PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Terrence Blankenship (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Swanson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Blankenship
vs
Swanson

220 cm
24
279 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

190 cm
22
260 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Terrence 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, Ben Swanson!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Johanna Lukiainen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Swanson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Swanson perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Swanson stops Blankenship from getting back to his feet.
Blankenship wants to control the action here but instead Swanson manages to pass to full mount!
The referee warns Blankenship that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Swanson throwing strikes here but Blankenship is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Blankenship wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Swanson.
Blankenship is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Swanson throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Blankenship working to try and regain half guard.
The referee warns Blankenship that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

It looks like Terrence Blankenship has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Swanson looking to control and managing it successfully.
Blankenship is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Swanson tries to control but Blankenship wriggling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swanson unloads with some shots from mount but Blankenship bucks and avoids them well.
Blankenship tries to hold on but Swanson pushes him away.

Swanson gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

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

Blankenship escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Swanson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Swanson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Swanson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Blankenship swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Swanson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Blankenship is looking to stand up but Swanson isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Swanson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Swanson trying to control but Blankenship is working from the bottom.
Swanson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Swanson should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Swanson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Swanson prevents Blankenship from getting back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Swanson gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Blankenship counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Swanson kicks off Blankenship and gets 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!
Swanson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Blankenship throws a quick counter kick to the body but Swanson avoids it.

Swanson bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blankenship is looking for a sweep.
You can see the frustration on Blankenship's face as Swanson controls the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Blankenship is pushing Swanson's head away, looking to escape. Swanson manages to hold on to the position though.
Blankenship can't do much from the bottom here.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Blankenship is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Blankenship manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Swanson wants to free his trapped foot but Blankenship is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Blankenship wants to sweep but Swanson has passed to side control!
Swanson is staying tight to Blankenship's torso, preventing him from escaping.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Swanson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Swanson looks winded!

Blankenship bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Ben Swanson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Swanson misses with a low kick.
Blankenship tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Swanson manages to circle out of the way.
Swanson looks to land a body kick but Blankenship moved away.

Swanson shoots in and gets a takedown into Blankenship's guard.

Blankenship uses the cage to get back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Swanson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Swanson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Terrence Blankenship's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Swanson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Blankenship.

Swanson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Blankenship!
Swanson wants to control but Blankenship is keeping him busy.
Swanson staying calm.
Swanson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Blankenship manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blankenship thows a huge punch but Swanson dodges it nicely.
Swanson trying to hold on to Blankenship's head to control him but Blankenship postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swanson has his hands clasped together around Blankenship's back. He's all about the action.
Blankenship drops an elbow to the side of Swanson's head.
Blankenship thows a huge punch but Swanson dodges it nicely.
Blankenship is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Blankenship not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Blankenship throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Blankenship working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Swanson controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Blankenship missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Blankenship drops an elbow to the side of Swanson's head.
Blankenship throwing shots but Swanson is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Swanson is trying to control but can't.
Blankenship will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Swanson is breathing heavily.
Swanson wants to get back to his feet.
Swanson slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Swanson working a defensive guard here.
Blankenship throwing strikes but missing.
Blankenship is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Blankenship with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Blankenship postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Blankenship missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Blankenship is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Blankenship won't allow Swanson to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blankenship postures up and lands a big shot to Swanson's brow.
Swanson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Blankenship.
Swanson doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Blankenship stands up over Swanson, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Blankenship is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Blankenship makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Blankenship throwing strikes but missing.
Swanson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Blankenship is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Blankenship preventing the sweep.
Blankenship makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Blankenship working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Swanson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Swanson controls Blankenship momentarily but Blankenship frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blankenship postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Blankenship postures up.
Blankenship working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Swanson's head.
Blankenship postures up and lands a big shot to Swanson's brow.
Blankenship working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Blankenship cracks Swanson with a solid left hand.
Blankenship throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Blankenship in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Blankenship postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Swanson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Blankenship stands up over Swanson, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Terrence Blankenship dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Terrence Blankenship's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Swanson is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Blankenship's half guard.
Terrence Blankenship overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Blankenship is trying to stand up here but Swanson is controlling him well.
Swanson tries to pass the half guard into mount. Blankenship knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Blankenship is trying to control but can't.
Swanson trying to pass the guard but Blankenship defending well.
Swanson prevents Blankenship from standing back up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Swanson trying to pass the guard but Blankenship defending well.
Swanson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Blankenship trying to control here.
Blankenship is not content to let Swanson control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swanson prevents Blankenship from standing back up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Danga de danga de dang - Swanson scores with a four punch combination!
Swanson misses with a wild body shot.
Blankenship seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

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

Blankenship pushes Swanson off and gets back to his feet.

Swanson shoots in and bounces Blankenship off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Swanson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Swanson trying to control the position from guard on top but Blankenship is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Blankenship controlling Swanson's posture.
Blankenship wants to sweep but no luck.
Blankenship is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Swanson is controlling him.
Blankenship not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swanson trying to control the position from guard on top but Blankenship 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.
Swanson misses with a head kick.
Blankenship drops down looking for a counter takedown but Swanson sprawls and moves away.

Swanson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Blankenship to the mat! Blankenship manages to get full guard.

Blankenship has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Swanson has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Blankenship - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Blankenship manages to break the clinch.
Blankenship changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Swanson tries to avoid it but Blankenship manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Swanson to the ground. Swanson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Swanson clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swanson leaning against his opponent.
Blankenship has Swanson pressed against the cage, preventing Swanson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Swanson slows down the pace here.

Swanson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Swanson has closed the distance and engaged Blankenship in a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Swanson successfully pulls guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Swanson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Swanson has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Swanson!