburn thowing shots but they're missing.
Blackburn sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Blackburn. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Let's hope that Blackburn has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

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.
Roach is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Blackburn sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Roach is looking to improve his position but Blackburn isn't that keen on the idea.
Blackburn takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Blackburn looking for a guillotine from mount but Roach is having none of it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Blackburn content just to control the position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Davey Blackburn comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Blackburn 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Davey Blackburn!