PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Morton Blankenship (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Kenny (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Blankenship
vs
Kenny

168 cm
24
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Morton Blankenship!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tony Kenny!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Anni Minnemäki and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Blankenship shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kenny's guard.

Kenny pushes Blankenship off and gets back to his feet.
Kenny stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kenny wants it to stay on the feet.
Kenny drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Blankenship defends it well.
Blankenship looks for a takedown but Kenny sprawls well.
Blankenship fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Morton Blankenship. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kenny.
A combination from Kenny does no damage.

Blankenship drives through with a takedown into Kenny's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Blankenship is looking to work some ground and pound but Kenny has wrist control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kenny can do anything to dispel that myth.
Blankenship is working Kenny over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Kenny trying to keep a closed guard but Blankenship is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blankenship throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Blankenship postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Blankenship throwing strikes but missing.
Blankenship loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Blankenship stopping the sweep attempt from Kenny.
Blankenship prevents Kenny from getting back to his feet.
Blankenship throws a big right hand that misses.
Blankenship postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Blankenship scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Kenny pulls Blankenship in to control the position.
Blankenship throwing strikes from guard but Kenny blocks nicely.
Blankenship trying to control the position from guard on top but Kenny is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Blankenship tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kenny swivels and escapes.
Kenny throws a sloppy head kick and Blankenship moves out of range easily.

Blankenship shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Kenny is trying to defend but Blankenship finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Kenny manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Blankenship keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

Blankenship is trying to trip Kenny. He has hold of a leg but Kenny is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Blankenship persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Blankenship 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blankenship is looking to stand up but Kenny won't let him.

Blankenship stands up from Kenny's guard - Blankenship perhaps looking for a knockout.
Blankenship could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Blankenship fails with the takedown.
Morton Blankenship seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kenny throws a nice outside leg kick.
Blankenship has his takedown stuffed

and Kenny counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Blankenship lands with a light punch inside.
Blankenship drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kenny gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kenny blocks a punch to the side of the head.

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

Blankenship has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Kenny has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

Kenny is trying to trip Blankenship. He has hold of a leg but Blankenship is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Kenny persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Blankenship trying to strike off his back.
Kenny prevents Blankenship from getting back to his feet.
Kenny really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Blankenship. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Blankenship is breathing heavily.
Blankenship 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tony Kenny will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kenny dives in and scores a takedown into Blankenship's guard.

Blankenship has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Kenny off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Kenny keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Kenny lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

Kenny shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Blankenship keeping moving, preventing Kenny from controlling successfully.
Blankenship is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Kenny dives into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Kenny decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kenny shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Kenny is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Kenny working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Kenny content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Blankenship tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kenny throws an elbow that misses. Blankenship uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kenny's guard. Nice move by Blankenship!

Blankenship in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blankenship with a nice head shot there.
Blankenship wants to stand but Kenny is controlling his posture from full guard.
Blankenship trying to control but Kenny is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Blankenship throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kenny can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Blankenship controls the pace.
Kenny bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Blankenship's guard.

Blankenship is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kenny is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Blankenship pushes Kenny off and scrambles back to his feet.
Kenny throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Blankenship darts in looking for a takedown but Kenny gets double underhooks and turns Blankenship into the cage.

Blankenship shoots in and gets a takedown into Kenny's guard.
Blankenship sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Kenny's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Blankenship prevents Kenny from improving his position.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Blankenship connects with a nice short shot to Kenny's temple.
Kenny holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kenny scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Blankenship manages to mount him!
Kenny is trying desperately to improve position.
Blankenship lands a big elbow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Blankenship punishing his opponent with strikes.
Blankenship with shots to the head and body - Kenny looks very uncomfortable down there.
Blankenship cracks Kenny with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Blankenship lands a couple of good shots and Kenny has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Kenny tries to roll but Blankenship sticks to his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Morton Blankenship dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Blankenship shoots in for a double leg but Kenny sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kenny is looking for the big counter here.

Blankenship moves into range and clinches up with Kenny.

Kenny pulls guard.
Morton Blankenship overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kenny looking for a sweep. Not yet Kenny, not yet.
Blankenship throwing strikes but missing.
Blankenship throwing strikes from guard but Kenny blocks nicely.
Blankenship postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blankenship stands up over Kenny, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blankenship landing some decent shots from guard.
Blankenship stopping the sweep attempt from Kenny.
Blankenship with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Blankenship keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Kenny's head.
Blankenship sitting in guard here, content to control.
Kenny has a closed guard, preventing Blankenship from standing up.
Kenny trying to keep a closed guard but Blankenship is proving a slippery customer.
Blankenship scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kenny wants to control but Blankenship passes easily into half guard.
Blankenship landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Blankenship throwing shots but Kenny is blocking nicely.
Blankenship lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Kenny avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Blankenship.
Kenny is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Blankenship stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Kenny to get to his feet.

Kenny looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Blankenship!
Kenny takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Blankenship throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Blankenship sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Blankenship wants to get back to his feet.
Blankenship tries to get to full guard but Kenny has control of the leg.
Blankenship punching from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blankenship wants to get back to his feet.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Blankenship is looking to clinch.

Kenny darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Kenny stops Blankenship from getting back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kenny is keen to just control but Blankenship is a slippery customer.

And that's the end of the fight!
Morton Blankenship showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Blankenship has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Morton Blankenship!