PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Santana Blaze (ranked 1612 p4p, 75 weight class) and Tim Lincekum (ranked 2626 p4p, 118 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Lincekum's choice of entrance music: BYOB. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Blaze
vs
Lincekum

177 cm
34
135 lbs
15 - 7 - 0

160 cm
28
136 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

RAGS of a RONIN

Dauntless

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 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Santana Blaze!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tim Lincekum!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, John Roberts and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blaze missing with a left hand there. Lincekum was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Lincekum fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Blaze manages to avoid it.
Lincekum takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Blaze throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Lincekum counters with a straight right hand.
Lincekum throws a shot from downtown. Blaze moves away and avoids it.
Blaze really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Blaze misses with a low kick.
Lincekum buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Lincekum fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Blaze looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Tim Lincekum seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Blaze dodges the punch combination from Lincekum.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blaze showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Lincekum.
Blaze takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Lincekum scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blaze blocks a jab.
Lincekum misses with a wild combination.
Blaze has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Blackscar Fitness in the buildup to the fight.
Lincekum misses the jab.
Blaze appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Lincekum throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Blaze sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Blaze misses with a jab, cross combination.
Lincekum jabs Blaze to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Blaze throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Blaze showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Lincekum.
Lincekum throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lincekum tries to bum rush Blaze with a series of wild strikes but Blaze uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
An attempted straight right counter from Blaze misses the target.
Blaze takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Lincekum misses with a straight right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blaze connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Lincekum momentarily.
Lincekum throws a hook to the side of Blaze's head but Blaze sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Blaze is looking for a counter combo.
Blaze with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Lincekum to score with a decent uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lincekum misses with a lunging right hand
and Blaze counters with a right hand to the body.
Blaze throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lincekum. Blaze does a little dance to reset his feet.
Blaze throws a series of punches but Lincekum avoids them all with ease.
Lincekum throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Lincekum misses with a two punch combination.
Lincekum shoots in looking for a takedown but Blaze manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Lincekum's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Lincekum throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Blaze is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Lincekum misses with a hook to the body
and Blaze counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lincekum connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Lincekum throws a right and a left that both miss.
Blaze ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Blaze throws a body punch but Lincekum moves out of range.
Sloppy strikes from Blaze. Those never looked like landing.
Blaze throws a jab when Lincekum was well out of range.
Lincekum throws the left hand but Blaze avoids the punch easily.
Lincekum throws a solid leg kick but Blaze takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Lincekum.
Blaze appears to be looking for a big counter.
Lincekum avoids a punch combination nicely.
Blaze takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Lincekum misses with a hook to the body
and Blaze counters with a two punch combo.
Lincekum throws a hook to the side of Blaze's head but Blaze sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Blaze goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
A shot to the liver by Blaze. Beautiful body shot.
Blaze ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Blaze moves out of range as Lincekum strikes.
Lincekum drops his hands momentarily and Blaze takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Lincekum throws a lazy right hand but Blaze sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Blaze misses with the combination.
Lincekum falls off balance throwing a combination
and Blaze counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Blaze displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Lincekum throws out the jab.
Lincekum lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
A solid leg kick lands there for Blaze.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tim Lincekum will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Jab, jab by Blaze - just one landing.
Blaze looks to land a left hand but Lincekum moved out of range nicely.
Lincekum is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Blaze with a body shot.
Blaze uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lincekum.
Lincekum moves forwards but Blaze connects with a nice, crisp jab.
A cross from Blaze lands.
Blaze moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Blaze's corner calls for a 1-2. Blaze obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Blaze swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Lincekum throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A low kick from Blaze misses
and Lincekum makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Lincekum lands a head shot.
Blaze waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Lincekum.
Blaze will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blaze finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Lincekum connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Lincekum gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Lincekum misses with a body punch
and Blaze counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Lincekum throws out a loose jab but Blaze uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nice defenses there by Blaze.
Lincekum misses with a double jab.
As Lincekum looks to move away, Blaze throws a big counter combo but Lincekum just gets out of the way.
Lincekum fails in his attempt to clinch.
Blaze appears to be looking for a big counter.
Lincekum misses the jab.
Lincekum slips a straight right by Blaze.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lincekum. Blaze does a little dance to reset his feet.
Lincekum scores with a body shot.
Lincekum throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blaze lands a right hook to the body.
Lincekum's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Blaze connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Lincekum scrambles back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lincekum cracks Blaze with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Lincekum throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Blaze counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Lincekum on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Santana Blaze is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Blaze cracks Lincekum with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Lincekum lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Lincekum throws a jab when Blaze was well out of range.
It looked like Blaze wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Lincekum connects with a good right hand that stumbles Blaze. Blaze circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Lincekum throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Blaze counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Lincekum cracks Blaze with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Lincekum throws a lazy right hand but Blaze sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Blaze is looking for a counter combo.
A big right from Lincekum misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blaze lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Blaze.
The crowd cheers as Blaze lands an impressive looking overhand right. Lincekum doesn't seem phased though.
Lincekum lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Blaze misses with a double jab
and Lincekum connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Blaze misses with the combination.
Blaze slips a straight right by Lincekum.
Blaze went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Lincekum on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Blaze. Blaze obviously looking to wear him down.
Blaze misses with a series of wild punches.
Blaze defending well as Lincekum loads up on a big left hand.
Lincekum misses with a hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A shot to the body from Lincekum misses
and Blaze counters with a straight right hand.
A swing and a miss from Lincekum.
Blaze connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
A nice combination there by Lincekum.
Lincekum misses with a hook.
An attempted straight right counter from Blaze misses the target.
Lincekum connects with a body shot.
Blaze throws a series of punches but Lincekum avoids them all with ease.
Blaze throws out a powerful jab.
Blaze misses with a low kick.
Blaze blocks a leg kick.
A left lands for Lincekum.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lincekum throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Lincekum takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Blaze swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Santana Blaze will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Blaze ducks under a wild hook from Lincekum.
Lincekum looks to land a left hand but Blaze moved out of range nicely.
Lincekum looks to throw the jab but Blaze is out of range.
Blaze avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Blaze walks into a straight right hand from Lincekum.
Blaze fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lincekum manages to avoid it.
Lincekum throws a combination that misses
and Blaze counters with a straight right hand.
Blaze is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Lincekum fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Blaze manages to avoid it.
Blaze just misses with a punch to the body.
Tim Lincekum seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blaze waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Lincekum.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Lincekum, right into the meat.
Blaze misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lincekum unleashes a big counter combination but Blaze bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Blaze ducks under a wild hook from Lincekum.
Blaze is looking to counter punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blaze avoids the body shot from Lincekum.
Blaze connects with a good right hand that stumbles Lincekum. Lincekum circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Blaze fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Lincekum looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Lincekum digs a good body shot into Blaze's ribs.
Blaze throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Blaze is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Lincekum throws a left and a right that both miss
and Blaze counters with a one-two to the body.
Lincekum throws a right hand that misses
letting Blaze counter with a right hand.
Lincekum throws a hook to the side of Blaze's head but Blaze sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lincekum. Blaze does a little dance to reset his feet.
Blaze throws a series of punches but Lincekum avoids them all with ease.
Blaze wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Blaze throws a low kick but Lincekum avoids it.
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!
Blaze throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Lincekum sees it coming and avoids it easily.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Lincekum! But no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lincekum misses with a wild combination.
Blaze throws a body shot but no joy.
Blaze throws a leg kick but Lincekum moved away.
Some wild striking there from Lincekum.
Lincekum throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Lincekum ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Blaze moves away.
Blaze seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Lincekum misses with a double jab.
A little feinted left hand from Blaze on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Lincekum misses with an uppercut. Blaze saw that one coming.
A quick step to the side and Blaze tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Blaze throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Lincekum on the side of the head.
Lincekum fails to land with a series of punches.
Blaze went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Lincekum walks into a stiff left hand from Blaze.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blaze throws a right and a left that Lincekum avoids nicely.
Blaze misses with a wild combination.
Lincekum is looking for the big counter here.
Blaze ducks under a wild hook from Lincekum.
A good leg kick by Blaze.
Lincekum lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Blaze throws a left and a right that both miss
and Lincekum counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Lincekum digs a good hook to Blaze's body.
Nice uppercut lands for Lincekum. That snapped Blaze's head back.
Blaze takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Lincekum missing with a left hand there. Blaze was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Lincekum throws out a powerful jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lincekum misses with a right hand
and Lincekum takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lincekum throws a poor cross that misses
and Blaze counters with a straight right hand.
Blaze throws a left and a right that both miss
letting Lincekum counter with a right hand.
Nice shot by Lincekum.
Blaze ducks right into an uppercut from Lincekum.
Lincekum misses the shot to the body.
Lincekum takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Lincekum ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Blaze moves away.
An attempted straight right counter from Blaze misses the target.
Lincekum fails with a takedown attempt.
A jab lands there for Blaze.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tim Lincekum.
Well Lincekum 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Tim Lincekum!
Tim Lincekum really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Dauntless logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.
The defeated Santana Blaze had this to say: ' '.