PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Knight Dragon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alnazir Blackman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Dragon
vs
Blackman

180 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Knight Dragon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Alnazir Blackman!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Santiago Holmes and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dragon wants to clinch.

Blackman dives in and scores a takedown into Dragon's guard.
Blackman is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Blackman loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Dragon is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Dragon working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Blackman doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Blackman manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Blackman controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blackman trying to control but Dragon is working from the bottom.
Blackman with a nice head shot there.
Dragon controls Blackman momentarily but Blackman frees himself.
Blackman trying to control the position from guard on top but Dragon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Dragon trying to keep a closed guard but Blackman is proving a slippery customer.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Blackman tries to keep at a distance but Dragon has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Dragon has Blackman pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Dragon pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Blackman tumbling to the mat - Dragon dives into Blackman's guard.
Blackman looking to hit a scissor sweep but Dragon is one step ahead there.
Blackman wants to control but Dragon passes easily into half guard.
Dragon prevents Blackman from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dragon passes into side control, despite Blackman's attempt to control the position.
Blackman is trying to get back to half guard.
Dragon is looking to take a break and control but Blackman is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Blackman is trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Dragon tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Dragon has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
You can see the frustration on Blackman's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Dragon tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Dragon working away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dragon advances to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A momentary lapse in concentration from Dragon enables Blackman to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Dragon manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Dragon is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Blackman presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Dragon stalling.
Dragon misses with the head strike.
Blackman wants a takedown.
A hook to the body from Dragon.
Dragon keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Blackman's efforts to push away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dragon manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Blackman is trying to break the clinch but Dragon has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dragon connects with a nasty looking knee right to Blackman's face.
Blackman has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Dragon seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Blackman can turn it around.
Blackman wants to get back to striking at distance but Dragon won't allow it.
Dragon is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Blackman can do to turn this around?

Dragon has picked Blackman up - he's going for a ride! Dragon dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Dragon prevents Blackman from improving his position.
Blackman trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blackman trying to get back to full guard but Dragon takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Dragon looking to control but Blackman is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Blackman is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Knight Dragon overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dragon trying to control but Blackman is having none of it.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Blackman can do anything to dispel that myth.
Blackman is trying to escape the mount.
Dragon tries to control but Blackman wriggling away.
Blackman is desperately trying to improve his position but Dragon has a good base and remains in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Dragon is stalling here but it's allowed Blackman to get half guard.
Blackman trying to hold on to Dragon's head to control him but Dragon postures up.
Blackman is looking to improve his position.
Dragon wants to take a breather but Blackman is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Blackman wants to sweep but Dragon has passed to side control!
Blackman is trying to control Dragon's posture but Dragon avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Knight Dragon dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Blackman lands with a straight right. Dragon didn't see that one coming.
Blackman lands a really nice looking cross but Dragon seems unphased.

Blackman scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Blackman trying to control the action but Dragon is working from the bottom.
Blackman stalling away here and it's allowed Dragon to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Blackman is working Dragon over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blackman wants to control from the top but Dragon keeps moving.

Dragon throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Blackman lands a couple of elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blackman trying to control but Dragon is working from the bottom.
Blackman controls from within his opponent's guard.
Blackman landing some decent shots from guard.
Blackman lands a couple of digs.
Blackman stays in close to Dragon's body and controls the position.

That's two 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.
Blackman postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Blackman must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Blackman looking to sit in guard and control but Dragon gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Blackman seems keen to control Dragon's posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dragon tries to stand but Blackman is controlling from the bottom.
Blackman keeping moving, preventing Dragon from controlling successfully.

Dragon thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dragon is fighting to break Blackman's control of his arms but Blackman is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Blackman 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.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Dragon shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Blackman is trying to maintain the position but Dragon is very close to passing his half guard.
Blackman tries to get to full guard but Dragon has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dragon tries to stand but can't do so whilst Blackman controls his leg.
Blackman is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Dragon jumps into side control!
Blackman tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Dragon wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
You can see the frustration on Blackman's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Blackman is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Alnazir Blackman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Knight Dragon is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Blackman looks to move to half guard but instead Dragon has passed into mount! Damn!

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 Knight Dragon.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Dragon, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Knight Dragon!